B. Bruce Bare

Distance-dependent and distance-independent models of Douglas-fir and western hemlock basal area growth following silvicultural treatment

Distance-independent and distance-dependent individual-tree basal area growth equations for Douglas-fir and western hemlock growth following thinning and fertilization treatments were developed using regression analysis. Distance-independent models included only non-spatial competition and thinning indices, while distance-dependent models included both spatial and non-spatial indices. The distance-independent models with the highest adjusted multiple coefficient of determination (adjusted R2) for both species included diameter at breast height, crown class, percent basal area removed in thinning, plot basal area greater than the subject tree and stand age as independent variables. The distance-dependent models with the highest adjusted R2 included all of these variables in addition to a variant of the area potentially available index, which is based on the spatial tessellation of the point pattern of trees in the stand. Addition of this spatial index produced only a small (<.01) increase in adjusted R2 for models of both species. The relatively small amount of increase was due to three factors; thinning resulted in an even distribution of growing space among residual trees, tree size explained much of the variation in local competitive stress and the competitive neighborhood of individual trees was large relative to the size of the sample plots. The results suggest that the additional effort and expense required to obtain spatially referenced stand data for developing empirical forest growth models in similar stands is not justified.

A fuzzy multiple objective linear programming approach to forest planning under uncertainty

Abstract Describes the use of Fuzzy Multiple Objective Linear Programming (FMOLP) in forest planning where imprecise objective function coefficients are present. An extended formulation is also described for planning situations where uncertainties occur in the constraint set. A sample problem is presented to illustrate the approach.

Multiple objective forest land management planning: An illustration

Abstract Multiple Objective Programming (MOP) has undergone a rapid period of development during the last decade. Concurrently, increased land-use pressures have stimulated forest land management analysts to develop and utilize more sophisticated planning aids to address complex multi-resource issues involving multiple objectives and decision makers. To illustrate the potential use of MOP in land management planning, a demonstrative example is examined using an interactive technique—the Stem method. This method was chosen because of its promise as a rational, practical and systematic means of exploring feasible alternative solutions to multiple objective forest land management problems.

A survey of systems analysis models in forestry and the forest products industries

Abstract This review describes the current state of the art of management science applications in forest land management and the forest products industry. The evolution of applications of management science to forestry problems is traced from the late 1950s to the present. While management science is extensively utilized in both the public and private sectors, many institutional and technical barriers exist to hinder an even wider acceptance. Reasons for this and possible ways to ameliorate these problems are presented.

Computing maximum willingness to pay with Faustmann's formula: some special situations from New Zealand

Abstract Faustmanns theory of discounted cash flow analysis, developed using perpetually recurring before-tax cash flows facilitates the determination of the maximum willingness to pay (WTP) (i.e. economic) value of bare forestland and immature timber. He describes three valuation approaches: (1) compounding costs; (2) compounding/discounting annuities; and (3) discounting future cash flows. If non-recurring costs (or benefits) are incurred in any rotation or if the current stand is non-optimal with respect to future rotations, the discounting of future cash flows is the preferred approach. When after-tax cash flows are considered, four categories of tax treatment must be addressed: (1) immediately deductible expenditures; (2) capitalized expenditures which are deducted against future harvest revenue; (3) capitalized expenditures which are depreciated or amortized; and (4) non-deductible expenditures. Apart from the second case, either compounding costs or discounting future cash flows can be used to value a stand. However, discounting cash flows is the preferred approach when expenditures are capitalized and deducted against future harvest revenues. Illustrations of the consequences of the four categories of tax treatment are shown with respect to New Zealand pine plantations. Extension to the tax policies of other countries is straightforward.

Designing forest plans with conflicting objectives using de Novo programming

Optimization techniques which incorporate multiple objectives and operate within a soft decision environment offer great promise for increasing the utility of forest planning models. Using de novo programming, we illustrate the potential use of designing optimal forest systems in the face of conflicting objectives. A multiple objective linear programming model is used to illustrate this approach. both the generation and evaluation of compromise solutions under de novo conditions are discussed.

Brief history of systems analysis in forest resources

An introduction to the special volume on Operations Research in Forestry from the 14th Symposium for Systems Analysis in Forest Resources, held at the Marbella Resort, Maitencillo, Chile, March 8–11, 2011. This volume of the Annals of Operations Research contains some of the papers presented at the Symposium that were submitted for publication and passed the rigorous peer review process. In addition, manuscripts were solicited from the operations research and forest resources communities to enrich the contributions for this special volume.

A fuzzy approach to natural resource management from a regional perspective

Abstract This paper describes an approach to regional natural resource management that explicitly incorporates both the uncertainty and the multi-objective nature of such large-scale systems. A fuzzy linear programming algorithm is used to analyze sets of land management alternatives designed for individual forests within a region. Fuzziness is introduced in recognition that regional goal aspiration levels, interactions among resources, and cost estimates are imprecise and uncertain. An illustrative example, based on the 1989 RPA National Assessment Resource Interactions Model of the USDA Forest Service, is applied to the California Region and is used to test various fuzzy modelling approaches. Results show that: (a) regional optimization produces significant cost savings when compared with the solution obtained by aggregating individually optimized forest plans for the region, and (b) fuzzy-based regional solutions may offer decision makers a wider range of preferable solutions than those based solely on linear programming.

An Assessment of Forest Policy Changes in Western Washington

Abstract Changing forest policies in both riparian and upland areas to help protect threatened and endangered species have contributed to the reduction of timber harvests in western Washington. The economic, biodiversity, and environmental impacts of these policy actions have been substantial. Policy simulations across 9.4 million acres of timber-land show that relative to proactive management strategies, current habitat conservation and environmental programs (largely based on a reservation strategy) result in net present value reductions to forestland owners of

A computerized system for wild land use planning and environmental impact assessment

9.9 billion. Accompanying these asset value reductions are employment losses (sustained) of 30% and tax receipt losses of 26%. The policy simulations further demonstrate that proactive management will not decrease the long-term percentage of the upland landscape occupied by functionally old forests relative to the reservation strategy. In the riparian area, adoption of a reservation strategy actually decreases (by 29%) the percent of the landscape occupied by functionally old forests relative to a proactive management approach. These results illustrate the importance of proactively managing western Washington forests to provide maximum functionally old forest habitat for endangered upland animals (such as the northern spotted owl and the marbled murrelet) as well as riparian species.