Towards sustained timber production from tropical rain forests in Suriname.

Abstract

A summary account of the complementary Celos Harvesting System and Celos Silvicultural System developed by the Agricultural University of Wageningen and the Anton de Kom University of Suriname in a joint project over the last 20 yr. The harvesting system comprises: prior mapping of the trees to be selectively felled and opening up of skid trails; directional felling; winch extraction; and registration of log flow from stump to destination. This system has reduced skidding costs by 10-20% and skidding damage by 50% compared with existing unplanned operations. The silvicultural system comprises 3 treatments: refining 1-2 yr after selective logging, by climber cutting and poison-girdling of non-commercial trees (preferably <10 m from crop trees); a less drastic treatment 8-10 yr later when the response to refining (diam. c.a.i. increased from 4 mm to 10 mm) has declined; and possible climber cutting a few years before re-logging in 20-25 yr. Changes in phytomass after refining did not cause significant leaching of nutrients within 2 yr. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)