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An economic analysis of multiple use forestry using FORPLAN-Version 2

University of British Columbia

This thesis examines a mathematical programming model called FORPLAN as a planning tool for strategic analysis of forest management alternatives. This model uses economic efficiency as the objective of forest management planning. The dynamic theory of multiple use forestry is analyzed and expressed as a linear programming analogue in FORPLAN. The main weakness of this theory is that it focuses on single stand analysis. Even so, forest wide constraints applied to certain FORPLAN formulations compensate for this weakness. A strata-based forest management problem is developed to show the economic implications of four forest management alternatives: (1) timber production; (2) timber production subject to a non-declining yield limitation; (3) timber and black-tailed deer (Odocolieus hemionus columbianus) production; and (4) timber and black-tailed deer production, again including a non-declining yield of timber. Demand curves for two analysis areas and a supply curve for deer winter range are developed using parametric analysis. The ability of FORPLAN to address economic implications of current forest management policies is discussed. Economic analysis of forest management alternatives would play a useful role in forest planning in British Columbia. The need for such evaluation is underlined by the ever increasing number of resource conflicts caused by the dominance of the timber industry and the continually growing demand for other forest resources. Three conclusions are drawn from this study. First, FORPLAN has the technical capability to be an effective tool for analyzing strategic multiple use plans under economic efficiency criteria. It does not have the timber bias of earlier models and the capability of FORPLAN to integrate area and strata-based variables makes it a very powerful model. Second, parametric programming of FORPLAN solutions provides marginal analysis for inputs and outputs. Comparative examination of these curves and their elasticities provide information about the relative importance of different analysis areas. Lastly, managing for timber and hunting services for black-tailed deer by preserving old growth winter range is not an economically viable management option. The relative value of the timber is significantly greater than the hunting services for the deer that it is just not worth managing for both.

Text

2010-10-07

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/29033

Forestry

University of British Columbia

Graduate