Assessing the possibility of

incorporating Japanese small-scale

logging systems into forest

operations in Kenya

Birundu Abednego Osindi*1, Yasushi Suzuki2, Jun’ichi Gotou2, Hirotaka Nagai2, Yoshifumi Hayata2, Shin Yamasaki3, Toshihiko Yamasaki3

1Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Kochi University, Nankoku 783-8502, Japan 2Faculty of Agriculture and Marine Science, Kochi University, Nankoku 783-8502, Japan 3Kochi Prefectural Forest Technology Centre, Kami 782-0078, Japan

07/09/2016 1

FORMEC 2016 – From Theory to Practice: Challenges for Forest Engineering September 4 – 7, 2016, Warsaw, Poland

Contents

07/09/2016 2

Part 1:

Introduction

Part 2:

Feasibility of small-scale mechanized logging in Kenya

Conclusions and recommendations

Source: https://thumb1.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/98072/427528480/stock-photo-kenya-flag-combined-with-japan-flag-427528480.jpg

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44 million •80% dependency on forestry for energy

127 million •Alternative sources of energy Source: National Geographic

http://prepperscore.nationalgeographic.com/media/images/ddp-population.png

7 % •Kenyan Constitution- 10%

67 % •Global requirement of 10 % (CBD COP 9)

KENYA JAPAN

Source: Green Eternity http://www.greenternity.com/assets/OAK.png

Forests- integral role in daily life Need for conservation and management

Part 1: Introduction

Both countries exhibit forms of forest and forest product utilization

Need to investigate the comparative advantage of Japan

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Part 2: Feasibility of mechanized logging in Kenya

Introduction

Source: Takimoto and Yovi (2003)

Manual tree harvesting in Kenya; chain saw felling and transportation by human labour

Cost and productivity comparison

Assessing the feasibility of small-scale mechanized logging in Kenya

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Research Methodology

Small-scale logging sites: 1) Mr. Okamoto private

forest (October 2015) 2) Kochi Prefectural Forest

Technology Centre (May 2016)

Mini-forwarder

Data Obtained Time study of work elements Log parameters Machinery and labor hourly costs Manual logging productivity

Equations derived to calculate productivity and costs of manual and mini-forwarder logging systems

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Mini-forwarder set up in the field

Rigging up

Rigging down

Carriage Winch

Forwarding

Move Empty (carrier)

Lateral Pulling (hook)

Hooking

Lateral Loading

Move Loaded

Offloading

Maneuver

Forwarding

Finished?

Felling Delimbing

Bucking

Rigging Down

Rigging Up

Storage

NO YES

Mini- Forwarder

Harvesting Cycle

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0 100 200 300 400 500

Site 1

Site 2

Average cycle time (s)

Site

s

Move Empty

Lateral Empty

Hooking

Lateral Loaded

Move Loaded

Offloading

Maneuver

Others

I. Average cycle times

Results and discussion

Site 1= Mr. Okamoto forests(17 cycles recorded) Site 2=Kochi Prefectural Forest Technology Center (3 cycles recorded)

Main line logging

Lateral logging

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Definition Formula Parameter Values

a b

T1 Move Empty Time (s) a1x1+b1 0.2046 18.298

T2 Lateral Empty Time (s) a2x2b

2 1.0975 1.37

T3 Lateral Loaded Time (s) a3x2b

3 0.4314 1.9362

T4 Move Loaded Time (s) a4x1+b4 0.2168 39.092

Tc Constant Logging Time(s) 69.6 - -

Tf Total Forwarding Time (s) a5x3+b5 3.9967 942

Definition of elements in the regression equations

Four regression equations (T1, T2, T3, and T4) were obtained to determine how distance of the main line and lateral movements affects the total cycle times and productivity.

Total time per logging cycle (s), Tlg=T1+T2+T3+T4+Tc

X=Distance

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0,0

0,5

1,0

1,5

2,0

2,5

3,0

3,5

0 20 40 60

Pro

du

ctiv

ity

(m3

/cre

w h

ou

r)

Main Logging Distance, x1 (m)

Vhi1

Vav1

Vlo1

Vhi2

Vav2

Vlo2

Vhi3

Vav3

Vlo3

Vhi, Vav, Vlo=ranges of mini-forwarder volumes 1,2 and 3=0m, 10m, 20m, lateral logging distances, x2, respectively

0,0

0,5

1,0

1,5

2,0

2,5

3,0

3,5

4,0

0 50 100 150

Prd

uct

ivit

y (m

3/p

ers

on

-day

)

Distance (m)

Productivity(m3/man-day): Difficult

Productivity(m3/man-day):Medium

Productivity(m3/man-day): Easy

Source: Umeda et. al (1982)

II. Effect of logging distance on productivity

Regression equations of the field data were obtained and combined with other formula to calculate the productivity of mini-forwarder logging.

Mini-forwarder logging productivity Manual logging productivity

Productivity, P=3600xV/T V=Log Volume T=Total logging time (s)

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0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 2 4 6 8 10Tota

l Res

ult

ant

Co

st (

USD

/m3

)

Labor Cost (USD/ Person-hour)

Mini-forwarder Manual

Intersection Point

At current Kenyan labor cost of 0.6 USD/person-hour, resultant costs for manual and mini-forwarder are 14.8 USD/m3 and 36.5 USD/m3 Resultant cost= cost incurred per operation

A. Relationship between labor cost and resultant cost

III. Operational efficiency of mechanized and manual

Logging

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z (resultant cost)= x/y

At a labor cost of 5.8 USD/person-hour, resultant cost for both systems is equal at 51.3 USD/m3

In both labor cost values, mini-forwarder productivity (0.52 m3/crew hour) is higher than that of manual logging (0.14 m3/crew hour)

0,0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0 10 20 30

Manual

Mini-forwarder

Serie2Hourly cost x (USD/crew-hour)

Pro

du

ctiv

ity

y (

m3/c

rew

-ho

ur)

z = 51.3

z = 40 USD/m3 z = 10 z = 20

z = 80

A

B

B. Relationship between costs and productivity

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III. Effect of Kenyan economic growth on labor costs

Kenya was the 3rd fastest growing economy in the world in 2015 Among top 10 middle-income countries in Africa Outcome= increased wages, thus higher labor costs

Source: Kenya Vision 2030

Source: Robinson J. (2015).

Kenya

Conclusions and recommendations

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Manual logging is still the most feasible logging method in Kenya, but as the economy grows, it will be favorable to adopt small-scale mechanized logging such as mini-forwarders in its forestry.

There should be further studies to propose possible adjustments that can be made to such logging systems before they are introduced into Kenyan forestry.

Source: Mr. Katagiri (Okayama Prefecture Forest Centre)

07/09/2016 15

Thank You

Asante sana

07/09/2016 16

Model BY1202 (Dump)

Price (JPY) 2,106,000

Weight (t) 870

Maximum Payload (kgW) 1200

Dimensions

Length (mm) 2120

Width (mm) 1275

Height (mm) 2110

Track Contact Length (mm) 1075

Track Tread (mm) 910

Ground Clearance (mm) 165

Loading Deck Height (mm) 520

Bed Inner Size Length 1810

Width 735

Engine

Model Kubota Z482

Type

Vertical 4 Cycle liquid cooled

diesel

HP 9.2 kW (12.5PS)/3600rpm

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Gears

Runni

ng

Speed

Forward

1 km/h 1.62

2 km/h 2.69

3 km/h 4.26

4 km/h 6.56

Reverse

1 km/h 1.5

2 km/h 2.5

Minimum Rotation

Diameter m

1.65

Gradeability Degrees 25

Winch

Line Pull

Speed of

the Drum

Fro

nt

1 m/sec 0.33

2 m/sec 0.67

3 m/sec 1.04

Bac

k

1 m/sec 0.31

2 m/sec 0.62

Pulling Force kN (kgf) 2.9 (300)

Drum Capacity of Wire Rope m 8@8mm