Roads Through the Storm: Making Forest Transportation Climate-Smart

Samar Crow

02-10-2025

As time passes, news about the now hotter Earth buzzes through the bird village. Those kingfishers residing along the banks of the Red River often report drying riverbeds and skinny fish. As Kingfisher casts his gaze upon the events that have unfolded, he can’t help but feel a sense of unease creeping up within him.

In “GHG Emissions”; Wild Wise Weird [1]

© Peter Fogden

Forest roads may not often cross our minds, but they are the hidden lifelines of global forestry. These networks enable the transport of timber, firefighting access, and even community livelihoods. A new study by Rahbarisisakht and colleagues [2] reviews two decades of research to ask a critical question: how will climate change reshape the way these vital roads function?

The study finds that shifts in rainfall and temperature patterns—already accelerating under global warming—pose serious threats to forest road stability. For example, more intense rainfall increases erosion, flooding, and road surface deformation [3,4]. At the same time, shorter winters in northern regions reduce frozen ground periods, weakening the natural bearing capacity that allows heavy logging trucks to pass [5,6]. Together, these changes disrupt the forestry supply chain, increasing costs and the risk of road failure.

To address these challenges, the authors developed a conceptual framework for adaptive forest road management. It integrates three key strategies:

1. Road network monitoring – using technologies such as satellite-based soil moisture sensors and LiDAR to detect weak points early.

   
   

2. Road design and maintenance – reinforcing drainage systems, applying vegetation cover, and strengthening road surfaces to resist erosion.

   
   

3. Operational adjustments – changing harvest schedules, employing lighter trucks, and creating satellite storage yards to maintain steady wood flow despite shorter work windows.

   
   

Beyond economics, forest roads embody the nature–human nexus [7]. Poorly adapted infrastructure can fragment habitats, pollute waterways, and undermine both ecosystems and communities. Cultivating a higher ecological intelligence is necessary to design road systems that respect natural processes while sustaining livelihoods [8]. For instance, stabilizing slopes with vegetation does more than protect a road; it preserves soil integrity, reduces runoff into rivers, and safeguards biodiversity.

Climate-smart road management is about more than moving logs efficiently. It is about harmonizing human needs with ecological stability—a practical demonstration of how raising our collective NQ can foster an eco-surplus culture that keeps both forests and communities resilient in the face of climate change.

References

[1] Vuong QH. (2024). Wild Wise Weird. https://books.google.com/books?id=N10jEQAAQBAJ

[2] Rahbarisisakht S, et al. (2025). Managing forest road networks in the face of a changing climate: A conceptual framework based on a comprehensive review. Current Forestry Reports, 11, 19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40725-025-00250-y

[3] Varol T, et al. (2019). The effects of rill erosion on unpaved forest road. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 17, 825-839. https://doi.org/10.15666/aeer/1701_825839

[4] Zhao Q, et al. (2023). Factors contributing to rill erosion of forest roads in a mountainous watershed. Journal of Environmental Management, 326, 116829. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116829

[5] Kuloglu TZ, Anderson AE, Lieffers VJ. (2021). Cost comparison of non-frozen and frozen forest road construction in changing climates. International Journal of Forest Engineering, 32, 103-111. https://doi.org/10.1080/14942119.2021.1884334

[6] Fjeld D, et al. (2024). Modelling forest road trafficability with satellite-based soil moisture variables. International Journal of Forest Engineering, 35, 93-104. https://doi.org/10.1080/14942119.2023.2276628

[7] Nguyen MH. (2024). How can satirical fables offer us a vision for sustainability? Visions for Sustainability, 23(11267), 323-328. https://doi.org/10.13135/2384-8677/11267

[8] Vuong QH, Nguyen MH. (2025). On Nature Quotient. Pacific Conservation Biology, 31, PC25028. https://doi.org/10.1071/PC25028