Considerations on forest road networks and related works to support the implementation of the operative guidelines of the consolidate law on forests and forest chains

Abstract

The forest road network provides access to the forest area to facilitate the conservation, the management and the value of forest ecosystems. In the case of poor design as well as poor or absent maintenance, the forest road network can cause significant environmental impacts, which can result in erosion and sedimentation, landslides, effects on flora and fauna and landscape impacts. In order to avoid such impacts, the road network must be planned, built and maintained in a correct and adequate way according to the environment in which the same roads are inserted. As consequence, the present paper would like to propose some considerations about forest road functions, definitions as well as in term of standard design and planning to support the implementation of the operative guidelines of the recent consolidate law on forestry.

Keywords

• Forest roads
• Forest management
• Forest operations
• Ecological impacts