Optimal zoning of forested land considering the contribution of exotic plantations

Abstract

Previous studies suggest that management intensity zoning systems,  such as the triad approach, could allow Canada's forest industry to  maintain or increase timber harvest levels while simultaneously  reducing its environmental impact.  In most such studies, the zones  are exogenously specified.  In this study, we use a linear  programming model to endogenously allocate forest land to management  intensity zones given several alternative policy scenario  formulations.  We examine how alternative policy scenarios affect  the net present value of the optimal forest management plan, timber  output, and the spatial allocation of land to management intensity  zones. We conclude that policies which facilitate optimal zoning  could enable land use specialization to increase both profits and  ecological protection.  Such zoning, however, can only happen if  provincial governments in Canada revise their forest policies with  respect to allocation of forest tenures and establishment of exotic  plantations on public forest land.