2020

High Quality Forest Roads Provide Customers with Access to Timber

As already forecast by weather forecasters, this January and winter will become the warmest in the history of meteorological observations in Latvia. The lack of frost has led to significant adjustments in the areas of planned logging and timber transportation. However, thanks to the sustainable forest road policy of JSC “Latvia’s State Forests” (LVM), timber transportation is also ensured in wet areas, while maintaining a certain driving intensity.

In the regions of Vidzeme, Zemgale and Latgale, the warm winter weather influences the planned supply quite significantly - it is necessary to adapt to the changing weather conditions in order to ensure the continuity of the timber flow. In general, deliveries are provided and contractual obligations with customers are met.

“LVM is working hard to continuously improve logging and supply planning, and to make the most of the good weather conditions (dry summer and autumn, frost in winter) for logging in wet areas, whereas areas with good logging conditions could be developed in unfavourable weather conditions. Currently, it would be a crazy idea to organize logging in wet areas; however, the work in other areas has also become difficult. Looking at our maps that are used for the planning of timber logistics deliveries, more and more red or closed roads are appearing, which means that timber cannot be transported along these roads. Unfortunately, the weather is very unfavourable at the moment. There is no frost, neither in day nor at night. Moreover, there is regular and heavy rainfall, and the sun shines extremely rarely. The roads are so wet that many of the conventional solutions are no longer usable,” tells Ingus Barviķis, Operations and Maintenance Manager at LVM Infrastructure.

“Our high quality requirements for the materials used - sand and gravel - is what currently ensures road bearing capacity. It is clear that our high contract requirements and quality control are justified,” adds Ingus Barviķis.

“To ensure that our contractual obligations are met and customers receive exactly the product that they need at a given time, it is necessary to build a warehouse and stockpiles in sufficient quantities to ensure the flow of wood, despite the impact of the weather. At the beginning of the year, this stockpile needs to be built up to make available supplies for the spring slush. However, given the warm winter this year, some timber stocks are unavailable for deliveries due to road conditions. That is why we continue logging where the roads are accessible and we will deliver the timber that is currently inaccessible once the weather gets drier or colder, without worsening the condition of the roads,” says Raimonds Šulcs, LVM Logistics Quality Manager.

The forest roads built by LVM allow the transportation of timber by observing the correct construction technologies and using appropriate building materials. LVM will continue to invest in forest infrastructure, incl. development and maintenance of roads so that the forest sector can continue to work and obtain raw materials even in bad weather.

There is also active research on techniques and technologies in both logging and transportation: how to work more sparingly in harsh conditions without causing more damage to soil, roads, etc. In logging, for example, wider chains, lighter machines, and other working methods can be used, while in transport, the CTI or tire pressure monitoring system is relevant.