A FUELWOOD MANAGEMENT PLAN AND COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS FOR ALDER (ALNUS JORULLENSIS) IN THE ECUADORIAN ANDES.

摘要

Information on alder (Alnus jorullensis silvics and dendrology, propagation, and management were synthesized into four alternatives for fuelwood management in Saraguro, Loja, Ecuador. Stem volume was estimated from diameter and height measurements taken in 16 stands of known age in Ecuador using an empirical equation developed in Costa Rica. An empirical equation describing the relationship between stem volume and tree age for alder in Ecuador was then developed. Measurements of 5 fuelwood units from Saraguro were used to determine the market price for a cubic meter of fuelwood. Four mangement regimes using a 20 year rotation were then examined at four discount rates. Using a 15% real rate of interest, thinning at 10 years yielded a present net value of 891,059 sucres and a benefit-cost ratio of 1.31. The analysis was more sensitive to changes in fuelwood price than to changes in wage rate.