Optimizing the horizontal structural diversity in uneven-aged northern hardwood stands

Two mathematical programming formulations are presented which allow the determination of diameter distributions that maximize the diameter class diversity in uneven-aged northern hardwood stands. Distributions generated from these models were found to be comparable from a management standpoint and could be incorporated into existing linear programming models as alternative management scenarios. The models presented here provide an initial framework for quantitatively addressing the requirements of the US National Forest Management Act in matters of diversity in the planning process.