Early Respacement and Fewer Thinnings can Increase Profitability of Coniferous Sawtimber Production

Abstract

A pine sawtimber production regime using wider initial spacing, early respacement, fewer thinning operations and a shortened rotation is proposed. The proposal is compared with a commonly accepted regime for ranges of interest rates and pulpwood prices. Benefits are lowered establishment and pruning costs, simplified management and increased land expectation values.