Existence value and optimal timber-wildlife management in a flammable multistand forest
- 作者：Daniel A. Spring and John O.S. Kennedy
- 关键词：Existence value ; Stochastic dynamic programming ; Forest management ; Leadbeater's possum
- 刊名：Ecological Economics
- 出版年：2005
- 期刊代码：37_09218009
- 类别：abs
- 出版时间：2005
- 卷：55
- 期：3
- 页码：365-379
- 文件大小：188 K
摘要
The problem of determining the optimal age at which to cut trees on four stands, and optimal fire protection expenditure, is posed. The objective is to maximise the resulting expected returns from timber and the expected value of the continued existence of an endangered possum species that relies on old growth for nesting. Dynamic programming is used to solve the problem. Existence values for the possum are based on the results of a detailed contingent valuation survey. A stochastic metapopulation model is developed for estimating end-stage survival probabilities of the possum dependent on start-of-stage tree ages and occupancies.
The sensitivity of optimal cutting and fire-protection policies to possum existence values, the rate of discount and the cost of reducing fire risk is investigated. The study demonstrates the scope of the combined use of simulation and dynamic optimisation for addressing land management problems involving conservation of species threatened with extinction.