The forest management planning package: theory and application

The Forest Management Planning Package represents a general fundamental structure of a forest management planning system based on two inventory phases. It is an existing calculation system used in practical forestry in Sweden. The Forest Management Planning Package integrates economic theory, objective inventory measurements and accurate growth forecasts. The core of the system is a chain of models depicting the production possibilities of a forest holding. Detailed growth forecasts and economic calculations with high resolution (individual trees) permit analysis of various silvicultural treatment options in all types of Swedish stands. A non-linear objective function and mathematical optimization result in a compromise between maximum net present value and sustained net-revenue profile. Application of the system contributes to a much improved economic result through the removal of uncertainties concerning the real production possibilities and it has significantly altered the management strategies of the forest companies that have implemented it.