Pavel Máchal

Possibilities of using price analysis in decision making on the use of harvester technology in forestry

BARTOS, L., MACHAL, P., SKOUPÝ, A.: Possibilities of using price analysis in decision making on the use of harvester technology in forestry. Acta univ. agric. et silvic. Mendel. Brun., 2009, LVII, No. 4, pp. 31–36 The concept of harvester technology is understood as a fully mechanized harvesting technology for the purpose of timber logging, which means timber handling, extraction and forwarding or skidding. This complete harvesting technology consists of two diff erent assignments of accommodated, specialized logging machines – harvester and forwarder. This timber harvesting technology currently represents a state-of-the-art technology in logging and transport of timber in forestry. This is because the effi ciency of the “harvester and forwarder” combination is several times higher than that of the commonly used technology of “power saw and tractor” (Lukac, T., 2005). Other important elements that prevail with harvester technologies are a not negligible and high degree of labour hygiene as well as a signifi cant decrease of environmental load in fl uencing the environment. This paper analyzes prices of works related to timber harvesting and skidding in the selected forest stands of concerned workplaces. harvester technologies, harvester, forwarder, price of service One of factors decisive for the utilization of harvester technologies in timber logging are economic conditions; together with natural and technical conditions these essentially infl uence the utilization of multi-operational machinery (Kupcak, V., 2003). The application of logging and hauling machines at the fulfi lment of economic assignments in both private and municipal, military and state-owned forests is currently an absolute necessity. Main requirement of the forest owner in the application of any technology of timber logging and skidding is compliance of the technology with the existing environmental conditions at a simultaneous respecting of the production and social functions of the forest and relevant economic aspects (Ulrich, R. et al., 2006). It may certainly be assumed that technologies using manual power chainsaws and choker skidding will be retained. On the other hand, one needs to be aware of extensive advantages off ered by the technology of multi-operational machines, not only the harvester technologies themselves but their combinations with for example fo rest cableways (the so called mountain processors) or even with the manual power chainsaws, allowing for replacement of wood mass choker skidding by haula ge with forwarders (Sajanek, Vl., 2007). It should be pointed out that these integrated logging and hauling technologies are highly demanding for a skilled preparation of both the work and the workplace, the technological process elaborated in detail, and a professional managerial work throughout the production process. The use of a new logging machinery that favourably infl uences the prices of short lengths produced through high productivity is supported by the increasing wages of forest workers, the almost stagnant and relatively low price of wood in the market, the limited fi nancial means of business entities, and the competition within the wood market. Despite the conservative approach to the usa ge of harvesters and forwarders at some places, especially in the improvement felling, the machines exhibit a rela ti ve ly marked increase in numbers, particularly at workplaces of Lesy Ceske republiky (Forests of the Czech Republic). 32 L. Bartos, P. Machal, A. Skoupý Integrated logging and hauling technologies are justifi ed, and with using suitable logging machines of adequate output and proper technologies, in adequa te environment (ground bearing capacity, slope gradient, obstacles...), with trained, motivated and competent operators and a high degree of work organization control, including the preparation of forest stand for the machinery, they are necessary for the fulfi lment of logging and hauling assignments in forestry practice. This paper is focused on the issue of using possibilities to put on integrated logging and hauling technologies with selected companies, namely: Vojenske lesy a statky CR, s. p., Division Lipnik nad Becvou (Military Forests and Farms of the CR, state enterprise, SP Valsovice (Training Forest District Valsovice); Městske lesy a zeleň Valasske Meziřici (Municipal Forests and Greenery Valasske Meziřici). The goal of the paper is to contribute to the pos si bili ty of using harvester technology by means of price analysis to facilitate the decision making on the use of the technology, and to propose an adoption of these technologies in the territory of the selected workplaces. MATERIAL AND METHODS This paper makes use of factor description methods and the price analysis for works related to timber logging and skidding. It also provides a comparison of prices for timber logging and skidding services with the technologies used on earmarked forest stands of the concerned workplaces, and a comparison of prices of works between the “power saw and tractor” logging and hauling technology and the harvester technology at selected workplaces. The prices for works were taken from contracts between suppliers and customers. The calculation of labour input for the “power saw and tractor” technology uses performance standards valid for the concerned entity. On the grounds of the analysis performed it was possible to conclude, which of the technologies was more price-demanding for the work submitter (customer). All the ascertained data were put into a calculation formula containing the representation of suitable site classes, representation of coniferous and de ciduous tree species, and the amount of wood mass in site classes with the potential for harvester work.

Pedagogical preparation of academic staff starting their career

Within the development programme of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Physical Training of the Czech Republic the Lifelong Learning Institute at the Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno introduced and carried out the educational programme for enhancement of pedagogical competences of young academic workers at MUAF in Brno in 2005. It consisted of two parts – pedagogical-didactical and psychosocial. Its objective was the development of pedagogical competences of the young academic staff. Our contribution explains the definition of the objectives of both parts of this programme as well as its contents. We also present the evaluation of both parts of the programme.

Teachers' training courses at Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno

MaCHAL, P., LINHARTOVa, D.: Teachers training courses at Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno. Acta univ. agric. et silvic. Mendel. Brun., 2006, LIV, No. 5, pp. 93–98 Our contribution deals with the problems of teachers’ training courses at the Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno. It is divided into three basic areas. At the beginning it contains legislative framework of teachers’ training in the Czech Republic which is followed by description of the teachers’ training courses at the Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno as well as its further development. university, teachers training cources, career education, specialized training teachers, university teachers The Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno is the oldest agricultural and forestry university in the Czech Republic. The former University of Agriculture in Brno had been established in 1919 and existed up to 1944. During that time it underwent a lot of organizational and methodological changes and schooled almost 20 000 agricultural engineers, more than 6500 forestry engineers and almost 5500 economic engineers for the work in different industries. Nowadays, the Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno consists of four faculties: the Faculty of Agronomy, the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, the Faculty of Business and Economics and the Faculty of Horticulture. Almost 8000 students study at the University in this school year. The University has accreditation for 25 bachelor study programmes, 12 master study programmes containing 17 study branches and 19 PhD. study programmes containing 29 study branches. Within the study programmes the students can attend the whole range of specialized subjects whose curricula have been tailored to the needs related to the Czech Republic’s membership in EU. Based upon the decision of the Rector, the Institute of Lifelong Learning (ILL) has been founded at the University as one of the University workplaces. At the beginning the Institute included 3 main areas of activities: career education (Courses: Professional Schooling of Forest Owners, Additional Pedagogical Course for Teachers of Specialized Subjects), specialized education (Courses: Growing Trees for Energetic Utilization and Energetic Utilization of Wood) and senior citizens education (University of Third Age). Nowadays the Institute of Lifelong Learning carries out lifelong learning in three areas: career education, specialized education and senior education. Within the career education the educational programmes (courses) are offered to the applicants. These are relatively independent units, tasks and assessments of achievements, whose objective is fulfillment of the aims of courses. These courses are completed by obtaining a certificate of course participation or passing final exam or obtaining a certificate of professional competence. These courses are divided into particular modules. Career education usually contains minimum one-semester courses, which were known as post-graduate courses. Its typical representative is Additional Pedagogical Courses for Specialised Subjects Teachers and Instructors of Specialised Training. 94 P. Machal, D. Linhartova Specialized education is made up of a set of mostly short-term courses (apart from language courses). They are completed by obtaining a certificate of participation. Education of senior citizens is provided for the Czech seniors at the University of the Third Age at the Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno (MUAF). The courses participants have a status of students though not in the sense of the Law No. 111/1998 Coll. about higher education and all following additional laws and regulations. The University of the Third Age is designed as the course of lectures and seminars offered in topical blocks. First two years of study contain topics within the key areas of all MUAF faculties while the third year of study contains topics based on students’ choices. The Institute of Lifelong Learning tries to address the following groups of possible courses’ participants: business people form the area of farm production, forestry, wood technology, MUAF graduates in all phases of their professional careers, MUAF students, MUAF academic workers, secondary school graduates primarily of agricultural, forestry, wood technology and horticultural orientation as well as senior citizens at post-productive age. Within the framework of career education the activities of the Institute of Lifelong Learning are significantly oriented at training of teachers of specialized secondary schools and universities. In this regard Brno has had a long tradition as the roots of this type of education can be found here in the 70s’ of the 20th century. Historical experience arms the current teachers’ training courses lecturers with valuable stimuli for its transformation called for by the current conditions in the Czech secondary and higher education. OBjECTIVES AND METhODOLOGY The general objective of this contribution is to show the possible ways of teachers training courses for teachers of specialized subjects at secondary schools and universities at MUAF in Brno which is based upon the analysis of legislative documents of the Czech Republic. There are three particular targets: • Analysis of current legislature of the Czech Republic related to the area of further pedagogical education of teachers at secondary schools and universities (1st target). • Description of current pedagogical educational activities at Institute of Lifelong Learning (ILL) at MUAF in Brno (2nd target). • Introduction of vision of further development of pedagogical education at MUAF in Brno (3rd target). For the introduction of this research work we have used various research methods. Among others they were mainly the study and analysis of legislative resources of the Czech Republic in the area of pedagogical education which means that for obtaining the information we were dealing with indirect documenting methods. The methods of description of the current state of pedagogical education at MUAF in Brno and its further modeling its prospective shape have also been included.