7.1. Felling costs
As mentioned previously, felling had been done by private contractors before the other phases of the harvesting study began. The contractors were paid US$ 6.67/m3 of produced assortments or felled trees, respectively, on study areas A and B, based on the estimated production which was quite similar for both study areas. The payment includes the costs for the chain-saws owned by the contractors.
· Costs of produced assortments at study area A: US$ 6.67/m3
· Costs of felled trees at study area B: US$ 6.67/m3
7.2. Logging costs
The construction crane and the crane operator were hired by the forest enterprise from a private company for a rental fee of US$ 87.50 per hour. A lower rental cost might be possible if a company with an underutilized fleet could be found but this benefit might be consumed by travel expenses to and from a distant operation area. The two assistants were paid US$ 8.33 per hour on a private contract basis.
Operating (area A + area B) 14.5 h
Setting up (three times) 1.5 h
Dismantling (three times) 1 h
Others (rest periods of the operator) 2 h
Journey to and from the operation area 2 h
Total construction crane hours: 21 h
· Equipment costs (construction crane):
US$ 87.50 * 21 h = US$ 1 837.50 US$ 1 837.50 : 178.12 m3 = US$ 10.31/ m3
· Labour costs (two assistants):
US$ 8.33 * 2 * 19 h = US$ 316.54 US$ 316.54 : 178.12 m3 = US$ 1.77/m3
· Costs for construction crane (including operator): US$ 10.31/m3.
· Costs for two assistants: US$ 1.77/m3.
· Total logging costs: US$ 12.08 /m3.
7.3. Processing costs
The wood processor and the operator are hired by the forest enterprise from a private company such as for the construction crane. The rental cost usually depends on the mean tree diameter and would come to US$ 7.50/m3.
Costs for the wood processor (including operator): US$ 7.50/m3.
7.4. Costs per cubic metre
The costs of the whole-tree method amounts to: US$ 26.25/m3 (see Table 4).
Table 4. Costs of the whole-tree method per cubic metre.
Work phase |
Costs US$/h |
Unit cost US$/m3 |
Felling operation |
6.67 | |
Logging operation |
||
Construction crane (including operator) |
87.50 |
10.31 |
Labour costs for two assistants |
16.66 |
1.77 |
Processing operation |
|
7.50 |
Total harvesting operation |
26.25 |