ABSTRACT
The study was made on an electric energy transmission line between the cities of Ji-Paraná and Pimenta Bueno, in the State of Rondônia. The objective was to quantify the economic factors related to the suppression of vegetation by traditional and selective methods. The selective method cost was estimated according to the number of individuals per hectare, the area of intervention and the cost of felled trees. The total cost of the traditional method was determined by the area of intervention and by the cost of deforested hectares. The transposal of a fragment with the use of seven 55m towers, with no intervention in the vegetation, generates an increase of only 2,8% on the total cost, if compared to the cost of employing seven 35m towers plus the costs of a selective intervention in the vegetation. In the selective method, the number of individuals per hectare is the most important variable because it indicates directly the value to be wasted with the felling of trees. The traditional method will grow out of use because it does not offer big advantages in tecnicals envairomentals and economics terms.
Key words:
selective cut; transmission lines; forest fragments