Analysis of forest wood supply chains for round-wood production restricted by technical constraints

Aim of the study: Integrated information tools models are fundamental for analyzing supply chains as regards pattern of consumption and production. These models are very useful for availability estimations of natural resources when social and environmental uncertainties need to be addressed, as it is the case for forest wood supply chains. This work presents an analysis of a forest wood supply chain focusing on forest operations to estimate the availability of round-wood volume restricted by technical constraints using a local case study in Mexico. The theoretical and technical potentials of woody biomass availability were reviewed considering an assessment of forest operations for round-wood production.Area of the study: municipality of Santa Maria del Rio S.L.P. inside the forested land of San Antonio in Mexico.Material and methods: Geographical, historical and socioeconomic data and field work were used to develop technical constraints as extraction limits. Felling and extraction operations were analyzed resulting in a production rate of 2.48 m3 per productive machine hour.Main results: The theoretically produced standing timber accounted to 21,132 m3. After simulating technical constraints, the technically feasible supply of round-wood accounted to 2, 113 m3. Furthermore, a biomass flow chart for tracing biomass along the system boundaries was developed.Research highlights: With the given results, it is possible to give recommendations and conclusions for the improvement of wood supply chains supported by time studies values, technical constraints on terrain slope, harvesting intensity and mechanization level.Keywords: Mexico; modeling; forest operations; sustainable forest management