Empirical analysis of maturity ages for pure stands in Estonian commercial forests and comparison with required rotation ages

The article provides an overview of the results of the maturity age calculations for economically important tree species’ stands in Estonian commercial forests. The maturity by price is determined by a stand’s stumpage value per year of rotation. The maturity by net income (forest rent) is determined by the average annual net income of forest management, which is calculated based on the timber sales revenue, forest management costs and rotation period. The annual land tax and administrative costs have been included in the calculations, as well. The calculated maturity ages are compared with the required rotation ages stated in the Rules of Forest Management. According to the calculations, the maturity age by net income for pine stands in Ia and I site classes is 10…20 years lower than the current rotation age for regeneration felling. The maturity ages for spruce stands coincide with the current rotation ages. The calculated maturity ages by net income for aspen are about ten years higher than the current rotation ages. A comparison of the calculated maturity ages with the current rotation ages shows that these are rather similar.