| A unit of Lasting Forests
evolving since March 30, 1999 |
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A Total Forest Management Plan
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The Trevey, once Guidance, then R* Guidance, was conceived and early designs were made in 1994. Time being money, many hours have been spent on it at the date of this note (Jan.11, 2000. (conservatively 5000 hours by any reasonable hourly wage multiplier).
A draft or prototype was developed in 1996 for Indian Head Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head, MD with Mr. Jeff Bossert. Time was contributed by Giles, who was paid by the College of Forestry and Wildlife Resources (now Natural Resources). Funds of about $20,000 paid for secretarial work and expenses. Students of Giles have built models and GIS components for many years, all leading to use in Guidance (now The Trevey). The GIS work of the Dept. Game and Inland Fisheries related directly and is grossly valued at $500,000. Key components are wildlife data, land cover maps, fishery maps, temperature and precipitation, and many others.
The operational system represents minimum direct investments of millions of dollars and untold millions invested in research, field studies, records amanagement, libraries, and administration. It has cost much!
The direct cost in developing the A.P. Hill system, a second-stage prototype, is merely $19,000 with over $50,000 in salary-equivalent time donated by Giles (1998-Jan. 2000).
Continual work with faculty, staff, libraries, and computer specialists are contributions of time, thus equivalent money. For a system this costly to have social utility it must be used (or the threat of its use (i.e., non use) may also have benefits). It, however, has utility in its creation for it requires organization, collection, coordination, and other acts that are beneficial, perhaps exceding those of the final system.
This page is under development. It will describe the cost considerations, intergenerational equity as related to present discounting, staffing and landowner incentives, and will emphasize the financial analyses of joint production functions.See Guidance.
Evaluating a use is difficult. It may achieve efficiencies, cost effectiveness. These gains or opportunity costs can be computed by acre over many years for many people.It may save a species, a human life, a fishery. Risks and risk levels are likely to be reduced by using the results. Perhaps it will be worth the effort. Perhaps creating, using, and improving The Trevey may not be a bad idea.
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This Web site is maintained by R. H.
Giles, Jr.
Last revision January 17, 2000.