Techniques for Assessing the Economic Contributions of Forest Soils Information in Timberland Management

Author： Blake John Caulfield Jon Fisher Richard Lea Russ

Publisher： Society of American Foresters

ISSN： 0148-4419

Source： Southern Journal of Applied Forestry, Vol.12, Iss.3, 1988-08, pp. : 147-152

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Abstract

Forest soils information can be very useful in helping forest landowners achieve specific objectives. Major factors that should be considered in the evaluation of forest soils information include the management decision level at which it is utilized, the frequency of use, and the type of control process in which the information functions. In principle, information essential in formulating strategic plans is normally of greater value than information that is needed to control operational or "on the ground" activities, however significant exceptions occur. Because of the long time frame needed to adequately evaluate growth responses on lands actually treated, soils information generally functions through control processes that are predictive in nature. A marginal risk-benefit approach for discriminating between alternative management options can be used to identify useful information. Several techniques can be used in determining the potential utility of soils information, such as the mean-variance rule, stochastic efficiency analysis, and the expected value of perfect information. South. J. Appl. For. 12(3):147-152.