Abstract
Aim of the study: The existing stand level forest simulators available in Portugal were not developed with the aim of including up-to-date model versions and were limited in terms of accounting for forest management. The simulators’ platform, sIMfLOR was recently created to implement different growth models with a common philosophy. The objective was developing one easily-updatable, user-friendly, forest management and climate change sensitive simulator capable of projecting growth for the main tree species in Portugal.Area of the study: Portugal.Material and methods: The new simulator was programmed in a modular form consisting of several modules. The growth module integrates different forest growth and yield models (empirical and process-based) for the main wood production tree species in Portugal (eucalypt, umbrella and maritime pines); whereas the management module drives the growth projections along the planning horizon according to a range of forest management approaches and climate (at present only available for eucalypt).Main results: The main result is the StandsSIM-MD Management Driven simulator that overcomes the limitations of the existing stand level simulators. It is a step forward when compared to the models currently available in the sIMfLOR platform covering more tree species, stand structures and stand compositions. It is focused on end-users and it is based on similar concepts regarding the generation of required inputs and generated outputs.Research highlights:- Forest Management Driven simulations approach- Multiple Prescriptions-Per-Stand functionality- StandsSIM-MD can be used to support landowners decisions on stand forest management- StandsSIM-MD simulations at regional level can be combined with optimization routinesKeywords: Forest simulator, Forest Management Approaches; StandsSIM-MD; forest management.
Highlights
The Mediterranean region, characterized by hot and dry summers combined with complex landscape patterns, is vulnerable to climate and Land Use Changes
Because wood demand is expected to increase in the future, for energy generation, questions of sustainability, competitiveness of the forest-based industries, organisation and motivation of forest owners represent the major challenges for wood mobilisation (EC, 2008)
Several forest simulators have been developed across Europe (e.g. RegWise in Sweden (Wikström et al, 2011)), but these tools are characterized by their local application integrating specific growth models only applicable to the regions/ ecosystems for which they were developed
Summary
The Mediterranean region, characterized by hot and dry summers combined with complex landscape patterns, is vulnerable to climate and Land Use Changes. Demand is expected to increase in the future, for energy generation, questions of sustainability, competitiveness of the forest-based industries, organisation and motivation of forest owners represent the major challenges for wood mobilisation (EC, 2008). Several forest simulators have been developed across Europe (e.g. RegWise in Sweden (Wikström et al, 2011)), but these tools are characterized by their local application integrating specific growth models only applicable to the regions/ ecosystems for which they were developed. A more robust tool, StandsSIM-MD Management Driven simulator, was developed with the aim of covering the main Portuguese timber production species. StandsSIM-MD is a Management Driven forest SIMulator able to process any number of Stands. The set of inputs depends on the type of growth model (stand, individual-tree or LUE-process-based) to be used but stand structure and stand composition are always required. A new version including the simulation of mixed-species stands is under test
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
