Mikko T. Niemi, Marjo Palviainen, Annamari Laurén. (2026). Enhanced multi-objective decision support in peatland forestry using Peatland simulator SUSI. Silva Fennica vol. 60 no. 2 article id 25025. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.25025

Keywords: forest planning; drainage; tree growth; nutrient leaching; trade-offs; ditch depth; greenhouse gas emissions

Highlights: Reaching multidimensional economic and environmental objectives in peatland forest management can be enhanced using process-based ecosystem models; Applying ditch depth of 60 cm in ditch network maintenance improved the trade-off between timber production and soil greenhouse gas emissions compared with the conventional ditch depth of 90 cm; Intensive drainage can reduce tree growth in southern Finland during dry summers.

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Boreal peatland forests have been extensively drained to increase timber production, but the maintenance of shallowed ditches has been questioned due to increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and negative impacts on water quality. Ditch network maintenance (DNM) lowers water table, which typically increases tree growth, but also increases rate of peat decomposition and consequently CO₂ emissions. Multi-objective forest planning balances between the conflicting economic gains and adverse environmental impacts. We used a process-based Peatland simulator SUSI to simulate three management scenarios for 20 forest stands, covering the variety of growing conditions in Finland. We studied how DNM with a reduced ditch depth (60 cm) and a conventional ditch depth (90 cm) affected stand growth, GHG balance, and nitrogen and phosphorus export. Over a 20-year simulation period, annual volume growth response was on average 0.8 m³ ha^-1 when ditch depth was changed from 30 cm to 60 cm and 1.0 m³ ha^-1 when ditch depth was changed from 30 cm to 90 cm. In southern Finland, DNM decreased stand growth in fertile sites. Soil GHG emissions increased on average by 49% and 119% in 60 cm and 90 cm ditch depths, respectively, compared to 30 cm ditch depth. The cost of reducing GHG emissions ranged from 0–22 € per ton of CO₂ in our study sites and scenarios. Our results support the idea that omitting DNM or reducing ditch depth may lead to acceptable compromises, as the marginal cost of soil GHG emissions considerably increases with increasing ditch depth.

Niemi, Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; School of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 80101 Joensuu, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0461-3667 E-mail: mikko.t.niemi@helsinki.fi
Palviainen, Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9963-4748 E-mail: marjo.palviainen@helsinki.fi
Laurén, Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6835-9568 E-mail: annamari.lauren@helsinki.fi

article id 420, category Research article

Jukka Matero. (2004). Cost-effective measures for diffuse load abatement in forestry. Silva Fennica vol. 38 no. 3 article id 420. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.420

Keywords: buffer strips; cost effectiveness; drainage maintenance; nutrient leaching

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This paper theoretically and empirically analyzes the design of cost-effective diffuse load abatement in forestry. Harvesting with related forest regeneration and drainage maintenance increases nutrient leaching, while riparian buffer strips and adjustments in drainage maintenance technology can be used to prevent this leaching. By utilizing a two-period model it is shown that cost-efficiency requires the establishment of a buffer strip system and a reduction in both current harvesting, and in drainage maintenance – if practized – relative to the private optimum to reflect their effects on water pollution. A simulation analysis was conducted to assess the magnitudes of the decision variables of the theoretical model, as well as to evaluate alternative technologies for the implementation and use of buffer strips and for the adjustment of drainage maintenance. The results for a representative forest holding in the southern half of Finland show that it is possible to considerably reduce total phosphorus leaching with minor cost.

Matero, University of Joensuu, Faculty of Forestry, P.O. Box 111, FI-80101 Joensuu, Finland E-mail: jukka.matero@joensuu.fi

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