Long-Term Forest Ecosystem Planning at Pacific Lumber

In 1995, the Pacific Lumber Company contracted with VESTRA Resources to develop a 120-year, 12-period forest-ecosystem management plan for its properties to meet new California Board of Forestry wildlife, fisheries, and timber resource requirements and to optimize its timberland operations and profitability. VESTRA Resources developed the ecosystem-planning express model, Ep(x), which seamlessly integrates geographic information systems with a database resource capability model and a policy-alternative model, providing the inputs to a linear program. The Ep(x) model uses an underlying adaptive management approach that also maximizes the knowledge base of the ecosystem through detailed sensitivity analyses. The model increased present net worth by over $398 million and generated a more optimal mix of wildlife habitat acres, including spotted-owl-nesting habitat.