case study of forest management planning using a new heuristic algorithm

• Published in: Tree physiology Vol. 25; no. 7; pp. 929 - 938
• Main Authors: Seo, J.H, Vilcko, F, Orois, S.S, Kunth, S, Son, Y.M, Gadow, K. von
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada 01.07.2005
• Subjects: Algorithms; case studies; Computer Simulation; equations; forest management; forest stands; forest trees; Forestry - methods; growth models; mathematical models; Models, Biological; Ontario; Picea - growth & development; Picea abies; timber production; tree and stand measurements; Germany; Ontario
• ISSN: 0829-318X; 1758-4469
• DOI: 10.1093/treephys/25.7.929

We present an approach to generate and evaluate different silvicultural development paths and to optimize the development of a Norway spruce stand, using a long-term planning horizon. To generate a silvicultural path, the maximum stand density was applied. At each thinning event, three possible thinning intensities (10, 20, 30% of the stem number per ha) were randomly chosen. A search algorithm known as modified Accelerated Simulated Annealing (mASA) was used to estimate the optimum combination of stand paths for a given forest as a whole. Production and economic management objectives were considered and then compared. The economic criterion was the Expected Stand Value (ESV) with a 4% discount rate. The generated data set of 38 Norway spruce stands (comprising a total of 123.8 ha) was used in the case study. The result with the best combination of paths was presented in a digitized forest map. Forest management simulation was performed using a specially developed computer program, for a planning horizon of 20 years. The mASA proved to be an effective search method for identifying optimum paths.