Optimal Management of Naturally Regenerating Uneven-aged Forests

TL;DR

This paper introduces an algorithm for managing uneven-aged forests based on a realistic ecological model, addressing computational challenges and analyzing parameter sensitivity to improve sustainable forest management practices.

Contribution

It proposes a novel algorithm for complex uneven-aged forest management models and conducts sensitivity analysis to understand model behavior.

Findings

The algorithm effectively handles computationally difficult management models.

Sensitivity analysis reveals key parameters influencing forest dynamics.

Insights support sustainable and economically viable forest management strategies.

Abstract

A shift from even-aged forest management to uneven-aged management practices leads to a problem rather different from the existing straightforward practice that follows a rotation cycle of artificial regeneration, thinning of inferior trees and a clearcut. A lack of realistic models and methods suggesting how to manage uneven-aged stands in a way that is economically viable and ecologically sustainable creates difficulties in adopting this new management practice. To tackle this problem, we make a two-fold contribution in this paper. The first contribution is the proposal of an algorithm that is able to handle a realistic uneven-aged stand management model that is otherwise computationally tedious and intractable. The model considered in this paper is an empirically estimated size-structured ecological model for uneven-aged spruce forests. The second contribution is on the sensitivity analysis of the forest model with respect to a number of important parameters. The analysis provides us an insight into the behavior of the uneven-aged forest model.