Economic consequences of three silvicultural methods in uneven-aged mature coastal spruce forests of central Norway

Abstract

Summary Six experimental sites in the coastal spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) forest of central Norway were used as the basis of an economic investigation of three silvicultural systems: a single tree selection system, a group system and clearcutting. The mean tree volume removed in the selection system was 0.6 m 3 , and ~0.3 m 3 for the other two methods. The harvesting cost was ~14 euro/m 3 for clearcutting, and about 10 per cent higher for the group and selection systems. In simulations of future revenues and expenses, the net present value (NPV) was approximately 15 per cent lower for the group and selection systems compared with clearcutting. Lower volume production in unevenaged stands and higher administration and harvesting costs had only a minor influence on the NPV. All calculations were carried out using a 2 per cent discount rate, a 3 per cent rate lowered the NPV of the group and selection systems to 75 per cent of the clearcutting method.