Lumber Recovery Rate of Cupressus lusitanica in Arsi Forest Enterprise, Ethiopia

Yashwant Singh Rawat (), Misganu Eba and Moti Nebiyu
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Yashwant Singh Rawat: Department of Wood Technology Management, Faculty of Civil Technology, Technical and Vocational Training Institute, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 190310, Ethiopia
Misganu Eba: Department of Wood Technology Management, Faculty of Civil Technology, Technical and Vocational Training Institute, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 190310, Ethiopia
Moti Nebiyu: Department of Wood Technology Management, Faculty of Civil Technology, Technical and Vocational Training Institute, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 190310, Ethiopia

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 2, 1-14

Abstract: In Ethiopia, sawmills have poor capacity utilization primarily due to the outdated equipment that resulted in a low recovery rate and the production of a high amount of wastage. The lumber recovery rate is the output (lumber) of a log in the sawing process. In Ethiopia, Cupressus lusitanica is significantly used for lumber, for furniture production, construction, poles and posts. Sampled logs were processed according to the normal production rate and standard lumber dimension of the sawmill for the purpose of estimating the lumber recovery rate. The present study aimed to investigate the lumber recovery rate of C. lusitanica and the factors affecting it. A total of 26.93 m 3 of lumber was produced by the sawmilling operation, representing 72.86% of the overall lumber recovery rate. Furthermore, the sawdust and slabs were recorded as 2.92 m 3 (7.90%) of sawdust and 7.11 m 3 (19.24%) of slabs, respectively. There were a number of factors that decreased the magnitude of the lumber recovery rate. It was observed that cutting using a wider saw kerf caused a reduction in the rate of lumber recovery owing to the generation of an increased quantity of sawdust. The lumbers were air-seasoned in the sawmill yard. Maximizing the volume of the lumber recovered from the logs can increase the sawmill profitability, lessen the effects of climate change, ensure the sustainable use of natural resources, enhance the energy efficiency and manage wood waste (e.g., recycling and prevention) for green economic development and industrial transformation. This species has a great demand in the wood industry of Ethiopia; hence, the plantation and yield of C. lusitanica must be expanded in order to provide sustainable forestry, protect valuable forest resources and safeguard the biodiversity in the country.

Keywords: Arsi; Cupressus lusitanica; sawdust; saw milling; slabs; wood industry; forest management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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