Forest Level Planning

Most discussions around timber management are made at the stand level since this the usual unit of management.  We thin stands, release stands, plant stands, etc.  However, landowners with a large number of stands must think not only of what is best for each stand, but what is best for the forest as a whole.  Usually forest owners have constraints that need to be addressed.  Common forest level constraints are relatively even cash flows year to year, minimum production of a particular product to satisfy a mill supply agreement, maximum acres that can be cut or regenerated in a particular year, etc.  Since many of the decisions revolve around thinnings and final harvest timing forest level planning is also called harvest scheduling.  Typically the objective with forest level planning is to maximize financial return subject to the particular constraints that are pertinent. 

Each stand in a forest may be managed in many alternative ways in the future.  When and how to thin, frequency of thins, and timing between thins as well as when to conduct the final harvest and regenerate the stand plus fertilization and woody release decisions all contribute to the list of possible ways to manage a stand.  Each unique alternative is called a management regime.  Obviously the ability to accurately project the changes in stand and product development for different silvicultural treatments adds to the usefulness of the forest level plan.  Smarter Forestry personnel have been involved with forest level planning since the 1970’s and the need for models that reflect silvicultural treatment responses in forest level planning was part of the reason for their involvement in those activities from the 1980’s to present.