Abstract
Because the two common tree species in Norway, Picea abies L. Karst (Norway spruce) and Pinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine), differ in their susceptibility to the fungus Heterobasidion spp., converting at least parts of the rot-infested spruce stands to pine pays-off economically in some cases. Pixel-level information on rot levels and site indexes (SI) across the stand are required to identify these cases to make decisions that increase the expected economic return of the stand. Applying the Value of Information (VoI) concept, we assessed the value of such information when choosing between planting spruce and pine on a clear-cut spruce stand. The VoIs were highest for the stands of medium–low dominant SI. There, the shift from spruce to pine in some pixels instead of planting spruce across the whole stand has the best-expected impact on the stand’s net present value. Additionally, planting densities are more often adjusted to the pixel SI in these dominant SIs. Given that the stand’s dominant SI is known, information on rot levels alone is more valuable than information on SI alone. The lower the interest rate in decision-making, the more the forest owner is willing to invest in information supporting forest management.
Funder
The Research Council of Norway
Reference39 articles.
1. Heterobasidion Annosum: Biology, Ecology, Impact, and Control;Woodward,1998
2. Modeling infection and spread of Heterobasidion annosum in even-aged Fennoscandian conifer stands
3. The occurrence of Heterobasidion annosum (Fr.) Bref. in woody plants in Finland;Laine;Commun. Inst. For. Fenn.,1976
4. Estimating the frequency of stem rot in Picea abies using an increment borer
5. Råte i Gran Registrert på Stubber Etter Hogst Vinteren 1992 [Rot in Spruce Registered at Stumps after Harvesting at Winter 1992];Huse,1994