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Natural Resource Land Management Planning Using Large-Scale Linear Programs: The USDA Forest Service Experience with FORPLAN

Author

Listed:
  • Brian Kent

    (USDA Forest Service, Fort Collins, Colorado)

  • B. Bruce Bare

    (University of Washington, Seattle, Washington)

  • Richard C. Field

    (The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia)

  • Gordon A. Bradley

    (University of Washington, Seattle, Washington)

Abstract

FORPLAN (FORest PLANning) is a large-scale linear programming system used to support national forest land management planning. It is available in two versions, and is used extensively to help interdisciplinary planning teams develop forest-wide plans as dictated by the National Forest Management Act of 1976. Nine years of experience clearly show that while the system is working in a technical sense, troublesome issues remain. This paper begins with an overview of how USDA Forest Service planning has evolved. We then give mathematical formulations for portions of FORPLAN models and examples of how the system is used to aid planners on national forests. We present an evaluation of the use of FORPLAN that addresses five criteria including, problems associated with large-scale models and systematic, comprehensive planning, Forest Service organizational issues, the role of foresters in national forest management, and conflicts over competing land uses. We then consider lessons for operations research practitioners. Finally, we discuss a number of conclusions and recommendations, the most important being the need for the Forest Service to more clearly specify the role of forest planning in the overall agency planning hierarchy and the role of FORPLAN in forest planning.

Suggested Citation

  • Brian Kent & B. Bruce Bare & Richard C. Field & Gordon A. Bradley, 1991. "Natural Resource Land Management Planning Using Large-Scale Linear Programs: The USDA Forest Service Experience with FORPLAN," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 39(1), pages 13-27, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:oropre:v:39:y:1991:i:1:p:13-27
    DOI: 10.1287/opre.39.1.13
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    Cited by:

    1. Song, Malin & Xie, Qianjiao & Tan, Kim Hua & Wang, Jianlin, 2020. "A fair distribution and transfer mechanism of forest tourism benefits in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    2. Church, Richard L. & Murray, Alan T. & Figueroa, Michael A. & Barber, Klaus H., 2000. "Support system development for forest ecosystem management," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 121(2), pages 247-258, March.
    3. Murray, Alan T., 2021. "Contemporary optimization application through geographic information systems," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    4. Mikael Rönnqvist & Sophie D’Amours & Andres Weintraub & Alejandro Jofre & Eldon Gunn & Robert Haight & David Martell & Alan Murray & Carlos Romero, 2015. "Operations Research challenges in forestry: 33 open problems," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 232(1), pages 11-40, September.
    5. Shang, ZongBo & He, Hong S. & Xi, Weimin & Shifley, Stephen R. & Palik, Brian J., 2012. "Integrating LANDIS model and a multi-criteria decision-making approach to evaluate cumulative effects of forest management in the Missouri Ozarks, USA," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 229(C), pages 50-63.
    6. Moriguchi, Kai & Ueki, Tatsuhito & Saito, Masashi, 2020. "Establishing optimal forest harvesting regulation with continuous approximation," Operations Research Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 7(C).
    7. Kline, Jeffrey D. & Mazzotta, Marisa J. & Spies, Thomas A. & Harmon, Mark E., 2013. "Applying the Ecosystem Services Concept to Public Land Management," Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association, vol. 42(1), pages 1-20, April.
    8. Martell, David L. & Gunn, Eldon A. & Weintraub, Andres, 1998. "Forest management challenges for operational researchers," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 104(1), pages 1-17, January.

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