Managing the future forest resource through designer trees

With today's tree improvement technology coupled with knowledge of the influence of forest management practices on tree growth and log quality, it is possible to manipulate tree form to engineer trees with specific characteristics. Theoretically we can create forest portfolios to optimize suitability for different end uses. We could design structural forests for optimal building materials. LongClears Forests for furniture and mouldings markets, or PulpWood Forests for pulp and paper industries. This project's goal was to explore methods of identifying tree characteristics that could be manipulated to optimize production of specific lumber products, namely LongClears. A model that works backwards from the targeted product through wood processing with linkage to forest management and genetic selection strategies is proposed. The model uses a combination of mathematical programming and operations research techniques including data envelopment analysis, log sawing optimization, and sawmill simulation to identify properties of the optimal log and designer tree.