The impact of the introduction of sustainable forest management objectives on the optimisation of PC-based forest-level harvest schedules

Abstract

Previous to the introduction of sustainable forest management principles, PC-based modelling techniques had been developed for the financial optimisation of forest-level harvest scheduling under Irish conditions. These financial models were further developed to produce a Mixed Integer Programming-Sustainable Forest Management (MIP-SFM) model, in which principles of sustainable forest management were incorporated into the harvest scheduling process. The effectiveness and practicality of the harvest schedules produced by the financial model and the MIP-SFM model were compared to the harvest schedules produced by the process currently employed by Coillte (The Irish Forestry Board). Evaluation of the models was carried out in Clonbrock forest (294.8 ha), a typical Irish plantation forest , owned and managed by Coillte. The MIP-SFM model produced effective and practical harvest schedules that enhanced the sustainability of Clonbrock forest by incorporating environmental, ecological and social management parameters. The application of the developed MIP-SFM model resulted in an increase in NPV of 5.7% compared to the NPV produced by the scheduling process currently employed by Coillte. The application of the financial model had resulted in a comparable increase in NPV of 14.2%. The smaller increase in NPV produced by the MIP-SFM model provided an indication of the cost associated with the introduction of environmental, ecological and social SFM principles in the management of Clonbrock forest.