J. P. Roise

An approach to optimal wetland mitigation using mathematical programming and geographic information system based wetland function estimation

We developed and tested a quantitative geographic information system (GIS)-based approach for selecting wetland restoration sites. Our approach uses a combination of an existing wetland function evaluation program, a GIS and integer programming methodology with an objective to minimize cost of restoration subject to meet environmental requirements. Investigations were conducted on the formulation to examine the effects of problem size, site ordering for input, and restoration targets. The formulation could be solved for the largest problem size tested of 996 integer variables. The larger the problem, the more time it took to solve. Larger restoration targets usually took more sites and more time to solve. Sorting sites by size was found to lead to inefficient and often unfeasible solutions. Random sorting of sites was found to be the more efficient method of inputting restoration sites into analysis.

SOIL BULK DENSITY, SOIL STRENGTH, AND REGENERATION OF A BOTTOMLAND HARDWOOD SITE ONE YEAR AFTER HARVEST

The first year soil physical properties and regeneration measurements following harvest indicate ample regeneration on all treatments including the landing areas. Comparisons included three machine systems (three skidders) and a helicopter-yarded control that were field tested for harvesting a bottomland hardwood site under adverse conditions. The results also demonstrate a significantly greater number of tree stem count following the winter than the summer harvest. Results of the statistical analysis of soil bulk density indicate that the soil had partially recovered from machine traffic one year after harvest.

Regulation of Timber Yield for Sustainable Management of Industrial Forest Plantations — Theory and Practice

The integration of forest plantations, sustained yield regulation of industrial wood fiber, and market responses of private forest landowners determine sustainable forest management for timber. The world has approximately 3.4 billion ha of forests; 230 million ha of all types of forest plantations; and 40 million ha of industrial wood plantations. A sample of private and public forestry analysts in the world indicated that they use a variety of timber harvest regulation approaches. These include Model I and Model II model formulations; Simplex and heuristic model solution approaches; sustained yield harvest constraints; and ecological constraints. An analysis of the forest plantation area and timber supply situation in the U.S. South indicated that intensive forest management can balance softwood timber inventories and timber harvests, at slightly increased real timber prices. The data on forest plantations and growth rates, as well as our survey of harvest regulation, indicate that the forest products industry and other forest owners have the means to achieve and modeling capabilities to measure and implement sustainable timber management. If this potential is realized, increased productivity in managed forests will lessen timber harvesting pressures and enhance the protection of natural forests.

Valuation and production possibilities on a working forest using multi-objective programming, Woodstock, timber NPV, and carbon storage and sequestration

ABSTRACT This study analyzes the trade-off between net present value (NPV) of timber resources, and carbon sequestration and storage for a working forest, the Hofmann Forest in North Carolina, USA. Multi-objective optimization is used to determine the production possibility curves showing the relationship between NPV and carbon. We then perform a sensitivity analysis to explore alternative management strategies. For carbon yields we used aboveground pools: branches, leaves, tops and bole as estimated by the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) and LOBDSS using the California Carbon Market Protocols, including product carbon. Timber yields of sawtimber, chip-n-saw and pulpwood were estimated by LOBDSS for planted stands less than 49 years of age, and FVS was used for all natural stands and planted stands 49 years and over. Our results reveal that NPV opportunity costs associated with increasing carbon sequestration at Hofmann Forest are less than the current California carbon market price.

Machine System for Harvesting Small Diameter Woody Biomass and Reducing Hazardous Fuels: A Developmental Report

This is a report on field testing and refinement of the first generation FECON Bio-Harvester, designed to swath harvest small diameter woody biomass of mixed species and size classes. The machine system consisted of a unique harvesting head, a FECON FTX440, a silage dump wagon and roll-on-roll-off bins. The cutting system consists of a rotating drum with cutting tools, followed by an auger and a material fan which blew the harvested biomass into the silage dump wagon. The harvesting head is PTO driven. The machine system was tests in natural forest understory, between rows of pine plantations and in a Pocosin ecosystem. The sites had 6 to 20 green tons per acre of small diameter woody biomass. Below are the resulting harvesting productivity and cost.

Sensitivity analysis of transportation corridor location in wetland areas: A multiobjective programming and GIS approach

A multiobjective programming approach for locating transportation corridors through areas containing wetlands is presented. The approach uses a geographic information system in combination with multiple objectives for environment and construction costs, and the North Carolina Coastal Region Evaluation of Wetland Significance (NC-CREWS) program. The multiobjective function is a weighted combination of wetland values and construction cost. The objective minimizes total cost of construction and wetland impacts resulting from a specific transportation corridor. The transportation designer specifies starting and ending points of the desired corridor. The model then finds the best path given the weights placed on each individual objective (i.e. habitat quality, water quality, hydrology, and construction expense). By varying the weight set, several different paths can be found. The approach is tested on a watershed in Carteret County North Carolina using a benchmarking procedure. One benchmark minimizes a combined wetland significance loss (cost). This path avoids crossing wetlands. The other benchmark minimizes construction expense. Varying the weight placed on each of the objective function components generates additional paths. The approach is useful in locating alternative road corridor paths in attempts to satisfy conflicting societal interests.