PLANNING AND OPERATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF TIMBER HARVESTING IN PUBLIC FORESTS: A CASE STUDY FROM BIHOR COUNTY (ROMANIA)

Abstract

Forest harvesting operations represent the operational stage through which silvicultural planning is implemented in the field, and their efficiency is strongly influenced by the quality of technical planning and work organization. This study analyzes the current state of harvesting planning and operational organization in state forests administered by the Bihor Forest Administration (Romania), using data from the timber sales catalogue for the year 2026. A total of 216 timber valuation documents with volumes exceeding 100 m³ were examined across seven forest districts. The analysis focused on the distribution of harvesting volumes, harvesting methods (standing sale, harvesting through contractors, and harvesting performed by in-house crews), as well as the technical quality of harvesting sketches and the organization of primary landings and extraction infrastructure. Results indicate a highly fragmented harvesting structure, with more than 80% of felling areas having volumes below 500 m³. Although harvesting by in-house crews accounts for the largest number of blocks, larger volumes are predominantly allocated to standing sales. The technical evaluation of harvesting sketches revealed significant variability in planning quality, including missing scale references and suboptimal positioning of primary landings. The study highlights the need for standardized technical documentation, improved spatial planning using GIS tools, and optimized scheduling of harvesting operations to reduce relocation time and increase operational efficiency.