Silvicultural implications arising from a simple simulation model for <i>Endospermum medullosum</i> in Vanuatu

Grant, John C.; Glencross, Kevin S; Nichols, J. Doland; Palmer, Graeme; Sethy, M.; Vanclay, Jerome K.

doi:10.1505/146554812804715874

Cited by 13 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 25 publications

(1 reference statement)

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“…Financial returns over a rotation for the initial spacings and thinnings undertaken were estimated using a financial model developed by Grant et al (2012b). The growth model on which the financial analysis is based is derived from limited data.…”

Section: The Study Site and Research Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Initial planting densities, thinning age and intensity, and product values were used as input variables and the estimated final harvest returns compared over one rotation for each of the thinning regimes tested. Several minor changes were made to the financial model of Grant et al (2012b) to incorporate early thinning and the costs were revised to account for these. An intrinsic value of sawlogs is assumed based on diameter using the formula in Grant et al (2012b), a utilization limit of 10 cm small-end-diameter under bark (sedub), a plantation establishment cost of $165/ha plus $4.40/tree, a pruning cost of $0.90/tree, and an annual maintenance cost of $5/year/ha, and a discount rate of 5 %.…”

Section: The Study Site and Research Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The initial spacing and early thinning treatments used in the trial were input into the model of Grant et al (2012b) to investigate the effect on returns to a grower of different stand management scenarios. NPV for a single rotation is reported and Land Expectation Value (LEV) was calculated to compare scenarios of different Effect of Initial Spacing on First Thinning Product… rotation length.…”

Section: Value Of the Retained Stemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The following changes were made to the model of Grant et al (2012b) to accommodate the silvicultural scenarios with an early thinning. Spacing, thinning treatment and cost data from the experiment were used in the model and agreement was checked against available data up to the first thinning at age 6.…”

Section: Value Of the Retained Stemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Effect of Initial Spacing on First Thinning Product Recovery, and Financial Outcomes in Whitewood (Endospermum medullosum) Plantations in Vanuatu

Smith

Glencross

Nichols

et al. 2015

Small-scale Forestry

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This paper investigates the products from first thinning at age 6 in Endospermum medullosum (whitewood) plantations in Vanuatu at three stocking densities, and the financial outcomes from several silvicultural thinning regimes based on these spacings. Whitewood plantings established at stockings rates of 417, 625 and 833 stems per hectare were thinned at age 6 to approximately 45 % retained basal area. The thinning products were measured during harvest and value was estimated based on costs of production and appropriate margins relative to radiata pine products already on the market. Financial modelling for the whole rotation was undertaken for each of the spacing and thinning scenarios in the trial. The volume and size of poles and posts at first thinning was related to spacing. Low stocking density produced smaller quantities of larger poles, whereas higher stocking densities produced larger quantities of smaller posts. However, the monetary value of larger products grown under lower stocking rates was less than the value of the greater volume of product at higher stocking rates. This greater volume at higher stockings resulted in higher NPV for regimes with higher initial stockings for modelled scenarios regardless of harvest age. An exception was a scenario where no market for thinnings is available. A direct silvicultural regime (i.e. one with low planting density and no thinnings) had the highest NPV due to the higher price per cubic metre of larger diameter logs, achieved more rapidly because thinning did not remove basal area. Where thinning products are marketable, higher initial planting densities provide higher returns. Where access to markets for thinning products is difficult or where infrastructure is expected to improve in the future, planting at low stocking and without any thinning provides a high return on investment.

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Section: The Study Site and Research Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Study Site and Research Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Value Of the Retained Stemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Value Of the Retained Stemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Effect of Initial Spacing on First Thinning Product Recovery, and Financial Outcomes in Whitewood (Endospermum medullosum) Plantations in Vanuatu

Smith

Glencross

Nichols

et al. 2015

Small-scale Forestry

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“…The research on teak-based agroforestry systems in Indonesia (Roshetko et al 2013) and Laos (Dieters et al 2014) created knowledge on how the existing systems could generate enhanced livelihoods. In the Pacific, good progress was made on developing small-scale agroforestry systems suitable for archipelago nations like Solomon Islands (Blumfield et al 2013) and Vanuatu Grant et al 2012;Viranamangga et al 2012).…”

Section: The Australian Centre For International Agricultural Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

The evolution and impacts of ACIAR’s forestry research program over three decades

Bartlett

2016

Australian Forestry

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The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) commissions collaborative agriculture, fisheries and forestry research projects in developing countries. Over a 30-year period, ACIAR has invested over AUD 100 million to fund 150 forestry projects and activities in 29 countries, with most of these projects implemented in Indonesia, Vietnam and Papua New Guinea. This article describes the approach that ACIAR uses to develop and implement projects, and reviews the nature of the ACIAR Forestry Program and its achievements during each decade of its existence. About three-quarters of the research projects have focused on aspects of smallholder and community forestry systems. The findings from a series of independent impact assessment studies, which demonstrate generally high returns on the forestry research investment, are reviewed and some examples of different categories of impacts from the research projects are discussed. ARTICLE HISTORY

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How financially viable is smallholder forestry? A case study with a high-value tropical forestry species

Ota

Page

Viranamangga

et al. 2022

Small-scale Forestry

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This paper evaluates the financial performance and risk of high-value tropical forestry under the challenges faced by smallholders, using Vanuatu sandalwood as a case study. We developed a financial model to predict returns from smallholder-based sandalwood plantations. The model was used to investigate the following issues typically faced by smallholders: (i) what is the financial impact of smallholders harvesting trees at young ages because of fear of theft or cyclone damage? (ii) how does the opportunity cost of labour impact on the financial returns of sandalwood? and (iii) what are the current opportunities for smallholders to finance the establishment of sandalwood plantations and how might these be improved? Data were collected from expert interviews and relevant literature. We found that smallholder sandalwood can be a profitable investment, but tree security issues and environmental risks are leading to early harvest and an associated 64% reduction in potential returns. To improve the profitability and attractiveness of sandalwood plantations to smallholders, the following key issues must be addressed: (i) risks associated with tree theft need to be dramatically reduced; (ii) earlier returns from planting systems must be planned for smallholders with more immediate needs; and (iii) greater access to financial services is needed, including loans with competitive borrowing rates, particularly to increase the scale of planting for individual smallholders that might be constrained by labour. Theft mitigation can include fencing, patrolling, microchip tagging, all of which add significant maintenance cost. Formalised social and governance structures within and between villages, may be more cost-effective in improving tree security. Incorporating agricultural crops into systems helps produce earlier financial returns, and more rapid payback. Accessible loans can allow for upscaling of smallholder systems that are limited to household labour for plantation management, harvesting, and processing the logs.

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Silvicultural implications arising from a simple simulation model for Endospermum medullosum in Vanuatu

Cited by 13 publications

References 25 publications

Effect of Initial Spacing on First Thinning Product Recovery, and Financial Outcomes in Whitewood (Endospermum medullosum) Plantations in Vanuatu

Effect of Initial Spacing on First Thinning Product Recovery, and Financial Outcomes in Whitewood (Endospermum medullosum) Plantations in Vanuatu

The evolution and impacts of ACIAR’s forestry research program over three decades

How financially viable is smallholder forestry? A case study with a high-value tropical forestry species

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