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
Recommended Citation
Lenhart, Suzanne, "Optimal Harvesting Strategies for Timber and Non-Timber Forest Products in Tropical Ecosystems" (2016). World Conference on Natural Resource Modeling. 34.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/rma/all/presentations/34
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.