Paper Title

Optimal Harvesting Strategies for Timber and Non-Timber Forest Products in Tropical Ecosystems

Presenter(s)

Suzanne Lenhart

Abstract

Harvesting wild plants for non-timber forest products can be ecologically sustainable, without apparent long-term consequence on the dynamics of targeted and related species. But it may not be economically satisfying because it fails to provide enough revenue for local people over time. Motivated by some tree species in Benin, we formulate a system of two ordinary differential equations representing the density of a plant species and the intrinsic growth rate of that species. We apply optimal control theory to investigate optimal strategies for the combinations of non-lethal and lethal (e.g., timber) harvest that minimize the cost of harvesting while maximizing the benefits (revenue) that accrue to harvesters and the conservation value of harvested ecosystem.

Topic

Forestry

Start Date

6-15-2016 10:40 AM

End Date

6-15-2016 11:00 AM

Room

High Country Conference Center

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Jun 15th, 10:40 AM Jun 15th, 11:00 AM

Optimal Harvesting Strategies for Timber and Non-Timber Forest Products in Tropical Ecosystems

High Country Conference Center

Harvesting wild plants for non-timber forest products can be ecologically sustainable, without apparent long-term consequence on the dynamics of targeted and related species. But it may not be economically satisfying because it fails to provide enough revenue for local people over time. Motivated by some tree species in Benin, we formulate a system of two ordinary differential equations representing the density of a plant species and the intrinsic growth rate of that species. We apply optimal control theory to investigate optimal strategies for the combinations of non-lethal and lethal (e.g., timber) harvest that minimize the cost of harvesting while maximizing the benefits (revenue) that accrue to harvesters and the conservation value of harvested ecosystem.