A new mixed-integer programming model for spatial forest planning

The unit restriction model and the area restriction model are the two main approaches to dealing with adjacency in forest harvest planning. In this paper, we present a new mixed-integer programming (MIP) formulation that can be classified as both a unit restriction approach and an area restriction approach. We need to generate a feasible cluster to formulate the model. However, unlike other approaches, there is no need to generate specific model constraints representing computationally burdensome clusters for large cases. We describe and analyze our approach by comparing it with the most efficient approaches presented in the literature. Comparisons are made from modeling and computational points of view. Results showed that the proposed model was competitive with regard to modeling complexity and size of formulation. Furthermore, it is easy to implement in standard modeling software.