INTENSIVE MANAGEMENT FOR OPTIMIZING THE PRODUCTION OF HIGH-VALUE LOGS OF PINE FORESTS IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL/MANEJO INTENSIVO PARA OTIMIZACAO DA PRODUCAO DE TORAS GROSSAS EM POVOAMENTOS DE PINUS NO SUL DO BRASIL

• Published in: Ciência florestal 2018-07, Vol.28 (3), p.1303
• Main Authors: David, Hassan Camil, Netto, Sylvio Pellico, Arce, Julio Eduardo, Woycikievicz, Antonio P.F, de Araujo, Emanuel J.G, de Miranda, Rodrigo O.V
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1980-5098; 1980-5098
• DOI: 10.5902/1980509833352

The best decision-making is a difficult task in forest management because it involves a large number of market and production variables. We simulated the growth and yield of loblolly pine in high-quality sites, aiming to indicate thinning regimes and planting densities that maximize the production of large diameter logs (minor diameter >35 cm), as well as economically evaluating such regimes. We used the software OpTimber-LP for forest optimization problems. Simulations involved four planting densities (1,111; 1,600; 2,000; and 2,500 plants/ha); three thinnings with different weights, frequencies and ages of application; and clear cut at 25 years. Such combinations totalized in 2,916 simulated regimes. We computed ANPV assuming variations in interest rates, besides costs of production and returns resulting from thinnings and from clear cut. The findings indicated great productions of large diameter logs in regimes with low planting densities. Heavy thinnings (60% removal of trees) highlighted by being ideal to almost all regimes, mainly those ones with densities of 2,000 and 2,500 plants/ha. Heavy intensity also was ideal to the first thinning, regardless the planting density. The most productive regimes presented large diameter log volumes ranging from 480 to 260 [m.sup.3]/ha, for regimes with 1,111 and 2,500 plants/ha, respectively. ANPV ranged from ~1.300 to ~2.100 R$/ha. As conclusion, less dense regimes provide largest productions in large diameter log, but the lowest productions in total volume; as consequence, ANPV was larger in denser regimes, once the revenue obtained from high-value logs did not overcome that one obtained from finer (and consequently cheaper) logs. High-density regimes may produce less timber volume due to only one improper thinning, whereas low-density stands may have production really affected when are subjected to consecutive improper thinnings. Keywords: growth and yield simulator; operational research; thinning regimes; planting density. A melhor tomada de decisao e uma tarefa dificil no manejo florestal, pois envolve um grande numero de variaveis de mercado e de producao. Simulou-se o crescimento e producao de Pinus taeda L. em sitios altamente produtivos, com objetivo de indicar regimes de desbaste e densidades de plantio que maximizam a producao de toras grossas (diametro da ponta fina >35 cm), bem como avalia-los economicamente. O software OpTimber-LP para otimizacao de problemas florestais foi usado. As simulacoes envol