Examining the Efficiency of Conventional Logging in the Tropical Rainforest of Guyana

Mr. Owen Bovell

The forestry sector is currently seeking alternative ways to improve large scale harvesting operations. Hence it seeks to introduce alternate ways in which harvesting could be conducted to benefit local loggers.

This study examined the efficiency of the forest harvesting system (conventional logging) currently employed by the Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL) and compared it with the
reduced impact logging (RIL) operation conducted by P. van der Hout (1999) in a similar setting on the same forest concession (TSA 3/91).

Efficiency was measured purely on the basis of m3/hr productivity of the felling and extraction phases. Data was collected using the FAO work and time study methodology and
analyzed using the comparative deductive analysis. The harvesting operation was conducted using the company’s (DTL) equipment and workers were hired by a contractor who was hired by the company.

The study revealed that RIL operation took almost twice as much time to fell a tree as compared to the conventional system, consequently felling productivity almost doubled in the conventional system. This result seems to be influenced by the disparities between the two felling techniques, as more time was needed in the RIL system to check on personnel safety and minimizing environmental damage. The rate of extraction was also superior in the
conventional system. This may be due to the fast pace of skidding and load hitching as against the more slower careful pace at which skidding and load hitching was done as part of preserving the forest environment.

In summary, the conventional logging (CL) system as a means of harvesting logs from the forest may be better suited to large scale concessionaries when compared to RIL, in terms of productivity, hence the CL may be more efficient (m3/hr).

Key Words: (efficiency, productivity, RIL, CL, tropical rainforest, harvesting, skidding)