Hyrcanian FORESTs are the only FORESTs designated for commercial timber production in Iran. Ground-based skidding is the most common timber harvesting system used in these FORESTs, but due to low ROAD density (1-2m/ha), large parts of the FORESTs are still inaccessible. To facilitate timber harvesting in the FOREST, it has been proposed to increase the ROAD density up to 20 m/ha. The aim of this study was to incorporate the estimated skidding costs through a time study into existing transportation planning tool, NETWORK 2000 software package to help decision making on FOREST ROAD building. This method was applied to Gorazbon district in Hyrcanian FORESTs, where 244 links were built for analysis. The study used continuous time studies based on empirical data for this logging method. The resulted regression model is a function of skidding distance. The best solution found by NETWORK 2000 indicated that all proposed ROADs should be built to minimize the total skidding and ROAD building costs.

Background and objectives: Recently, there have been increasing public considerations about the visual quality of the ROAD and ROADside aesthetics. The visual quality of a ROAD template mostly depends on landscape, marginal trees, ROAD curves, state of the ROAD surface, vegetation cover on the cut and fills slopes, and aesthetic along the ROADside.Materials and methods: In this study, the selected FOREST ROAD sections from district 3 of Shafarood FOREST, Guilan province were evaluated to assess the aesthetic of the FOREST ROAD template. The number of 150 photos were taken from the four FOREST ROAD templates with various date of establishment and evaluated by different people, considering FOREST ROAD surface (Travel lane), cut-slope, fill-slope, and ROADside (Shoulder and ditch). The quality of components in the photos had been evaluated by people and they had scored every one of them from 1to 5. Then the Average Aesthetic Value for each component was computed based on the total scores assigned to the photos. In order to estimate the final aesthetic value of the ROAD templates, the value of Average Visual Quality was assigned to each FOREST ROAD. The relationships between Average Aesthetic Value of ROAD components and Average Visual Quality value were investigated for each research area by using a stepwise regression analysis. Friedman test was used in order to investigate the value of Average Visual Quality. The correlation among the Average Aesthetic Values (AAV) of ROAD components was also examined for each research area by using Kendal test. Finally, the regression model was obtained for each FOREST ROAD.Results: Results of average values showed that the highest quality was related to 1993 with 3.73 and the lowest quality was related to 2007 with 1.88. The results of Friedman test showed that there is a significant difference between of Average Visual Quality value in the different years (c2=63.25, d¦=3, a=0.000).However, the additional results showed that ROAD surface had a significant effect on overall aesthetic value in ROAD of 1993 and for 2002, 2005, and 2007 years cut slope was the most effective factor on overall aesthetic value (R2=0.675, R2=0.715, R2=0.764). Results of Kendal test showed that there is a direction and positive relation between of studied components in different years. Statistical analysis indicated that the old ROADs have better visual quality than new ROADs.Conclusion: Neglect of standards in FOREST ROAD construction, Lack of suitable vegetation in cut and fill slopes and the use of low quality materials in ROAD pavement have a negative effect on ROAD aesthetics.

Classification of FOREST area for determining optimum places for constructing FOREST ROADs has a great importance in protecting and managing of FOREST. However, high variability in classes introduces uncertainty in classification process. Fuzzy set theory provides some solutions for such problems. The aim of this research is to classify FOREST area for ROAD construction based on various layers including: slope, aspect, soil, land stability, FOREST type and volume in Lirehsar FOREST, Mazandaran Province, by means of fuzzy sets theory. First, partial membership was defined and all layers converted to fuzzy layers.Then, layers were combined by geometrical mean and minimum operators. Assessment of final map showed 68 percent entropy that means an uncertainty in decision making for classification. Therefore, to classify the areas, the fuzzy method was used, since in this method, borders are not explicitly separated and changes occur very minor. The fuzzy method has the advantage that enables FOREST ROAD network designers to consider the favorable range of classes and there is no need to separate the favorable and unfavorable classes from each other with high uncertainty.

For designing FOREST ROADs that in addition to minimize the cost of constructing, satisfy environmentalists, it is necessary to provide designers and contractors accurate data from surface and subsurface conditions of the ROAD area due to the large-scale of data using of optimization methods (metaheuristic algorithms) with the help of computers is necessary. For this purpose, this research was carried out on a proposed FOREST ROAD whit length of 1 km in the FORESTs of the district 4 of Babakoh in the city of Siahkal in Guilan province. The cycle of all earthwork work was studied by continuous time study method and the information of the subsurface layers terms of digging was carefully recorded. The results of comparing the method of the ant colony with the hand-made design scenario showed that the multi-objective algorithm presented in this study has great potential for reducing the cost of earthwork operations and its volume. Based on the results, the algorithm is able to reduce 58. 55 and 64 percent the cost of earthwork operations and the volume of operations, respectively. Finally, the results of this research can be used as a guide to better management of FOREST areas, especially FOREST ROADs with the development of efficient methods in all FORESTry FORESTs.

Sediment production is one of the most consequences of FOREST ROAD construction. Soil erosion and its consequences is one of the major environmental problems. Erosion of unpaved ROADs occurs when soil particles are loosened and carried from the ROAD into the drainage system and rivers. So estimating the amount of sediment delivered from FOREST ROADs is an important issue. In this study the effect of traffic on sediment and runoff yield was assessed using a rainfall simulator. Setting up the simulator with 1×1 plot, rainfall simulation was conducted during a 30 minute period and the resulted rain fall was collected in the outlet of plot. The results showed significant difference between run off and sediment yield of two traffic classes. Sediment delivered from the ROAD surface with high and low traffic classes were 166.41 and 36.75 g/m2, respectively whereas run off rates for ROADs with high and low traffic classes were 49.1 and 22.1 lit/ m2. Significant effect of traffic on run off and sediment yield shows the importance of considering standard materials in ROAD construction and maintenance. Considering the impact of traffic on amount of sediment and runoff, is elemental in planning, construction, and maintenance of FOREST ROADs.

Managing Hyrcanian FORESTs in Iran requires a well-designed and constructed network of ROADs that are appropriately distributed and aligned with the silviculture method. These ROADs enable access to protection, support, and tourism activities, as well as facilitate the execution of all necessary measures. Around 10,000 kilometers of ROADs have been built in Iranian FORESTry projects. Constructing ROADs in FORESTs has both positive and negative consequences on nature and its natural functioning, including impacts on biodiversity, grass and plant cover, and physical and chemical soil properties. The design and construction of these structures should adhere to the principles and technical-engineering standards of FORESTry to minimize adverse reactions. To ensure compliance with ROAD construction technical instructions (Publications 131 and 148 of the technical deputy in the Management and Planning Organization of Iran), it is recommended that the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization of Iran supervise their implementation in all FOREST areas, alongside FORESTry plans. Furthermore, the organization should increase its direct supervision of the country's entire natural resource field to improve project outcomes.