Integrating spatial objectives into forest plans for Minnesota's National Forests

National Forests in Minnesota are currently developing new management plans. Analyses for the plans are integrating the Dualplan forest management-scheduling model with DPspace, a dynamic programming model to schedule core area of mature forest over time. Applications have been successful in addressing a wide-range of forest-wide constraints involving 60,000 to 100,000 analysis areas, each with potentially thousands of treatment options. A key aspect for practical application has been trimming the list of possible treatment options for each analysis area without impacting optimality characteristics of the model formulations. Draft and deliberative results for the Chippewa National Forest suggest that the core area of mature forest can be increased substantially with little reduction in sustainable timber production levels. This is somewhat contrary to results from an aspatial model. Results also indicate that core area concerns are more of an immediate nature because past plans have not addressed spatial objectives. Careful planning is needed because existing core area of mature forest cannot be replaced rapidly once it is harvested. Given more lead-time, planning can increase core area over time.