Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.15177/seefor.11-12
Calculation of Economic Rotation Period for Even-Aged Stand in Croatia
Stjepan Posavec
; Faculty of Forestry, University of Zagreb, 10002 Zagreb, Croatia
Karlo Beljan
; Faculty of Forestry, University of Zagreb, 10002 Zagreb, Croatia
Silvija Krajter
; Croatian Forest Research Institute, Jastrebarsko, Croatia
Dario Peršun
; Kontese Nere 23, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Background and purpose: Even-aged forests prevail in Croatia’s forestry. Rotation period is based mostly on natural parameters. In practice, rotation period is given by Croatian Rulebook of forest management. Cutting age is determined based on inventory data and many other stand characteristics. Rotation period is a planned time and it always has to be unique for particular tree species, and cutting age is the age of a stand at the moment of the final cut. The aim of the paper is to compare rotation period based on economic parameters and rotation period determined by using forest inventory data. Material and methods: Owing to absence of long term stand calculation data, research object was taken from Forest Management Handbook (1995). Mean annual increment (MAI) and current annual increment (CAI) provided fundamental data for calculations. The research was conducted at one hectare Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stand. Assortment structure and value of timber was estimated by the present cutting value method calculated by using Croatian forests Ltd. Price list for the year 2008. Labor costs in forest exploitation were also taken into account. Results and conclusion: In order to achieve cost-effective management of common beech stands, it is necessary to adjust current optimal rotation period. Optimal rotation period should be based on management goals as the main factors. So far the most common criterion adopted in Croatian forestry has been the rotation of maximum sustained yield or maximum Mean annual increment. The presented results indicate that common forest management practice should be changed in order to achieve cost-effective management of beech stands in the future.
Keywords
forest economics; economic rotation period; even-aged forests; common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)
Hrčak ID:
81185
URI
Publication date:
15.5.2012.
Visits: 2.449 *