Abstract
SUMMARY This paper presents a model of dynamic programming in addressing specific challenges encountered in management planning of clonal poplar plantations. The planning challenge is posed by the need to make a decision that will result in maximum revenue, a possibility to select different rotations, plant spacing and the frequency of thinning during the rotations. The aim of this research was to analyze only options that are realistically possible, since the number of possible combinations is extremely high. The dynamic programming model is tested in the Republic of Serbia (Province of Vojvodina) on clonal poplar plantations in the forests managed by the Public Enterprise “Vojvodinasume”. The analysis included possible thinning in the 10 th or the 20 th year (or both) and three possible rotations (20, 25 and 30 years), taking into account three types of plant spacing that are most commonly used in planting in alluvial region of Vojvodina, along the Danube River (6x3 m, 5x5 m and 6x6 m). The result of the analysis showed that the optimal procedure for the management of Euro-American poplar (Populus-euroamericana I - 214) stands, in the given conditions, in the long term, involves afforestation with plant spacing 5x5 m, thinning in the 10 th year and the rotation length of 25 years.
Highlights
Forestry planning is a complex challenge because forests are complex ecological and economic systems with a number of factors affecting the process of planning and decision-making (Balteiro and Romero, 2008)
MATERIAL AND METHODS This paper focuses on determining the maximum revenue using dynamic programming method
The analysis of the data presented in this paper leads to the conclusion that dynamic programming method can be successfully used in addressing management issues when different rotations, plant spacing and the frequency of thinning planting have to be selected, if the same set of treatments repeats perpetually in future rotations
Summary
Forestry planning is a complex challenge because forests are complex ecological and economic systems with a number of factors affecting the process of planning and decision-making (Balteiro and Romero, 2008). The practice proves that this process considers only some of the realities of such a system, while other aspects are seen less clearly (Medarević, 2006; Curovic et al, 2012; Pantić et al, 2013) Based on this fact, every decision maker, involved in any form of forest planning, faces a number of criteria that influence his decision (Balteiro and Romero, 2008). Compared to other complex systems, the aforementioned problem is even more pronounced in forestry since modern forest management planning implies a need to explore complex and multifunctional goals that must be achieved within a specified period This has been evident in recent years when the economic orientation of the forest has been shifting towards ecology and ecological principles, where profit is no longer the only measure of sustainable management. The optimization of decision making and planning in forestry should be formulated within the framework of decisions based on multiple criteria (MCDM – Multiple criteria decision-making paradigm) (Balteiro and Romero, 2008)
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