The distribution and frequency of damage to roadside trees in low-volume road construction

Abstract

We investigated the distribution and frequency of damage to tree stands adjacent to low-volume roads according to the type of hillside materials involved (soil or rock) and hillside gradient in mountainous forests of northern Iran. A total of 80 plots were systematically and randomly sampled to record damaged trees (bending, crushing and wounding) by class of hillside gradient and materials at the edge of road. Tree wounding and crushing at rock slopes was significantly greater than at hillsides with a mix of clay soil (p < 0.05). Damage on hillsides with slope gradients >45% were 2, 8.5 and 2.3 times more frequent than on hillsides with slope gradient <15% for bending, crushing and wounding, respectively. The damage distribution varied according by type and the most frequent damage was tree wounding (p < 0.05). The damage distribution was measured at distances of 4, 5 and 8 m from the road fillslope for tree bending, crushing and wounding, respectively. Using hydraulic excavators and physical barriers (wooden obstruction and synthetic holder) during earthworks for road construction could reduce these damage.

Keywords

Low-volume road construction / Tree damage / Hillside materials / Gradient / Distribution

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