Forests in Korea are mainly located in steep mountainous areas, where small-shovel-based extraction technology is widely used, with the level of mechanization undoubtedly low due to financial limitations. On this steep terrain, a better approach may be to use cable yarders, which can offer high revenues through cable-based extraction. Therefore, improving the efficiency of cable yarding activities in good-quality timber forests is necessary. The main objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate the productivity and cost of a cable yarder operation for tree-length clearcut treatment of a Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr. stand and (2) compare the productivity efficiency of two yarder (K301-4 and HAM300) types. The productivity rates of the K301-4 ranged from 10.2 to 12.5 m3/productive machine hours, with corresponding costs of US $12.6–15.4 /m3. The productivity of the HAM300 was 26% lower than that of the K301-4 for a 30% lower cycle log volume while yarding and a comparable lateral distance. This study provides insights to support production and management decisions in the forest supply chain associated with planning cable-yarding operations.

Forest roads failure is one of the most common problems caused by heavy rainfalls. This study investigated the characteristics on stabilization measures installed for cutting slopes failure of forest road resulted from heavy rainfalls. Three primary factors (slope length, slope gradient, soil type) affecting cutting slope failure were considered and stabilization measures were classified into two types (A type: wooden fence, vegetation sandbag, stone masonry; B type: wire cylinder, gabion, concrete retaining wall) through discriminant analysis based on their capacity of resistance to slope failure. Results showed that A type was mainly installed in such conditions as cut slope ＜8 m, cut slope gradient [30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40] o and soil type with soil while B type occurred in locational conditions as cut slope length ＞8 m, cut slope gradient ＜30 o and ＞40 o , and soil type of gravelly soil and rock.