Changes in trends of the height growth of spruce and pine derived from continuous measurements in forest management plans of Kostelec nad Čern&yacute;mi lesy and on pilot research plots in the Czech Republic

In Turkey, forest management plans are produced by terrestrial surveying techniques for 10 or 20 year periods, which can be considered quite long to maintain the sustainability of forests. For a successful forest management plan, it is necessary to collect accurate information about the stand parameters and store them in dynamic and robust databases. The position, number, height and closure of trees are among the most important stand parameters required for a forest management plan. Determining the position of each single tree is challenging in such an area consisting of too many interlocking trees. Hence, in this study, an object-based tree detection methodology has been developed in MATLAB programming language to determine the position of each tree top in a highly closed area. The developed algorithm uses the Canopy Height Model (CHM), which is computed from the Digital Terrain Model (DTM) and Digital Surface Model (DSM) generated by using the point cloud extracted from the images taken from a UAS (Unmanned Aerial System). The heights of trees have been determined by using the CHM. The closure of the trees has been determined with the written MATLAB script. The results show that the developed tree detection methodology detected more than 70% of the trees successfully. It can also be concluded that the stand parameters may be determined by using the UAS-based point clouds depending on the characteristics of the study area. In addition, determination of the stand parameters by using point clouds reduces the time needed to produce forest management plans.

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Estimation of change in forest height growth

Forestry Studies / Metsanduslikud Uurimused ◽

10.1515/fsmu-2017-0009 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 67 (1) ◽

pp. 5-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mait Lang ◽

Tauri Arumäe ◽

Diana Laarmann ◽

Andres Kiviste

Keyword(s):

Laser Scanning ◽

Growth Conditions ◽

Height Growth ◽

Forest Growth ◽

Forest Stands ◽

Difference Model ◽

Permanent Sample Plots ◽

Airborne Laser ◽

Forest Height ◽

Algebraic Difference

AbstractForest height increment rate is related to the forest growth conditions. Data bases of previous forest inventories contain information about forest heightage relationship on large number of forest stands while repeated measurements of permanent sample plots provide an excellent reference for comparison. Repeated airborne laser scanning of forest stands is an additional source for the estimation of change in forest structure. In this study, height growth of middle-aged and older forest stands for about 10 year period was compared to an algebraic difference model on permanent sample plots (66) and for a sample of forest stands with repeated airborne laser scanning data (61). The model was based on a large dataset of forest inventory records from the period of 1984–1993. Statistically significant increased forest height growth was found in permanent sample plots based on tree height measurements (9 cm yr−1) as well in stands with repeated laser scanning data (4.5 cm yr−1) in South-East Estonia compared to the algebraic difference model. The difference between the two data sets was explained by their mean age and site class, but the increased forest height growth compared to the old forest inventory data indicates improved growth conditions of forests in the test area. The results hint also that empirical data-based forest growth models need to be updated to avoid biased growth estimates.

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Coupled forest growth-hydrology modelling as an instrument for the assessment of effects of forest management on hydrology in forested catchments

Advances in Geosciences ◽

10.5194/adgeo-27-149-2011 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 27 ◽

pp. 149-154 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

J. Sutmöller ◽

S. Hentschel ◽

J. Hansen ◽

H. Meesenburg

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Growth Parameters ◽

Hydrological Regime ◽

Forest Growth ◽

Interactive System ◽

Forest Conversion ◽

Stand Development ◽

Forested Catchments ◽

Forestry Practices ◽

Forest Growth Model

Abstract. The type and intensity of forest management directly influences regional catchment hydrology. Future forest management must optimise the effects of its practices to achieve sustainable management. With scenario analysis of forestry practices, the effects of different forest utilisation strategies on the hydrology of forested catchments can be temporally and spatially quantified. The approach adopted in this study necessitated the development of an interactive system for the spatially distributed modelling of hydrology in relation to forest stand development. Consequently, a forest growth model was used to simulate stand development assuming various forest management activities. Selected simulated forest growth parameters were entered into the hydrological model to simulate water fluxes under different conditions of forest structure. The approach enables the spatially differentiated quantification of changes in the water regime (e.g. increased evapotranspiration). The results of hydrological simulations in the study area, the Oker catchment (northern Harz Mountains), show that forests contribute to the protection of water systems because they have a balancing effect on the hydrological regime. As scenario simulations also suggest, however, forestry practices can also lead to substantial changes in water budgets of forested catchments. The preservation of the hydrological services of forests requires a sustainable and long-term forest conversion on the basis of current management directives for near natural silviculture. Management strategies on basis of moderate harvesting regimes are preferred because of their limited impact on the water budget.

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Estimating Management Plan Implementation in Northeast Wisconsin

Northern Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/njaf/17.4.135 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 17 (4) ◽

pp. 135-140 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Thomas Shockley ◽

A.J. Martin

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Cost Sharing ◽

Management Plan ◽

Tax Law ◽

Plan Implementation ◽

Assistance Programs ◽

Incentive Program ◽

Management Plans ◽

Recommended Practices ◽

Nipf Landowners

Abstract Forest management plans were examined for a random population of nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners in eight counties in northeast Wisconsin. Implementation rates of practices (i.e., percentages of practices within each management plan that were completed, in progress, or not done), were estimated for each NIPF landowner. Only NIPF landowners participating in forest management assistance programs (Wisconsin's state forest tax law programs, or the federal Stewardship Incentive Program) were considered for the study. A total of 464 forest management plans were examined to determine numbers and types of practices prescribed, rates of implementation, and cost-sharing utilization. The results indicated that 78% of practices mandated by law within the state's tax law programs were either completed or were in progress. Other findings show that 36% of recommended practices within the state's tax law programs were either completed or were in progress. The results of the Stewardship Incentive Program study indicated that 21% of practices prescribed in those plans were either completed or were in progress. Commercial timber harvests were the most widely prescribed mandatory practices while planting prescriptions occupied the majority of recommended practices. Cost-sharing was used on 22% of mandatory tax law practices, 6.5% of recommended tax law practices, and 7% of practices in the Stewardship Incentive Program. North. J. Appl. For. 17(4):135–140.

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A Method for the Development of Dynamic Site Index Models Using Height–Age Data from Temporal Sample Plots

Forests ◽

10.3390/f10070542 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 542

Author(s):

Jarosław Socha ◽

Luiza Tymińska-Czabańska

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Site Index ◽

Height Growth ◽

Strategic Decisions ◽

Growth Trend ◽

Potential Productivity ◽

Forest Sites ◽

Using Data ◽

Temporal Sample ◽

Index Estimation

Knowledge of the potential productivity of forest sites is fundamental for making strategic decisions in forest management. Site productivity is usually evaluated using the site index, and therefore the development of site index models is one of the crucial tasks in forest research and forest management. This research aims to develop an effective method for building top-growth and site index models using data from temporary sample plots (TSP). Exploiting the advantages of the generalised algebraic difference approach (GADA), the proposed method overcomes the limitations of the guide curve method that has been to date used in site index modelling using TSPs data and allows to obtain only a set of anamorphic site index curves. The proposed approach enables the construction of dynamic site index models with polymorphism and variable asymptotes. Such models better reflect local, site-specific height growth trajectories and therefore allow more appropriate site index estimation. We tested the proposed method using data collected from 5105 temporary sample plots in Poland. Our results indicate that growth trend estimates using height–age measurements of TSPs may be valuable data for modelling top height growth. For these reasons, the proposed method can be very useful in forest management.

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AMiGA: software for automated Analysis of Microbial Growth Assays

10.1101/2020.11.04.369140 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Firas S. Midani ◽

James Collins ◽

Robert A. Britton

Keyword(s):

Microbial Growth ◽

Growth Parameters ◽

Growth Curves ◽

Growth Dynamics ◽

Automated Analysis ◽

Growth Conditions ◽

Differential Growth ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Simple Method ◽

Organization Analysis

ABSTRACTThe analysis of microbial growth is one of the central methods in the field of microbiology. Microbial growth dynamics can be characterized by growth parameters including carrying capacity, exponential growth rate, and growth lag. However, growth assays with clinical isolates, fastidious organisms, or microbes under stress often produce atypical growth shapes that do not follow the classical microbial growth pattern. Here, we introduce the Analysis of Microbial Growth Assays (AMiGA) software which streamlines the analysis of growth curves without any assumptions about their shapes. AMiGA can pool replicates of growth curves and infer summary statistics for biologically meaningful growth parameters. In addition, AMiGA can quantify death phases and characterize diauxic shifts. It can also statistically test for differential growth under distinct experimental conditions. Altogether, AMiGA streamlines the organization, analysis, and visualization of microbial growth assays.IMPORTANCEOur current understanding of microbial physiology relies on the simple method of measuring microbial populations’ size over time and under different conditions. Many advances have increased the throughput of those assays and enabled the study of non-lab adapted microbes under diverse conditions that widely affect their growth dynamics. Our software provides an all-in-one tool for estimating the growth parameters of microbial cultures and testing for differential growth in a high-throughput and user-friendly fashion without any underlying assumptions about how microbes respond to their growth conditions.

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DETERMINING STAND PARAMETERS FROM UAS-BASED POINT CLOUDS

ISPRS - International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences ◽

10.5194/isprsarchives-xli-b1-413-2016 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol XLI-B1 ◽

pp. 413-416

Author(s):

V. Yilmaz ◽

C. Serifoglu ◽

O. Gungor

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Point Clouds ◽

Management Plan ◽

Accurate Information ◽

Surface Model ◽

Tree Detection ◽

Management Plans ◽

Forest Management Plan ◽

Stand Parameters ◽

Matlab Programming

In Turkey, forest management plans are produced by terrestrial surveying techniques for 10 or 20 year periods, which can be considered quite long to maintain the sustainability of forests. For a successful forest management plan, it is necessary to collect accurate information about the stand parameters and store them in dynamic and robust databases. The position, number, height and closure of trees are among the most important stand parameters required for a forest management plan. Determining the position of each single tree is challenging in such an area consisting of too many interlocking trees. Hence, in this study, an object-based tree detection methodology has been developed in MATLAB programming language to determine the position of each tree top in a highly closed area. The developed algorithm uses the Canopy Height Model (CHM), which is computed from the Digital Terrain Model (DTM) and Digital Surface Model (DSM) generated by using the point cloud extracted from the images taken from a UAS (Unmanned Aerial System). The heights of trees have been determined by using the CHM. The closure of the trees has been determined with the written MATLAB script. The results show that the developed tree detection methodology detected more than 70% of the trees successfully. It can also be concluded that the stand parameters may be determined by using the UAS-based point clouds depending on the characteristics of the study area. In addition, determination of the stand parameters by using point clouds reduces the time needed to produce forest management plans.

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Changes in the Assortment and Species Structure of Timber Harvested from the Polish Managed Part of Białowieża Forest

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su10093279 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 3279 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Dariusz Zastocki ◽

Hubert Lachowicz ◽

Jarosław Sadowski ◽

Tadeusz Moskalik

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Timber Harvest ◽

Timber Harvesting ◽

Management Plan ◽

Species Structure ◽

Wood Harvesting ◽

Białowieża Forest ◽

Management Plans ◽

Spruce Stands ◽

The Many

The subject of the research, which is the Polish managed part of Białowieża Forest together with Białowieża National Park, a remnant of primeval forests, is one of the most valuable forest areas in Europe. This article presents the history of the use of these forests. The assortment and species structure of the harvested timber was analyzed in detail for the Białowieża, Browsk, and Hajnówka Forest Districts from 2008 to 2017. The research is based on data from the State Forests Information System (SILP) and Forest Management Plans (PUL), as well as Nature Conservation Programs (POP). The volume of harvested timber was diversified. In 2011–2013, it was limited by a decision of the Minister of the Environment from 110,000 m3 in 2010 to 48,500 m3. This contributed to the increase of the European spruce bark beetle gradation, causing the death of spruce stands. By an annex to the Forest Management Plan issued in 2016, the Minister of the Environment increased the amount of the timber harvest. In 2017, it amounted to almost 190,000 m3, where 91% of the harvested volume was spruce, but the wood was markedly inferior in technical quality compared to previous years. Such a large increase in harvesting aroused the opposition mainly of environmental organizations and the European Commission. In April 2018, the EU Court of Justice decided that Poland violated EU law by increasing the number of felled trees in Białowieża Forest. After this decision, the Minister of the Environment repealed the earlier decision, the basis for conducting the increased wood harvesting in Białowieża Forest. Changes in the timber harvested in terms of volume, quality, and assortment, are due to the specificity of managing environmentally valuable areas. This relates to the many limitations on commercial forestry, which must take into account the need to protect nature and the legal acts regulating timber harvesting.

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Stochastic goal programming in forest planning

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/cjfr-2014-0170 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 44 (10) ◽

pp. 1274-1280 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Kyle Eyvindson ◽

Annika Kangas

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Goal Programming ◽

Management Plan ◽

Simulation And Optimization ◽

Additional Information ◽

Information Research ◽

Management Plans ◽

Stochastic Goal Programming ◽

Forest Management Plan ◽

Small Forest

Developing a forest management plan in a multicriteria perspective is traditionally accomplished utilizing simulation and optimization tools as a means to predict and optimize a variety of criteria under consideration. Goal programming is a useful tool to balance conflicting aspects of the competing criteria. When information regarding an aspect of uncertainty is available, stochastic programming should be utilized to efficiently integrate this additional information. Research has been conducted into determining the accuracy of forest inventory methods; however, the measurement error is typically ignored when generating forest management plans. Through integrating the uncertainty in a systematic fashion, the forest management plan can be improved by describing the potential uncertainty in the plan and by managing the influences of this uncertainty. This paper develops three stochastic goal programming formulations and highlights the usefulness of the approach on a small forest holding.

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