A Simulation Model for the Philippine Selective Logging System: Case Study of a Timber Company

This paper describes a simulation model developed for the Philippine Selective Logging System. The model is purposely designed to be flexible and capable of addressing various forest management concerns such as: (1) the length of cutting cycle; (2) growth rate: (3) stand treatments; (4) site degradation; (5) diameter cutting limit; (6) volume of allowable cut; (7) logging and utilization efficiency; and (8) the extent and intensity of timber stand improvement activities. del is used to simulate the timber management activities and practices of an actual timber company. Results from the simulation runs indicate that selective logging as practiced by the timber company is not sustainable, particularly in terms of the calculated allowable volume of harvest. Variants of the allowable cut formula prescribed by the selective logging systems are examined and are found to be non-sustainable at the current level of allowable cut. Various treatment combinations are also examined. Most of them generated sustainable yield only up to the second cutting cycle. The few strategies that reached the third cutting cycle include timber stand improvement as one of the treatments.