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Cost of Regeneration of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Crops in National Forests
Silvicultural processes are an essential issue of rational forest management. Both man-made (artificial) and natural restoration methods are used in European forestry. A study of the cost drivers of forest restoration from the early stages of land clearing to cultivation was conducted for Scots pine tracts in a coniferous forest habitat. The cost data were tested for homogeneity of variance (Levene’s test) and normality (Shapiro–Wilk test) using a significance level of α = 0.05. The research indicated that the cost of artificial restoration (planting) of a pine forest is about 30% higher than the cost of natural restoration. The research also indicated that the main cost driver (about 35%) of the artificial restoration process was seedlings and planting costs. Further, the viability of supplementing natural planting with artificial planting was confirmed.
Modeling the Effects of Strict Protection of Forest Areas—Part of the Provisions of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030
The case study included approx. 0.5 million ha of forest areas in Poland that are managed by the Regional Directorate of State Forests. The objective was to assess the impact of four different scenarios restricting the size of forest areas available for commercial use. Based on different criteria, each scenario set aside 10% of the total land area for strict protection on forested land, which is in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030. The economic impact (volume of reduced wood raw material) was statistically estimated for each of the four scenarios. It was confirmed that the layout of forest habitats is essential for specific limitations in forest production. For the optimal implementation of the provisions of the strategy, a balance in the selection of social, economic, and natural elements must be considered. This protects primarily the most valuable natural habitats characterized by the highest level of biodiversity, age diversity, and dispersion within the studied forest unit. The presented results may support decision-making processes used to maximize biodiversity protection while minimizing the negative economic impact of this environmental protection.
Comparative efficiency of roundwood processing into pallet lumber
Abstract The article is an attempt to determine the impact of market changes and sawnwood production on the utilisation of a limited supply of wood raw material, taking into account coniferous species and selected grades found on the market for the production of pallet lumber. The proposal to include the raw material value factor in the econometric model provides a measurable benchmark. Closed efficiency through the criterion of maximising the added value of wood in industrial processing takes into account the parameters that shape the impact of the value of the product and wood raw material. This criterion is derived from the supply of roundwood and customer demand for particular species and grades. The efficiency index is a reference to the price factors of market change over a variable period of time with the ability to forecast the direction of change.