Assessing the opportunity cost of implementing streamside management zone guidelines in eastern hardwood forests

Forest landowners, managers, loggers, land-use planners, and other decision/policy makers need to understand the opportunity cost associated with different levels of allowable management and required/voluntary protection in streamside management zones (SMZs). Four different logging technologies, two mature hardwood stands, three levels of streamside zone protection, and a simulation model were used to assess the opportunity costs. Results from this assessment suggest that protection costs can range from $153/acre to $669/acre depending on the level of protection desired, the logging technology used to harvest the timber, and the species composition of the tract. Results suggest that annual capital recovery costs by protection option range from $6.18/ acre/year to $27.00/acre/year depending on the combination of stand, logging technology, and protection option. Results suggest that the highest opportunity costs for a given level of protection are driven by a combination of high value species mix stands and low cost logging technologies. The results should be valuable to loggers, planners, and decision/policy makers involved with streamside management zone protection.

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