Modeling growth and development of uneven-aged forest stands : application to the Wallonian beech stands
1994
Lejeune, P.
The present study aims at designing a system predicting the growth and development of uneven-aged forest stands; it has been applied to beech stands in Southern Belgium. This study is made up of three main parts. Following a bibliographical research about state-of-the-art of forest growth models, the first part deals with the development of a distance-independent tree growth model. This describes adult trees (girth 40 cm) girth increments at breast height, according to variables connected with, on the one hand, tree measurement and social position, stand density and structure and, on the other hand, site and ecological features, mainly the length of vegetation period. Considering irregular stand structure and the predominance of natural regeneration, the author has been interested in evaluating the feasibility of a model describing the growth and the evolution of such a regeneration in beech stands. The results achieved in this second part allow to use a distance-independent model which is in agreement with the model describing adult trees growth. The last part of this study deals with the development a simulation software integrating both 'adult trees' and 'regeneration' models, as well as a procedure which prescribes and carries out thinnings in stands whose growth is simulated. A user-friendly menu driven interface allows this software to be used by forest managers. Appropriate outcomes of the simulator give an idea of the potentialities of such a powerful tool in modern forest management, provided it is adapted to the main hardwood species of the Wallonian forest.
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