A dynamic programming analysis of silvicultural alternatives for red pine plantations in Wisconsin

Martin, George L.; Ek, Alan R.

doi:10.1139/x81-050

Cited by 17 publications

(10 citation statements)

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“…This approach has been applied in even-aged stands in several different contexts, with only timber production (Faustmann 1849, Martin and Ek 1981, Tahvonen et al 2013) and with additional benefits outside timber production (Hartman 1976, van Kooten 1995, Pihlainen et al 2014. The approach to economically optimal continuous cover forestry is at its core the same; starting from any initial stand, optimize the harvests so that the net present value of future revenues is maximized (Haight 1985).…”

Section: Economic Models For Continuous Cover Forestrymentioning

confidence: 99%

On the economics of continuous cover forestry

Rämö¹

2017

Diss. For.

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This dissertation examines the economics of continuous cover forestry. The analysis is based on an economic description of continuous cover forestry using empirically estimated growth functions, with both size-structured and individual tree models. The optimization problem is solved in its general dynamic form using gradient-based interior point methods. Sensitivity analyzes are conducted for both the ecological and economical parameters.The thesis consists of a summary section and four separate studies, in which we solve economically optimal continuous cover forestry in single and mixed species stands. We present results for optimal harvests and stand structure, with and without biodiversity consideration, transition toward the optimal steady state, the effect of interest rate and harvesting cost on stand structure, density and optimal harvest timing, and how the optimal results compare to the limitations found in Finnish and Swedish forest legislation. It is found that harvests typically target the largest trees in the stand. In mixed species stands at more productive sites, species diversity increases with the interest rate, with an optimal steady state being a mixed species forest. Taking biodiversity into account in forest management increases species diversity. The harvest timing and intensity are dependent on both the interest rate and the fixed harvesting cost, and if the initial stand is far from the optimal steady state, the legal limitations are violated at least during the transition period.

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Section: Economic Models For Continuous Cover Forestrymentioning

confidence: 99%

On the economics of continuous cover forestry

Rämö¹

2017

Diss. For.

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“…Many other studies have dealt with the application of DP to the stand level optimisation problem, among them are Kilkki and Väisänen (1970), Adams and Ek (1974), Martin and Ek (1981), Valsta and Brodie (1985), Arhaud and Pelkki (1996), Borges and Falcao (1999) and Díaz-Balteiro and Rodríguez (2006).…”

Section: Dynamic Programmingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimising forest stand management in Galicia, north-western Spain

Pasalodos-Tato¹

2010

Diss. For.

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The present thesis aims at developing instructions for the optimal management of pine stands in Galicia in order to maximise the economic profitability of these stands. Galicia is a Spanish region characterised by the high productivity of its forests, Pinus pinaster, Pinus radiata and Pinus sylvestris being Galicia's most important conifers. Analytical methods have not been effectively applied in Galician forest management. The main objective of the present thesis was to develop management tools that ease the management in Galician pine stands, thus enhancing the profitability of forestry. Employing stand growth and yield models in combination with an optimisation algorithm, models for the optimal management of pine stands were developed. Since optimal management is sensitive to market conditions, timber price and discounting rate were used as predictors in the models (studies I-III) in addition to other predictors such as site index and planting density. The main challenge for the development of Galician pine stands is the constant presence of forest fires that complicate both management and economic analyses. High risk of fire makes it necessary to include fire risk considerations in the analyses when developing instructions for the optimal management. Fire risk was characterised and analysed as an exogenous (study II) or endogenous (studies III-IV) factor, observing that the manner in which fire risk is characterised affects the conclusions about optimal forest management. Another novelty of this thesis was the analysis of silvopastoral systems as an alternative to mere timberoriented schedules under conditions of high fire risk (study IV). The results (studies I-IV) showed that optimal management was highly sensitive to market and fire risk conditions, an increase in both discounting rate and fire risk shortening rotation optimal lengths. The models for optimal management developed in the thesis allow great flexibility for adapting the instructions to every possible economic and risk situation. Study IV showed that grazing in the forest improved profitability.

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“…In comparison with the above three or more descriptor models, a dynamic programming model optimizing both thinning and rotation age for an individual-tree red pine model (Pinus resinosa Ait.) was completed by Martin and Ek (1981) with two descriptors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficient Optimization of An Individual Tree Growth Model<sup><i>∗</i></sup>

Yoshimoto

Paredes

Brodie

2016

FORMATH

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Abstract:The PATH algorithm (Paredes and Brodie,1987) is interpreted by means of the calculus of variations. Using the PATH algorithm, a new dynamic programming model called Stand Optimization System (SOS) is developed. The system is incorporated into a growth simulator constructed by Arney (1985). Further limitation of optimality on the PATH algorithm and the relationship between the Lagrange multiplier and the decision variable are discussed.

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A dynamic programming analysis of silvicultural alternatives for red pine plantations in Wisconsin

Cited by 17 publications

References 0 publications

On the economics of continuous cover forestry

On the economics of continuous cover forestry

Optimising forest stand management in Galicia, north-western Spain

Efficient Optimization of An Individual Tree Growth Model<sup><i>∗</i></sup>

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