Speaker
Description
Soil degradation resulting from mechanised timber harvesting on mountain slopes represents a critical challenge to the long-term sustainability of forest ecosystems. In the Ukrainian Carpathians, the extensive network of skid trails established during logging operations frequently becomes the primary source of erosion, soil compaction, and hydrological disruption. Despite increasing recognition of these environmental impacts, the adoption of effective, context-specific reclamation strategies remains limited. This study synthesises current scientific knowledge and field-based observations to develop an integrated framework for restoring soil functionality and ecosystem resilience on degraded skid trails in this region.
Field investigations were conducted on selected logging sites across the Ukrainian Carpathians, examining skid trails of varying ages and usage intensities. Particular attention was paid to sections located on slopes exceeding 20-25°, where gravitational processes exert the most pronounced influence on trail degradation. These observations were complemented by analysis of slope gradients, surface hydrological pathways, and the morphological characteristics of degraded trail segments.
The findings demonstrate that skid trail degradation arises from a combination of mechanical soil displacement, loss of structural stability, and altered surface hydrology. On steep slopes, these factors accelerate the formation of rills and gullies, substantially delaying natural recovery processes. Three principal reclamation approaches were identified as relevant to mountain conditions: technical interventions involving mechanical restructuring and water diversion; bioengineering techniques utilising fascines, root mats, and natural materials for slope stabilisation; and biological restoration through revegetation with native species, including nitrogen-fixing plants and deep-rooted shrubs. However, the effectiveness of any single method applied in isolation remains limited. Sustainable restoration requires their synergistic integration, tailored to local slope gradient, soil characteristics, and erosion risk. When appropriately combined, such integrated treatments have been demonstrated to reduce erosion intensity by up to 40-60% compared to untreated controls, significantly accelerating the recovery trajectory of degraded slopes.
Based on these findings, a tiered reclamation strategy is proposed. First, proactive planning of skid trail networks during harvesting operations can substantially reduce initial soil disturbance. Second, post-harvest interventions should combine shallow mechanical loosening to alleviate compaction with the installation of bioengineering structures along critical drainage lines. Third, biological restoration using site-adapted native species accelerates humus formation, root reinforcement, and long-term soil stabilisation. Systematic monitoring of vegetation establishment, erosion dynamics, and soil recovery is essential to evaluate reclamation success and inform adaptive management practices.
The proposed integrated approach aligns with nature-based solutions principles and contributes to restoring the water regulation, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity support functions of mountain forest soils. It offers a practical pathway for forest managers in the Carpathians and analogous regions to enhance ecosystem resilience following mechanised logging. Further research should focus on long-term field trials to validate the cost-effectiveness and ecological outcomes of different method combinations under varying site conditions.
| Keywords | Reclamation; Eerosion; Ecosystem; Carpathians |
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