Faustmann and the climate

Michael Hoel with Bjart Holtsmark and Katinka Holtsmark.

Photo: Elsevier

Published in:

Journal of Forest Economics 2014 20 pp.192-210.

DOI:10.1016/j.jfe.2014.04.003

Abstract:

The paper presents an adjusted Faustmann Rule for optimal harvest of a forest when there is a social cost of carbon emissions. The theoretical framework takes account of the dynamics and interactions of forests’ multiple carbon pools and assumes an infinite time horizon. Our paper provides a theoretical foundation for numerical model studies that have found that a social cost of carbon implies longer optimal rotation periods and that if the social cost of carbon exceeds a certain threshold value the forest should not be harvested. At the same time we show that it could be a net social benefit from harvesting even if the commercial profit from harvest is negative. If that is the case, the optimal harvest age is decreasing in the social cost of carbon.

 

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Published June 15, 2015 3:52 PM