Productivity, costs and carbon dioxide emission assessment from teak logging operations: A case study in Lum Nam Wang Thong Right Forest Plantation, Phitsanulok Province

Abstract

Teak (Tectona grandis) is an important economic tree species for Thailand’s forestry sector and wood-processing industry, particularly in commercial plantation systems. At the harvesting stage, teak logging involves several operational steps, which vary depending on site conditions, terrain, equipment, and labor. These variations directly affect productivity, operational costs, and carbon dioxide emissions. However, empirical data on productivity, cost, and carbon dioxide emissions from teak logging operations remain limited. Therefore, this study investigated productivity, costs, and carbon dioxide emissions from teak logging in the Lum Nam Wang Thong Right Forest Plantation, Phitsanulok Province. Field data were collected from each harvesting operation, comprising 50 work cycles for felling and skidding, 30 work cycles for marking and bucking, and 20 work cycles for stacking. Productivity was analyzed in terms of wood volume per unit time, while costs were calculated per cubic meter based on labor, equipment, and operational expenses. Carbon dioxide emissions were estimated from fuel consumption according to Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization’s (Public Organization) guidelines. Teak logging operations consist of five main phases: felling, skidding, marking, bucking, and stacking. The productivity of each phase was 9.93, 6.63, 12.45, 10.64, and 11.70 m³/h, respectively, while the corresponding costs were 44.27, 255.84, 14.46, 40.81, and 74.86 Baht/m³. The total amount of carbon dioxide emission from teak logging operations was 2.78 kg CO₂e/m³. The emissions from felling, skidding, bucking, and stacking were 0.23, 1.67, 0.19, and 0.69 kg CO₂e/m³, respectively. The findings provide baseline information for planning teak harvesting operations and cost management. They can also serve as a guideline for improving operational efficiency, reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting the sustainable management of teak plantations.