Economic wood supply from alternative silvicultural systems : a case study in Ontario's boreal forest

Abstract

A modified version of the Harvest Schedule Generator model (HSG) was used to predict the economic wood supply from alternative silvicultural systems on a case study forest (Seine River Forest) In northwestern Ontario’s boreal forest. Alternative silvicultural systems were compared with traditional clearcut harvesting to determine the impacts on sustainable harvest levels, wood costs and residual timber value. Results show large reductions in harvest volumes, increased harvest area and decreased profit for alternative silvicultural systems. Alternative silvicultural systems’ savings in regeneration costs did not offset the increased harvest and delivery costs nor the reduced volume productivity from the forest as a whole. The different silvicultural systems resulted in little variation in the residual forest age-class structure after 200 years when harvest levels were equal. Based on the assumptions used in this study, the use of alternative silvicultural systems as a replacement for clearcutting in northwestern Ontario’s boreal forest would produce undesirable socio-economic impacts.