Thinning: Working times, productivities and utilization costs in a pine forest

thinning interventions in artificial coniferous stands are fundamental for the correct development of this kind of forests. However, these utilizations have often a negative stumpage value and so they can be conducted only if funded by funding programs like Rural Development Programme. One way to improve this negative aspect is the application of high mechanization level in order to decrease operations costs. The aim of this work was consequently the analysis of work productivity of a thinning intervention, performed with a high level of mechanization, in a pine forest in Italy. Obtained results showed a substantially negative budget of the utilization but strongly influenced by pruning operation, which is not common in such yards, and so it is possible to assert that high level of mechanization could consistently improve coniferous thinning yards’ economy.