T: A forest simulator for bioeconomic analyses based on models for individual trees

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to describe a bioeconomic forest simulator based on models for individual trees. At present, the forest simulator can be applied only to stand-level analyses, but in future it is planned to be a part of a software system that may be used for decision support for large forest areas. The focus is on a flexible platform facilitating future development, and the biological submodels, i.e. distance-independent individual-tree growth and mortality models and area-based regeneration and recruitment models, are based on permanent sample plots from the Norwegian National Forest Inventory. The economic submodels estimate timber prices and harvesting costs from individual trees. For each management unit (i.e. stand), the simulator produces treatment schedules with all feasible combinations of user-defined treatment and regeneration options (e.g. precommercial thinning, thinning, different kinds of regeneration cutting with different kinds of regeneration options and selective cutting). A net present value is calculated for all treatment schedules. From the treatment schedules various aspects of forest dynamics and economics can be analysed and visualized. A case study is presented to demonstrate some of the functionality and behaviour of the simulator.

Measures of spatial forest structure derived from airborne laser data are associated with natural regeneration patterns in an uneven-aged spruce forest

“…In the US, the first single-tree model was developed as early as 1964 (Newham, 1964) followed by others (e.g., Mitchell, 1969Mitchell, , 1975 through the 1960s and 1970s and have been in operational use since the 1980s (Pretzsch et al, 2002). In the recent years there has been focus on the single-tree approach also in Europe, and singletree models and simulators are being developed (e.g., Pretzsch et al, 2002;Gobakken et al, 2005). Generally, such simulators rely on both single-tree and site information as input data, and utilizes single-tree models for growth, mortality (e.g., Monserud and Sterba, 1999;Eid and Tuhus, 2001), and recruitment.…”

Even-Aged and Uneven-Aged Forest Management in Boreal Fennoscandia: A Review

“…The remaining studies on higher volume production in uneven-aged management Lexerød and Gobakken 2008) did not interpret their results, but Gobakken et al (2008) gave the impression that their results may be the outcome of the initial stand state.…”

“…Using a 3 % interest rate the difference was 25 % in favor of the even-aged stands. Gobakken et al (2008) developed an individual tree forest simulator and used it to study both even-and uneven-aged management. The simulator included mortality and growth models but the tree height was given as a function of age and site index.…”

Uncertainty in forest simulators and forest planning systems

“…Examples of FPSs in Finland include MELA , MOTTI (Salminen et al 2005), MONSU (Pukkala 2004), and SIMO (Tokola et al 2006, Rasinmäki et al 2009). Commonly used FPSs in the other Nordic countries include Gaya-JLP (Hoen & Gobakken 1990), Forest Management Planning Package FMPP (Jonsson et al 1993), Hugin (Lundström & Söderberg 1996), Avvirk-2000(Eid & Hobbelstad 2000, Heureka (Lämås & Eriksson 2003) and T (Gobakken 2008). The core of an FPS is its forest simulator, which is used for simulating possible future developments.…”