Effects of plantation density choices on the wood supply of a simulated spruce-fir forest

Abstract

The question of plantation density is often approached from only a stand level viewpoint in Canada. The forest level wood supply implications of allowing a choice of plantation densities are examined in this study. Linear programming is used to develope a 150-year harvest schedule model for a simulated spruce-fir forest in New Brunswick. The results show that plantation density choice has a significant effect on wood supply, and that this effect is closely tied to site quality and product composition constraints. Key words: plantation density, wood supply, linear programming