Site-specific constraints in integrated forest planning

This study describes an approach for incorporating several forest products and functions into a mathematical programming for integrated forest planning. The method is based on the combined use of a geographic information system and a planning system that generates several treatment schedules for management units and selects optimal schedule combinations using linear programming. The geographic information system is used to create management zones based on the production potential of the area, the preferences of the decision-maker and the external requirements set by society. In linear programming, constraints are specified to domains corresponding to zones. A case study is presented to illustrate the derivation of opportunity cost of multiple use.