ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Influence of Improving Materials of Forest Roads
on the Surrounding Environment
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Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
Submission date: 2019-09-24
Final revision date: 2019-10-31
Acceptance date: 2019-12-12
Online publication date: 2020-04-16
Publication date: 2020-06-08
Corresponding author
Lenka Ševelová
Department of Landscape Management, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 61300, Brno, Czech Republic
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2020;29(5):3821-3830
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ABSTRACT
Ensuring the efficiency of forest management and the availability of landscape areas requires
a quality transport network. However, any structure and its subsequent use generally contributes to
a certain disruption of surrounding ecosystems, soil degradation, erosion and changes in vegetation.
The presented study analyzes the effects and impacts of the five types of improving materials used to
improve the load-bearing capacity of low-volume roads. Two basic types of analyses were performed:
the classification of mechanical properties of soil for determining fine clay particle proportions and
the chemical testing for pH and carbonate determination. The samples were always collected at three
distances from the roadside, at two height levels and in two years: 2012 and 2017. The aim of the
study was to quantify the effects of improving materials on the pH changes as well as the carbonate
levels, and to compare their changes over the course of five years. Also, we have highlighted the
possibilities of “biological tools” (vegetation) to control and minimize the impact of human activities.
Vegetative control, or phytoremediation, increases soil resistance to erosion, improves water retention in
a landscape and maintains the original balance. It seems to be an effective tool for reduction of the
impact of pavement construction materials and technologies on the surrounding environment.