Chapter 12 Questions and Answers
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DPEM Problems
12.1 Use the DPEM RCM and policy scenario 4 to set up a sensitivity study that examines the response of NPV, harvest patterns, and the area in size class 5 and 6 habitats as the harvest percentage of inventory (the POI coefficient) ranges from 0.0 to 1.0 in about 10 steps. (Similar sensitivity studies can be defined for LTSY, growth, and absolute inventory constraints in some or all of the time periods. Know how the model behaves as you vary the objective and constraints!)
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12.2 Use different strategies of prescription, harvest volume, and acres clearcut per period as control constraints to see if you can devise a management policy that results in a reasonably well-balanced and sustainable forest structure like those obtained with DFC management policies.
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12.3 For a major project - adapt the DPEM model to the forest ecosystems in your area. Get the spreadsheet DPEM.xls, learn how it works, and then partially or completely modify the variables, prescriptions, yields, and economic data so as to represent the forest conditions nearby that you study or work with. Develop new policy scenarios appropriate for the goals and rules used by different landowners for forest management in your area.
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DFC Problems
These problems ask you to explore the possibilities to guide management with DFC analysis by selecting different target years, target DFC structures, initial forest structures, different sustainability rule constraints, and different non-DFC goal constraints, such as minimum annual net income. Weighting and trade-off problems are also suggested. Some of these are more like class or term projects that can involve a considerable amount of work.
12.4 Formulate the DFC objective using weights that range from 1 to 10 on under-achievement of structure targets while keeping the weights on over-achievement at 1.0. Make this set of 10 runs for several target structures and target achievement periods. Summarize and report on your results. Does the weighting make a difference in stability, sustainability, or ecological value of the policy outcomes?
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12.5 Extend the range of historic variation analysis by defining deviation variables and weights on these variables, and by setting up the objective function and related constraints so as to strongly encourage or even require that the prescriptions and harvests result in significant but controlled variation in forest structure that mimics natural disturbance. Use figure 12.21 and the model specification for Policy 7 as a starting point. You will probably have to define three or four ranges of variation on each side of the target amount. The acres in size class 6 and size class 1 or 2 WHR habitats will likely be the best outcomes to weight and work with. The RHU policy model on the website is another starting point.
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