Estimating the effects of optimum bucking on the economic value of Brutian pine (Pinus brutia) logs extracted in Mediterranean region of Turkey

The recent socio-economic changes have escalated the consumer needs mainly on industrial wood products among other direct use values of forest resources in Turkey. Besides, the economic value of wood based products represents the highest proportion in total economic value of forest resources in Turkish forestry. The most important wood based product type is considered to be logs that are produced by bucking the harvested trees into short lengths depending on log grade, log sizes, and mill delivered prices. Bucking the harvested trees in an optimum way is crucial factor which increases productivity in logging and maximizes the tree value. In this study, the effects of optimum bucking method on the total economic value of Brutian pine (Pinus brutia) logs were investigated in mediterranean region of Turkey. The optimum bucking method was implemented during the logging operations of sample Brutian pine stands in three major Forest Regional Directorates (Adana, Antalya and Mu_la), which represent the general characteristics of Brutian Pine forest in Mediterranean region of Turkey. The results indicated that using optimum bucking method increased the potential gross value and volume of the harvested trees by 4.7 and 1.64%, respectively, in the region.