Towards sustained timber production from tropical rain forests in Suriname.

Abstract

A summary account of the complementary Celos Harvesting System and Celos Silvicultural System developed by the Agricultural University of Wageningen and the Anton de Kom University of Suriname in a joint project over the last 20 yr. The harvesting system comprises: prior mapping of the trees to be selectively felled and opening up of skid trails; directional felling; winch extraction; and registration of log flow from stump to destination. This system has reduced skidding costs by 10-20% and skidding damage by 50% compared with existing unplanned operations. The silvicultural system comprises 3 treatments: refining 1-2 yr after selective logging, by climber cutting and poison-girdling of non-commercial trees (preferably