ECONOMIC TRADE-OFFS OF MANAGING FORESTS FOR TIMBER PRODUCTION AND VEGETATIVE DIVERSITY

Three indices of forest stand structural and compositional diversity w ere incorporated into a linear programming timber harvest scheduling m odel to examine the trade-offs between managing stands for timber prod uction and biodiversity objectives. The indices, based on Shannon's di versity index, characterized stand species diversity, basal area diver sity, and vertical crown diversity. While harvest-level objectives wer e often compatible with the maintenance of vegetative diversity, the m aximization of present net value was accompanied by substantial reduct ions in all three measures of diversity.