THE USE OF EXCAVATORS IN CLEARING OF RHODODENDRON SPP.

The excavators have been commonly used in Forestry. They can be used in road construction activities, as loader, harvester, processor, and cable yarder in timber harvesting operations. In recently, there has been an increasing interest in using the excavators in clearing of Rhododendron spp. activities. Rhododendrons dominate the understories of the mesic forests of the Black Sea Region of Turkey. They dramatically reduce forest growth and regeneration and local plant diversity. Therefore they should be cleared land. In this study, clearing of Rhododendron spp. by using hydraulic excavator were investigated technical, economic, and environmental in forested lands in Western Black Sea Region of Turkey. Study area was sampled at 17different point. Productivity of excavator and environmental damages were investigated in every point. In addition, feature of area was took note. Consequently, productivity of excavator was found as m 2 /hour average 41% ground slope. The excavator damages lesser than bulldozer environment that was found. Besides, excavator was used greater grand slope than bulldozers. The excavators should be commonly used in controlling rhododendrons for environmentally sensitive areas to reduce impact on forest vegetation.