One important basis for decision making related to management strategy and, in the short run, to cutting and silvicultural activities is economic analysis and accounting. He has to find ways to increase revenue and cut costs. This is particularly important given the economic conditions facing forestry in, for example, Finland and Sweden in the early 1990s. However, generally accepted accounting practices for NIPF owners are lacking. Applying business economic accounting principles and forestry accounting traditions, we outline a proposal for a profit and loss account and balance sheet for NIPF holdings with a view towards increasing economic awareness among private owners.
Key concepts are net profit of the enterprise and calculated profit of the property.
Other profit measurements that are used are gross margin, forestry margin, operating margin and operating profit. Calculated profit is based on adjusted net profit. The main concern, however, is to consider the change in the holding's market value caused by changes in stock volume, quality and price. The contents of the accounting framework developed here are applied to three management strategies. Unioninkatu 40 A, FIN-00170 Helsinki, Finland.