Rapidly restoring large-diameter longleaf pine ecosystems at a low cost: a preliminary appraisal

摘要

The longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) ecosystem once dominated the Coastal Plain of the South, but difficulties in regenerating the species ted to its replacement with other southern pines. Improved regeneration techniques make longleaf pine plantations biologically and economically feasible. An analyses of data from six plots of a large 50-year-dd thinning study in the National Forests of East Texas yields land expectation values (LEVs) of 2 307 dollar, 667 dollar, and 136 dollar per acre for longleaf plantations at real discount rates of 3, 5, and 7 percent, respectively. Restoring large diameter tongleaf ecosystems by planting and thinning stands heavily through age 65 yields LEVs of 1 559 dollar, 392 dollar, and -18 dollar for the same discount rates, even though 40 ft~2 of basal area are left unharvested at age 65. This approach is feasible, and it is cheaper and faster than trying to restore ecosystems without timber harvest.