Application of Black-Bridge Satellite Imagery for the Spatial Distribution of Salvage Cutting in Stands Damaged by Wind

• Main Authors: Tomasz Hycza, Mariusz Ciesielski, Michał Zasada, Radomir Bałazy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Zagreb, Faculty of Forestry 2019-01-01
• Series: Croatian Journal of Forest Engineering
• Online Access: https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/317256

Salvage logging is performed to remove the fallen and damaged trees after a natural disturbance, e.g., fire or windstorm. From an economic point of view, it is desirable to remove the most valuable merchantable timber, but usually, the process depends mainly on topography and distance to forest roads. The objective of this study was to evaluate the suitability of the Black-Bridge satellite imagery for the spatial distribution of salvage cutting in southern Poland after the severe windstorm in July 2015. In particular, this study aimed to determine which factors influence the spatial distribution of salvage cutting. The area of windthrow and the distribution of salvage cutting (July–August 2015 and August 2015–May 2016) were delineated using Black-Bridge satellite imagery. The distribution of the polygons (representing windthrow and salvage cutting) was verified with maps of aspect, elevation and slope, derived from the Digital Terrain Model and the distance to forest roads, obtained from the Digital Forest Map. The analysis included statistical modelling of the relationships between the process of salvage cutting and selected geographical and spatial features. It was found that the higher the elevation and the steeper the slope, the lower the probability of salvage cutting. Exposure was also found to be a relevant factor (however, it was difficult to interpret) as opposed to the distance to forest roads.