A produção do escorrimento de superfície e do sedimento das práticas diferentes do carregamento da madeira, algumas das melhores práticas de gestão de utilização (BMPs) recomendadas para Honduras, foi monitorada em lotes experimentais durante as estações das chuvas de dois anos consecutivos em montanhas da Floresta do Pinho de Honduras. Os diferentes sistemas do carregamento da madeira foram aplicados aos lotes pseudorreplicados durante as estações das chuvas de 1999 e de 2000. Em 1999, dois tratamentos foram estudados: cabo do carregamento e do trator (um BMP recomendado). Em 2000, quatro tratamentos foram avaliados: sistemas do carregamento da madeira do trator, cabo, animal e floresta imperturbada (referência). Durante as estações das chuvas desses anos, os volumes do escorrimento de superfície e o rendimento do sedimento foram medidos em cinco lotes da erosão de 1,5 m x 10 m em cada área tratada. Os resultados indicaram diferenças significativas entre o carregamento tradicional do trator e o do cabo e do animal. O carregamento do trator produziu 6 a 10 vezes mais erosão durante as estações das chuvas do que o carregamento do cabo e do animal. A retenção melhorada do solo do carregamento do cabo e do animal foi especialmente importante durante o mês de setembro, quando ocorreu a precipitação mais elevada.

Surface runoff and sediment production from different timber yarding practices, some using Best Management Practices (BMPs) recommended for Honduras, were monitored in experimental plots during the rainy seasons of two consecutive years in pine forest highlands of central Honduras. Different timber yarding systems were applied to pseudo-replicated plots during the rainy seasons of 1999 and 2000. In 1999, two treatments were studied: tractor yarding and skyline cable (a recommended BMP). In 2000, four treatments were evaluated: tractor skidding, skyline cable, animal skidding (another recommended BMP), and undisturbed forest (reference). During the rainy seasons of these years, surface runoff volumes and sediment yield were measured at five 1.5m x 10m erosion plots in each treated area. The results showed significant differences between traditional tractor yarding and the recommended skyline cable and animal skidding methods. Tractor yarding produced six to ten times more erosion during the rainy seasons than cable and animal yarding. The improved soil retention of cable and animal yarding was especially important during September when the highest rainfall occurred in this climate.

Using forest roads produces more erosion and sedimentation than any other forest or agricultural activity. This study evaluated soil losses from a forest road in central Honduras over two consecutive years. We divided a 400-m segment of road into 8 experimental units, each 50 m in length. Four units were treated with Best Management Practices (BMPs) and four were left untreated. The BMP treatments included reshaping the road prism, installing culverts and reshaping of road ditches, compacting 20-cm layers of the road tread, crowning the road surface (3% slope, double drainage), longitudinal sloping (less than 12%), and adding a 10-cm layer of gravel (crush size = 0.63 cm). Soil movement was measured daily during the rainy seasons. The highest soil loss occurred in the control road, around 500 m³km-1 per year, while the road treated with BMP lost approximately 225 m³km-1 per year. These results show that road surface erosion can be reduced up to 50% with the implementation of surface treatments.

Los caminos forestales producen mas erosion y sedimentación que cualquier otra actividad agrícola o forestal. En la parte central de Honduras, las perdidas de suelo producidas en la superficie de caminos forestales fueron evaluadas por dos años consecutivos. En la superficie del camino, se establecieron 400 m de camino en los cuales se colocaron ocho unidades experimentales de 50 m de longitud. Cuatro unidades fueron tratadas, mientras que cuatro no fueron tratadas y se dejaron como testigos. Los tratamientos aplicados fueron: conformado del prisma del camino, instalación de alcantarillas y limpieza y conformado de cunetas, compactación en capas de 20 cm con material selecto, bombeo de la superficie del camino con una pendiente transversal doble de 3%, una pendiente longitudinal menor del 12% y una capa de 10 cm de grava triturada (a 1/4 inch = 0.63 cm). Los movimientos de suelo fueron medidos durante las estaciones de lluvia. Los resultados finales mostraron que las perdidas de suelos en los segmentos no tratados fueron de alrededor de 500 m³km-1 por año, mientras que en los segmentos tratados resultó cerca de 225 m³km-1 por año, mostrando que la erosion de la superficie del camino puede ser reducida hasta en un 50% con tratamientos de la superficie.