MODEL FOR MULTI-STAND MANAGEMENT BASED ON STRUCTURAL ATTRIBUTES OF INDIVIDUAL STANDS

A growing interest in managing forest ecosystems calls for decision mo dels that take into account attribute goals for large forest areas whi le continuing to recognize the individual stand as a basic unit of for est management. A dynamic, nonlinear forest management model is descri bed that schedules silvicultural treatments for individual stands that are linked by multi-stand management constraints. A growth model usef ul for many eastern forest types accounts for stand dynamics resulting from cutting decisions. This modeling approach provides a framework f or coordinating management goals over many stands while meeting the pr actical need for stand-level cutting prescriptions. An example problem demonstrates how to measure the tradeoff between economic efficiency and tree species diversity. Dimension limits and solver efficiency are discussed. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.