Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

This thesis explores the interplay between silvicultural strategies and bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) cover in Sweden's boreal forests. Bilberries hold significant ecological, cultural, and economic value, serving as a habitat, a traditional food source, and contributing to rural economies. Forestry practices impact bilberry cover, which this study examines through simulation and optimization in the Heureka Forestry Decision Support System. Data from the Swedish National Forest Inventory and targeted forest characteristics from Västerbotten and Kronoberg counties provide the empirical basis for this analysis. The study investigates various management strategies, including clear-cutting, continuous cover forestry, extended rotation, and their effects on bilberry cover and forest economic outputs. The results reveal a trade-off between maximizing net present value (NPV) and bilberry cover, with strategies integrating diverse practices offering a compromise. This study highlights the need for multi-objective forest management that accommodates the ecological significance of bilberries while considering economic returns from timber production. The findings advocate for forestry guidelines that include bilberry cover optimization, emphasizing the role of decision support systems in sustainable forest management.