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Forest-management modelling

Formally Refereed

Abstract

Forests are complex and dynamic ecosystems comprising individual trees that can vary in both size and species. In comparison to other organisms, trees are relatively long lived (40-2000 years), quite plastic in terms of their morphology and ecological niche, and adapted to a wide variety of habitats, which can make predicting their behaviour exceedingly difficult. Forests are widely managed for a variety of objectives including biodiversity, wildlife habitat, products, and recreation. Consequently, forest managers need tools that can aid them during the decision-making process. The objective of this chapter is to explore various modelling approaches used for forest management, provide a brief description of some example models, explore the ways that they have been used to aid the decision-making process, and make suggestions for future improvements.

Citation

Twery, Mark J.; Weiskittel, Aaron R. 2013. Forest-management modelling. In: Wainwright, John; Mulligan, Mark, eds. Environmental modelling: finding simplicity in complexity. Second edition. Chapter 13 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd: 379-397.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/43432