Abstract:

【Objective】Increase the forest ecological performance through optimizing the forestry production factors, which include forest land, technology, labor and capital. 【Method】The mechanism of factor optimization on the growth of ecological performance of forests was analyzed using forest rotation as the intermediate variable between factor input and growth in ecological performance; a case was studied in Shaxian County, Fujian Province. 【Result】 ① The relationship between the ecological performance and factor input of forest land with operation is as follows: first, the optimization of production factors can improve ecological performance, e.g., state-owned forests have better ecological performance than other types of forests because of large forest lands, low capital costs, and advanced forest operation technologies. Second, there is a “threshold” effect between forest management scale and ecological performance. When the forest land area exceeds the “threshold”, it is possible to extend the forest rotation age and further improve the ecological performance. ② All forest production factor input modes should be optimized: state-owned forest farms need more forestland input, collective forest farms face forestland and capital shortage, the villagers’ group and household management are faced with the comprehensive shortage of technology, capital, and labor input.【Conclusion】The key to forest ecological growth is to extend forest rotation under the rule of maximizing forest revenue, and the factor input needs to be optimized as follows. First, adopting advanced production technology, i.e., land preparation and thinning according to the high standard forest management technical regulations, adopting good seeds and strong steckling, and investing in more fertilizers and other land saving technologies. Second, reducing capital costs and investing more capital. Third, more forest land input to cope with the increased demand for forest land management due to the extension of forest rotation period. Finally, the forest “threshold” scale is necessary for the extension of forest rotation period.

Key words: ecological performance, optimization of production factors, “threshold” scale, extension of forest rotation period, forest management mode