An Application of Linear Programming for Short-Term Harvest Scheduling

The technique of linear programming (LP) is illustrated by developing a harvest schedule for an industrial forest ownership in northwestern Pennsylvania. The objective was to maximize net present value of the harvest over a five-year planning period. The effect of changes in timber value and growth rate on the optimum schedule was determined. Sensitivity analysis provided additional information the manager could use to make decisions. In order to successfully apply LP, the forester must be able to define the management objective of the harvest schedule and the resource and managerial constraints that will influence its attainment. Data used in the model have to be available and reliable. Many forest enterprises should be in the position to adopt LP since commercial programs for microcomputers are now available for which a high level of computing expertise is not required.