Where to Place and Build Forest Roads -- Experience From the Model

Abstract The paper presents the conditions in which forest production as well as forest road design and construction in Slovenia are going on. The most important influential factors and the limitations in the production process have been given special emphasis, among which there are also potential environmental disturbances and forest functions. A brief description of a method based on multicriteria decision making, a model form of which was applied in the analysis of technologies and forest road network in the Jezersko forest region, is presented as well. The results indicate the suitability of terrain for the design and construction of forest roads and skidding tracks. An analysis of the present forest road and skidding track network as well as a comparison of terrain suitability with the suitability of all terrain have been made as well. It has been established that especially in the construction of forest roads and skidding tracks difficulties regarding construction have strongly been taken into consideration, because the existing network is situated on terrain which is easier than the average. Finally, the possibilities as to the further developments of the model have been indicated.