Análisis económico del efecto de diferentes esquemas de raleo en Eucalyptus grandis y Pinus taeda a turno final

Silvicultural management through pruning and thinning is a key tool for improving wood quality and increasing the profitability of forest plantations. In this context, the objective of this study was to technically and economically evaluate different thinning regimes in Eucalyptus grandis and Pinus taeda plantations in Uruguay, using data from experimental trials conducted by the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA) in collaboration with forestry companies.

Based on forest inventory data from different treatments, stand growth was projected using INIA's Forest Management Support System (Sistema de Apoyo a la Gestión, SAG). Subsequently, tree bucking was simulated to estimate the production of different commercial timber assortments. Using this information, cash flow models were developed incorporating establishment, management, harvesting, transportation costs, and revenues from log sales. These cash flows were used to calculate key financial indicators, including Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and Land Expectation Value (LEV). In addition, a sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the response of the results to changes in the main economic variables.

The results show that both the intensity and timing of thinning significantly affect the distribution of timber products and, consequently, the profitability of the production systems. For both species, treatments that promoted the production of larger-diameter and higher-quality logs achieved better economic performance than those primarily focused on pulpwood production. The study highlights the importance of integrating growth simulation, bucking optimization, and economic analysis as decision-support tools for forest management, providing valuable information for forest producers, companies, and institutions associated with Uruguay's forestry sector.