Using a Simple Model to Determine the Best Management Regimes for Plantations at the Stand Level: A Case Study of Moshao Forest Farm in the Red-Soil Hilly Region of Southern China

Plantations in Southern China are experiencing several major problems concerning even-aged forest structures and dwindling ecosystem services under traditional forest management. The objective of this study was to determine the best management regimes (BMRs) for sustainable forest management using the Moshao forest farm as a case study. We constructed a framework for BMR modeling characterized by highly scheduled timber production (STP), low fluctuations in periodically scheduled timber harvest levels (FPS), and age class structure (ACS) at the end of the planning horizon. A paired analysis was conducted between the three indicators to identify suitable management planning for long-term timber production. Our results suggest that STP, FPS, and ACS are correlated, enabling the control of these forest performance indicators by setting various harvesting intensities in a planning horizon. We found that management regimes (MRS) with cutting area percentages from 20% to 40% and a cutting period of 10 years combined with small-area clear-cutting (≤5 ha) are optimal (MR6–MR10) for the Moshao forest farm in Southern China. In particular, MR with a cutting area percentage of 35% is the best option (MR9). These findings suggest that an applicable MR is designed by identifying the optimal harvesting intensity. The current local harvesting intensity can be properly increased to balance between timber production and ecological impacts on plantations.

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Ecological Aspects of Forest Management Planning: A Northern Hardwood Forest Case Study

Northern Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/njaf/12.3.121 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 121-126 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Louise M. Tritton ◽

Paul E. Sendak

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Sugar Maple ◽

Hardwood Forest ◽

Northern Hardwood Forest ◽

Timber Production ◽

Forest Management Planning ◽

Northern Hardwood ◽

Crown Dieback

Abstract In a stand managed for timber production, increased crown dieback and mortality of trees generally signal a need for reevaluating site conditions, management objectives, and harvesting practices. In this paper, we describe a case study of a northern hardwood forest stand intended for timber production but showing crown dieback and mortality. Plans for a diameter-limit cut were confounded by the presence of diseased and poor quality trees (especially sugar maples), a history of high-grading, and fair to poor site characteristics for sugar maple growth over much of the area. After evaluating the site, we suggested a revised management plan including a shelterwood cut favoring regeneration of both yellow birch and sugar maple. Forest management decisions based on ecological and economic considerations can promote both the long-term health and productivity of forest stands. However, management for long-term health and productivity are not likely to be accomplished under current market conditions in much of New England. North. J. Appl. For. 12(3):121-126.

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An economic assessment of using the allowable cut effect for enhanced forest management policies: an Alberta case study

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x00-081 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 30 (10) ◽

pp. 1591-1600 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

R L Hegan ◽

M K Luckert

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Populus Tremuloides ◽

Picea Glauca ◽

Economic Assessment ◽

Planning Horizon ◽

Potential Mechanism ◽

Timber Supply ◽

Management Policies ◽

Supply Model

In Canada, forest policymakers are considering the allowable cut effect (ACE) as a potential mechanism to provide tenure holders with incentives to practice enhanced forest management. To investigate the incentives created by the ACE, this paper estimates returns to ACE investments for a trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) - white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) mixedwood forest in Alberta. A timber supply model is used to optimize harvesting schedules to maximize net present values over a 200-year planning horizon. A number of scenarios are investigated with variations in intensity of silvicultural investments, beginning age-class distributions, levels of flexibility around the allowable annual cut (AAC), calculations of AACs based on coniferous and mixedwood volumes, and green-up constraints. In our simulations, it was difficult to find positive returns to the ACE. Positive returns only occurred when operating under harvesting constraints with a mature starting forest and AAC calculations that ignored deciduous volumes. In those limited cases where there were positive returns to the ACE, returns were higher for extensive, rather than intensive investments. Combining these results with other potential impediments to the ACE, previously identified in the literature, the probability of tenure holders having incentives to undertake ACE investments is low.

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Flood Simulation of Urbanizing Watershed by Coupling Land Use/Cover Changes with Distributed Hydrological Model: A Case Study of Buji River in Southern China

Watershed Management 2020 ◽

10.1061/9780784483060.023 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yangbo Chen ◽

Zexing Liu

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Hydrological Model ◽

Southern China ◽

Distributed Hydrological Model ◽

Flood Simulation ◽

Urbanizing Watershed

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Optimizing preventive maintenance over a finite planning horizon in a semi-Markov framework

IMA Journal of Management Mathematics ◽

10.1093/imaman/dpaa026 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Antonio Sánchez Herguedas ◽

Adolfo Crespo Márquez ◽

Francisco Rodrigo Muñoz

Keyword(s):

Preventive Maintenance ◽

Recurrence Relations ◽

Direct Calculation ◽

Planning Horizon ◽

Practical Implementation ◽

Practical Application ◽

Mathematical Solution ◽

Accumulated Reward ◽

Finite Planning Horizon

Abstract This paper describes the optimization of preventive maintenance (PM) over a finite planning horizon in a semi-Markov framework. In this framework, the asset may be operating, and providing income for the asset owner, or not operating and undergoing PM, or not operating and undergoing corrective maintenance following failure. PM is triggered when the asset has been operating for τ time units. A number m of transitions specifies the finite horizon. This system is described with a set of recurrence relations, and their z-transform is used to determine the value of τ that maximizes the average accumulated reward over the horizon. We study under what conditions a solution can be found, and for those specific cases the solution τ* is calculated. Despite the complexity of the mathematical solution, the result obtained allows the analyst to provide a quick and easy-to-use tool for practical application in many real-world cases. To demonstrate this, the method has been implemented for a case study, and its accuracy and practical implementation were tested using Monte Carlo simulation and direct calculation.

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Land Use Spatial Optimization for Sustainable Wood Utilization at the Regional Level: A Case Study from Vietnam

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12020245 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 245

Author(s):

Nguyen Dang Cuong ◽

Köhl Michael ◽

Mues Volker

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Forest Management ◽

Forest Plantations ◽

Land Resource ◽

Forest Landscape ◽

Timber Supply ◽

Landscape Restoration ◽

Forest Landscape Restoration ◽

Wood Utilization

Forest landscape restoration is a widely accepted approach to sustainable forest management. In addition to revitalizing degraded sites, forest landscape restoration can increase the supply of sustainable timber and thereby reduce logging in natural forests. The current study presents a spatial land use optimization model and utilizes a linear programming algorithm that integrates timber production and timber processing chains to meet timber demand trade-offs and timber supply. The objective is to maximize yield and profit from forest plantations under volatile timber demands. The model was parameterized for a case study in Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam, where most forest plantations grow Acacia mangium (A. mangium). Data were obtained from field surveys on tree growth, as well as from questionnaires to collect social-economic information and determine the timber demand of local wood processing mills. The integration of land use and wood utilization approaches reduces the amount of land needed to maintain a sustainable timber supply and simultaneously leads to higher yields and profits from forest plantations. This forest management solution combines economic and timber yield aspects and promotes measures focused on economic sustainability and land resource efficiency.

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Machine learning to analyze the social-ecological impacts of natural resource policy: insights from community forest management in the Indian Himalaya

Environmental Research Letters ◽

10.1088/1748-9326/aafa8f ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 024008 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Pushpendra Rana ◽

Daniel C Miller

Keyword(s):

Machine Learning ◽

Forest Management ◽

Ecological Impacts ◽

Natural Resource Policy ◽

Community Forest Management ◽

Community Forest ◽

Indian Himalaya ◽

Social Ecological ◽

The Social ◽

Resource Policy

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History of forestry and forest management

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rstb.1975.0035 ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 271 (911) ◽

pp. 69-80 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Industrial Revolution ◽

Environmental Benefits ◽

National Forest ◽

Private Landowners ◽

Timber Production ◽

Land Area ◽

The Past ◽

The Social ◽

History Of

Britain possesses a forest area which is one of the smallest in Europe in relation to its population and land area. In the past, forests have been felled to make way for farming and to supply timber for ships, houses, fuel and metal smelting. Timber was a key to sea power, and repeatedly the availability of home timber supplies has proved crucial in time of war. The nation’s dwindling reserves of timber have been a source of anxiety since Tudor times and periodic surges of planting for timber production by private landowners took place until about 1850. Thereafter, interest faded with the advent of the iron ship, the Industrial Revolution and the availability of cheap timber imports. Govern ment activity was minimal until a national forest authority was formed in 1919 to create a strategic timber reserve. Since 1958 there have been frequent policy reviews to assess the changing needs of the nation for timber and the new values associated with the social and environmental benefits of forests.

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