Metodologia para Determinação da Área a Partir da qual a

Abstract

One of the aims of the Regional Forest Planning is the definition of the minimum area of the management units, which will be compelled to base their management in Forest Management Plans (PGF), elaborated according to the rules defined by the Decreto-Lei nº 205/99 of 9 of June. The use of forest management plans is already a reality in part of the forest area of Alentejo. The option for this instrument of management decision was taken by the majority of the management units where dimension and complexity converge. Some agro forest management units, where the effects of the economy of scale are present, are examples. The non generalization of this type of instrument to support management is essentially due to the fact that the gains attained are null or even negative when the management units are in a lower baseline of dimension and complexity. In order to define, in an adequate way, the minimum area above which is profitable to a management unit to adopt a management procedure based on a forest management plan an analysis, based on the agricultural e enterprise level of income, was carried out.