Objectives and benefits

The main objective of the Action is to promote the developing of methodologies to improve forest models to support the sustainable management of forests. The Action will provide a platform for model developers to coordinate ongoing research in forest modelling, to exchange information, data and models, and to create the opportunity for further cooperation through a network of institutions, research groups and individual scientists.

This will be done by:

1) identifying and describing existing models for major forest types in Europe according to conceptual model type, tree species, silvicultural practices and geographical region, discussing their properties in relation to the requirements of multifunctional sustainable forest management (MSFM), and for use in research and decision support; identifying and describing existing computer platforms and software incorporating simulation tools based on growth models, with the aim to stimulate exchange of software and modelling concepts. The design of a public-domain forest models register is one important target for the Action.

2) identifying and discussing the biological scope to improve forest modelling in order to meet the needs of research and modern forest management, namely: i) broaden the output provided by the models, including the estimation of indicators relevant for all the criteria of MSFM; ii) improve growth and yield models with more causality-based concepts and submodels; iii) integrate the occurrence and impact of natural hazards on the simulation of forest development; iv) simulate the development of complex forests (uneven-aged and multiple-species stands) for decision support

3) using and further developing methodologies for data-model interactions, including data sources, model evaluation, uncertainty.

4) addressing the data requirements, conceptual differences and needs in using forest models at different scales and resolutions such as tree, stand, landscape, region, country and at the pan-European level, and for use in decision making by different stakeholders; analyse the methodological differences in a top down or bottom up approach and the type of ecosystem processes which may be realistically modelled at each scale

5) disseminating the results of the Action to end-users, both in research, forest policy and decision support for forest management and for identifying a future research agenda.

The Action will enhance the quality and consistency of forest modelling aimed at simulating forest resource dynamics in response to alternative managerial and climate scenarios. This will be a significant achievement for forest science in Europe, and will help to implement sustainable management practices, with the ultimate aim to enhance the sustainability and international competitiveness of the European forest sector.