ModERFoRest: A new software for assessing the environmental performance of forest species

Abstract

Aim of study: We introduce the software ModERFoRest (Modelling Environmental Requirements for Forest Restoration), which is a tool to estimate the environmental requirements and environmental performance of the main forest tree species growing in Spain.
 Area of study: Two of their modules have been developed to be applied mainly in Spain, but the main section can be used elsewhere as long as the user provides with presence data and environmental information.
 Material and methods: ModERFoRest has been programmed in C++, also using the Armadillo library for algebraic computation. The application can be downloaded from the INIA website (https://www.inia.es/serviciosyrecursos/recursosinformaticos/modernforest/Paginas/ModERFoRest.aspx) where there are also more accessible resources (currently only in Spanish language).
 Main results: ModERFoRest provides three basic utilities, firstly, to select the optimal species to be used for forest restoration, at local or regional scale, among the 22 most important taxa or formations in Spain, based on ecological criteria and physiographic, climatic and edaphic information. Secondly, to explore the potential distribution areas of the species using the ecological niche models and algorithms developed throughout different projects on the autecology of the species over the last 55 years. Finally, the application provides the option of comparing different areas of the species ecologically, in order to obtain the most suitable reproductive material for the forest site under study.
 Research highlights: Users can also run not only recent but also future climate scenarios in order to simulate the distribution of ecological species and use the results in reforestation programmes and planning.

Dynamic Height Growth Equations and Site Index-Based Biomass Models for Young Native Species Afforestations in Spain

“…These site index-based biomass models al- The constructed site index curves and site-based biomass models serve as valuable tools for comparing plantations with the same or different species at various ages, in terms of expected biomass stocks. In this regard, the combined use of the constructed models with environmental niche models, which define the suitability of different species for ecosystem restoration [50], provides a highly useful tool for helping managers and landowners to decide which species to include in plantations. As site index serves as a proxy or an aggregated index of different environmental factors, future research efforts should focus on identifying the edaphic, physiographic, and/or climatic factors that define site productivity in afforestations and construct site index models based on these attributes [28,51].…”