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Silviculture impacts on Yield Lumber Value and Economic Return (SYLVER)

Last updated on January 22, 2024

About SYLVER

SYLVER is a system that helps forest managers evaluate impact at the stand level. It links the Tree and Stand Simulator (TASS) with a string of software programs that predict product recovery (logs and lumber) and the associated financial return for various silvicultural regimes.

The SYLVER system itself is not distributed to the public. However, a fixed suite of SYLVER-generated log and lumber output tables are part of the Table Interpolation Program for Stand Yields (TIPSY), as is SYLVER’s financial analysis program, Financial Analysis of Silviculture Investment and Economic Returns (FANSIER). Those users requiring greater flexibility than TIPSY provides can request custom SYLVER runs.

SYLVER’s main components and information flow

Tree and Stand Simulator (TASS)

TASS is a program that simulates the growth and yield model, providing predictions of individual tree dimensions and wood characteristics, in response to various silviculture treatments, such as:

  • Log taper
  • Ring width
  • Knot size
  • Juvenile wood profile

BUCK

BUCK is a program that performs bucking processes that turn tree stems into logs. It receives the TASS output and optimizes log bucking to maximize value:

  • If logs are the specified product, the log output file is passed directly to GRADE
  • Otherwise, the output file is passed to the Sawmill Simulator (SAWSIM)

Sawmill Simulator (SAWSIM)

SAWSIM is a program that selects a sawing pattern that maximizes value given the specified sawmill configuration and lumber specifications. SAWSIM also quantifies mill residuals in the form of:

  • Chips
  • Sawdust
  • Shavings
  • Trims
  • Bark

​NOTE: All these are reported in oven-dry tonnes (ODT).

GRADE

GRADE is a program that classifies simulated logs and lumber into value grades based on standard defect indicators. It receives the lumber output file from SAWSIM and grades each log or piece of lumber according to standard industry grading criteria. Optionally, lumber grades can be adjusted (degraded) for juvenile wood content

Financial Analysis of Silviculture Investment and Economic Returns (FANSIER)

FANSIER is a program that receives the graded log and lumber files from GRADE and the silviculture regime specifications from TASS. It then performs economic analyses using its default costs and prices, or those specified by the user.

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References

Di Lucca, C.M. 1999. TASS/SYLVER/TIPSY: systems for predicting the impact of silvicultural practices on yield, lumber value, economic return and other benefits (PDF, 410KB). In: Stand Density Management Conference: Using the Planning Tools. November 23–24, 1998, Colin R. Bamsey [Ed.] Clear Lake Ltd., Edmonton, AB. pp. 7–16.

Hatton, J.V. and K. Hunt. 1989b. Unbleached Kraft Pulps. In: Second growth Douglas-fir: Its management and conversion for value, Kellogg, R. M. (eds.). Forintek Canada Corp., Spec. Publ. No. SP-32, Vancouver, B.C. pp. 87-113.

Hatton, J.V. and S. S. Johal. 1989. Refiner Mechanical Pulps. In: Second growth Douglas-fir: Its management and conversion for value, Kellogg, R. M. (eds.). Forintek Canada Corp., Spec. Publ. No. SP-32, Vancouver, B.C. pp. 114–129.

Kellogg, R.M. (Editor), 1989. Second growth Douglas-fir: its management and conversion for value. Forintek  Canada Corporation, Vancouver, B.C., Special Publication No. SP-32, 173 pp.

Mackay, J.F.G. 1989. Kiln Drying Lumber. In: Second growth  Douglas-fir: Its management and conversion for value, Kellogg, R. M. (eds.). Forintek Canada Corp., Spec. Publ. No. SP-32, Vancouver, B.C. pp. 75–77.

Middleton, G.R. and B.D. Munro. 1989. Log and Lumber Yields. In: Second growth Douglas-fir: Its management and conversion for value, Kellogg, R. M. (eds.). Forintek Canada Corp., Spec. Publ. No. SP-32, Vancouver, B.C. pp. 66–74.

Mitchell, K.J. 1987. Predicting the impact of silvicultural treatments on yield, products and value. In: H.N. Chappell and Douglas A. Maguire (Editors). Predicting Forest Growth and Yield: Current Issues, Future Prospects. College  of Forest Resources, Univ. Wash., Seattle, Wash. Inst. For. Resources Contribution No. 58. pp. 44–60.

Mitchell, K.J., R.M. Kellogg, and K.R. Polsson. 1989a Silvicultural treatments and end-product value. In: Second growth Douglas-fir: Its management and conversion for value. A report of the Douglas-fir Task Force, Kellogg, R. M. (editors). Forintek Canada Corp. Spec. Publ. No. SP-32, Vancouver, B.C. pp. 130–167.

Mitchell, K.J., R.M. Kellogg, and K.R. Polsson. 1989b. SYLVER: The link between silvicultural practices and financial return. Can. For. Ind. pp. 38–42.

Mitchell, K.J., R.M. Kellogg, and K.R. Polsson. 1991 (updated version from 1989). Silvicultural treatments and  end-product value. In: Second growth Douglas-fir: Its management and conversion for value. A report of the Douglas-fir Task Force, Kellogg, R. M. (editors). Forintek Canada Corp. Spec. Publ. No. SP-32, Vancouver, B.C. pp. 130–167.

Mitchell, K.J. and K.R. Polsson. 1993. SYLVER: A decision-support system for silviculture. In: Les modeles de  croissance forestiere et leurs utilisations (Forest growth models and their uses), November 18–19, 1993, Quebec City, PQ, Canada, (editor) C. Ung. (editor.). Nat. Res. Canada, Can. For. Serv., Sainte-Foy, Que. pp. 34–44.

Mitchell, K.J. 1995. Simulate the Treatment Before Pruning the Stand. In: D.P. Hanley, C.D. Oliver, D.A. Maguire, D.G. Briggs, and R.D. Fight (Editors). Forest Pruning and Wood Quality of Western North American Conifers. Coll. For. Res., Univ. Wash., Seattle, Wash. pp. 281–290.

 

 

Contact information

For more information on SYLVER, contact:

Growth and Yield Application Specialist
Yanguo.Qin@gov.bc.ca