Grant: Research Networks

Forests are Canada's most important renewable natural resource, contributing significantly to the country's environmental, social and economic well-being. Until recently, the Canadian forest products industry has been essentially a volume-driven, commodity-based, export-orientated primary producer. In recent years, this industry has faced serious challenges and is shifting toward value-added manufacturing to maximize the value of the forest resource. On the other hand, forest management is intensified to enhance forest productivity and value. To ensure that the forest resource is managed, harvested and utilized to its maximum economic value, it is necessary to develop a series of integrated models to support a value-based and market-driven decision-making strategy instead of a segmented, raw material-driven and volume/yield-based approach. The overall objective of this Strategic Network is to develop a series of new and integrated models to support value-added wood decision-making strategy for Canada's boreal forests. The project includes five themes: 1) Stand and tree growth modelling; 2) Three-dimensional stem quality modelling; 3) Sawmilling products recovery modelling; 4) Value-added wood products recovery modelling; and finally 5) Development of integrated decision-support systems considering the information generated in the four previous themes plus silvicultural, harvesting, manufacturing and marketing costs and end-product value. The development of an integrated wood manufacturing optimization system for principal boreal forest species will allow the industry to optimize the wood products manufacturing processes based on both external stem geometry and internal wood characteristics in order to maximize the value from the individual trees. The integrated models developed] from the project will support value-added silvicultural and harvesting planning to enhance forest stand value. Overall, this Strategic Network will allow the Canadian forest industry to add value along the forest-wood value chain, directly supporting the industry's strategic positioning towards achieving greater value-added wood manufacturing, enhanced forest value and competitiveness within the global market. Second Language Version of Summary (optional). La foret est la plus importante ressource naturelle renouvelable du Canada, contribuant significativement a la qualite"" de notre environnement, au bien-etre de notre societe"" et a la vigueur de notre economic. Jusqu'a recemment, I1 Industrie canadienne des produits forestiers a ete essentiellement orientee dans la production de masse de produits peu transformes destines a Importation. Depuis peu, cette Industrie se reoriente vers la fabrication de produits a plus grande valeur ajout^e. Par ailleurs, ramenagement forestier s'intensifie afln d'augmenter la productivite et la valeur des forces. Afin d'assurer que la ressource forestiere est geiee, r^coltee et utilisee de maniere a maximiser sa valeur economique, il est ne""cessaire de developper une suite de modeles integres afm de supporter la prise de decisions basee sur la valeur des produits et les marches plutot que sur la production de masse. L'objectif general de ce reseau strate~gique est de developper une suite de modeles integre""s d'aide a la decision afm d'appuyer le developpement de produits a valeur ajout£e a partir de la foret boreale du Canada. Le projet se divise en cinq themes : 1) modelisation de la croissance des peuplements et des arbres, 2) modelisation tridimensionnelle de la qualite des tiges, 3) modelisation du rendement en produits de dSbitage primaire, 4) modelisation du rendement en produits a valeur ajoutee et 5) developpement de systemes d'aide a la decision integres considerant rinformation ge""neree dans les quatre themes pre""ce""dents en plus des couts de la sylviculture, de la recolte, de la fabrication, du marketing et de la valeur des produits flnaux. Le developpement d'un systeme optimise de fabrication des produits pour les principales especes borSales permettra a 1'industrie d'optimiser les pr