Ref ID: 10658
Ref Type: Journal
Authors: Catchpoole, K. J. and Nester, M. R.
Pub Date: 2004
Journal Name: Australian Forestry
Volume: 67
Issue: 3
Start Page: 191
End Page: 194
ISBN/ISSN:
Keywords: Australia/combination/commercial/complex/CRC-SPF/decision/decision support/enhance/error/fibre/finance/food/forestry/grower/growth/impact/industry/influence/investment/management/performance/plantation/plantations/planting/production/project/Queensland/rate/research/resource/response/science/software/SPF/STEPS/thinning/time/yield
Abstract: Commercial plantation growers make frequent management decisions that determine the financial performance of their resource. Many decisions are in response to fairly straightforward questions such as: stocking rate at planting, clearfall age, or whether to conduct one or two pre-commercial thinnings. These decisions are driven by a combination of market influences and financial return on investment. However, plantation management decisions become more complex when there is a need to consider multiple factors at the same time. In these situations errors (for example those associated with yield estimates, or a delay in timing of thinnings, and real price increases) have a greater impact on financial performance. In such cases, decision support tools can greatly enhance and assist decision-making efforts. A state-of-the-art decision support tool has been released to assist plantation managers in financial scenario testing. The tool, STEPS (Software Tools for Evaluating Plantation Scenarios) is one outcome of a comprehensive decision support project being undertaken by forestry researchers from the Queensland Government's Department of Primary Industries (DPI), Agency for Food and Fibre Sciences, with joint support and funding from DPI Forestry and the Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Production Forestry (CRC SPF)
Notes: Entered by Maria Ottenschlaeger (06/01/2004)
Reprint: Not in File
Program: SPF Sustainable Management
Project: B4
Deliverable: B4-4.2
Confidentiality: Public
Availability: Authors
Report: Annual Report 2003/4; Annual Report 2004/5
Type: Article
Address: Kerrie.Catchpoole@dpi.qld.gov.au