Environmental impacts of forest roads: an overview of the state of the knowledge

Foltz, R.B. 2003. Environmental impacts of forest roads: an overview of the state of the knowledge. The Forestry Research Institute of Sweden. Second International Forest Engineering Conference, 12-15 May 2003, Växjö, Sweden. Växjö Concert Hall. In: Wide, M.I.; Baryd, B., eds. Uppsala, Sweden: Skogforsk: 121-128.

Keywords: forest roads, watershed, environmental impact

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Abstract: This paper reviews the environmental impacts of forest roads at the on-site and the watershed scale. The components of a road prism--the cut slopem ditch, running surface, and fill slope--are defined and a description of the infiltration and flow processes are made for both insloped and outsloped roads. The perceived advantages of both are discussed. Flow on the road prism without traffic and a long-term study of the sediment production also follow. Some of the differences in sediment production between traffic and no-traffic conditions are highlighted, and the results of three studies of sediment production from roads with traffic are also discussed. Two methods to mitigate the impact of road traffic are reviewed. At the watershed scale, two studies that used the same data, but reached opposing conclusions are discussed. There is also a review of a study investigating the connection of a road system and stream network. The paper concludes with suggestions for further research on both on-site and watershed scales.

Moscow FSL publication no. 2003e