Abstract
Background
Bioenergy is re-shaping opportunities and imperatives of forest management. This study demonstrates, through a case study in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), how forest bioenergy policies affect stand management strategies.
Methods
Optimization studies were examined for 15 Scots pine stands of different initial stand densities, site types, and temperature sum regions in Finland. Stand development was modelled using the PipeQual stand simulator coupled with the simulation-optimization tool OptiFor Bioenergy to assess three forest bioenergy policies on energy wood harvest from early thinnings.
Results
The optimal solutions maximizing bare land value indicate that conventional forest management regimes remain optimal for sparse stands. Energy harvests occurred only when profitable, led to lower financial returns. A forest bioenergy policy which included compulsory energy wood harvesting was optimal for denser stands. At a higher interest rate (4 %), increasing energy wood price postponed energy wood harvesting. In addition, our results show that early thinning somewhat reduced wood quality for stands in fertile sites. For less fertile sites, the changes were insignificant.
Conclusions
A constraint of profitable energy wood harvest is not rational. It is optimal to carry out the first thinning with a flexible forest bioenergy policy depending on stand density.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 19 |
| Journal | Forest Ecosystems |
| Volume | 2 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| ISSN | 2095-6355 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 20 Jun 2015 |
| MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Fields of Science
- 4112 Forestry
Cite this
}
An integrated assessment approach to optimal forest bioenergy production for young Scots pine stands. / Cao, Tianjian; Hyytiäinen, Kari Petri; Hurttala, Henna Tuulia; Valsta, Lauri Tapani; Vanclay, Jerome.
In: Forest Ecosystems, Vol. 2, 19, 20.06.2015.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - An integrated assessment approach to optimal forest bioenergy production for young Scots pine stands
AU - Cao, Tianjian
AU - Hyytiäinen, Kari Petri
AU - Hurttala, Henna Tuulia
AU - Valsta, Lauri Tapani
AU - Vanclay, Jerome
PY - 2015/6/20
Y1 - 2015/6/20
N2 - BackgroundBioenergy is re-shaping opportunities and imperatives of forest management. This study demonstrates, through a case study in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), how forest bioenergy policies affect stand management strategies.MethodsOptimization studies were examined for 15 Scots pine stands of different initial stand densities, site types, and temperature sum regions in Finland. Stand development was modelled using the PipeQual stand simulator coupled with the simulation-optimization tool OptiFor Bioenergy to assess three forest bioenergy policies on energy wood harvest from early thinnings.ResultsThe optimal solutions maximizing bare land value indicate that conventional forest management regimes remain optimal for sparse stands. Energy harvests occurred only when profitable, led to lower financial returns. A forest bioenergy policy which included compulsory energy wood harvesting was optimal for denser stands. At a higher interest rate (4 %), increasing energy wood price postponed energy wood harvesting. In addition, our results show that early thinning somewhat reduced wood quality for stands in fertile sites. For less fertile sites, the changes were insignificant.ConclusionsA constraint of profitable energy wood harvest is not rational. It is optimal to carry out the first thinning with a flexible forest bioenergy policy depending on stand density.
AB - BackgroundBioenergy is re-shaping opportunities and imperatives of forest management. This study demonstrates, through a case study in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), how forest bioenergy policies affect stand management strategies.MethodsOptimization studies were examined for 15 Scots pine stands of different initial stand densities, site types, and temperature sum regions in Finland. Stand development was modelled using the PipeQual stand simulator coupled with the simulation-optimization tool OptiFor Bioenergy to assess three forest bioenergy policies on energy wood harvest from early thinnings.ResultsThe optimal solutions maximizing bare land value indicate that conventional forest management regimes remain optimal for sparse stands. Energy harvests occurred only when profitable, led to lower financial returns. A forest bioenergy policy which included compulsory energy wood harvesting was optimal for denser stands. At a higher interest rate (4 %), increasing energy wood price postponed energy wood harvesting. In addition, our results show that early thinning somewhat reduced wood quality for stands in fertile sites. For less fertile sites, the changes were insignificant.ConclusionsA constraint of profitable energy wood harvest is not rational. It is optimal to carry out the first thinning with a flexible forest bioenergy policy depending on stand density.
KW - 4112 Forestry
U2 - 10.1186/s40663-015-0043-6
DO - 10.1186/s40663-015-0043-6
M3 - Article
VL - 2
JO - Forest Ecosystems
JF - Forest Ecosystems
SN - 2095-6355
M1 - 19
ER -