scholarly journals Decision Support Tool for Tree Species Selection in Forest Regeneration Based on Harvester Data

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1329
Author(s):  
Timo Saksa ◽  
Jori Uusitalo ◽  
Harri Lindeman ◽  
Esko Häyrynen ◽  
Sampo Kulju ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Grid Cell ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Species Selection ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Local Growth ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Regeneration Phase

Precision forestry—i.e., the division of a stand to smaller units and managing of the stand at a micro-stand level—provides new possibilities to increase forest growth, arrange forest stand structure and enhance forest health. In the regeneration phase by adjusting the tree species selection, soil preparation, intensity of regeneration measures (method, planting density, and material), and young stand management procedures according to precise information on soil properties (e.g., site fertility, wetness, and soil type) and microtopography will inevitably lead to an increase in growth of the whole stand. A new approach to utilizing harvester data to delineate micro-stands inside a large forest stand and to deciding the tree species to plant for each micro-stand was piloted in central Finland. The case stands were situated on Finsilva Oyj forest property. The calculation of the local growth (m3/ha/year) for each 16 × 16-m grid cell was based on the height of the dominant trees and the stand age of the previous tree generation. Tree heights and geoinformation were collected during cutting operation as the harvester data, and the dominant height was calculated as the mean of the three largest stems in each grid cell. The stand age was obtained from the forest management plan. The estimated local growth (average of nine neighboring grid cells) varied from 3 to 14 m3/ha/year in the case stands. When creating micro-stands, neighboring grid cells with approximately the same local growth were merged. The minimum size for an acceptable micro-stand was set to 0.23 ha. In this case study, tree species selection (Scots pine or Norway spruce) was based on the mean growth of each micro-stand. Different threshold values, varying from 6 to 8 m3/ha/year, were tested for tree species change, and they led to different solutions in the delineation of micro-stands. Further stand development was simulated with the Motti software and the net present values (NPVs (3%)) for the next rotation were estimated for different micro-stand solutions. The mixed Norway spruce–Scots pine stand structure never produced a clearly economically inferior solution compared to the single species stand, and in one case out of six, it provided a distinctly better solution in terms of NPV (3%) than the single species option did. Our case study showed that this kind of method could be used as a decision support tool at the regeneration phase.

scholarly journals TURNING LOCAL KNOWLEDGE ON AGROFORESTRY INTO AN ONLINE DECISION-SUPPORT TOOL FOR TREE SELECTION IN SMALLHOLDERS’ FARMS

2016 ◽  
Vol 55 (S1) ◽  
pp. 50-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
JUST VAN DER WOLF ◽  
LAURENCE JASSOGNE ◽  
GIL GRAM ◽  
PHILIPPE VAAST
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Agroforestry Systems ◽  
Species Selection ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Support Tool

SUMMARYThis paper presents the main features of a unique decision-support tool developed for selecting tree species in coffee and cocoa agroforestry systems. This tool aims at assisting in the selection of appropriate shade trees taking into account local conditions as well as needs and preferences of smallholder farmers while maximizing ecosystem services from plot to landscape level. This user-friendly and practical tool provides site-specific recommendations on tree species selection via simple graphical displays and is targeted towards extension services and stakeholders directly involved in sustainable agroforestry and adaptation to climate change. The tool is based on a simple protocol to collect local agroforestry knowledge through farmers’ interviews and rankings of tree species with respect to locally perceived key ecosystem services. The data collected are first analysed using the BradleyTerry2 package in R, yielding the ranking scores that are used in the decision-support tool. Originally developed for coffee and cocoa systems of Uganda and Ghana, this tool can be extended to other producing regions of the world as well as to other cropping systems. The tool will be tested to see if repeated assessments show consistent ranking scores, and to see if the use of the tool by extension workers improves their shade tree advice to local farmers.

Forest reproduction methods for coastal British Columbia: Principles, criteria, and a stand selection guide

1994 ◽  
Vol 70 (5) ◽  
pp. 569-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Klinka ◽  
G. J. Kayahara ◽  
R. E. Carter
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Species Selection ◽  
Cutting Method ◽  
Management Objectives ◽  
Dichotomous Key ◽  
Management Factors ◽  
Reproduction Method ◽  
Coastal British Columbia

Once a decision to regenerate a particular stand is made at the forest level, a forester has to make critical decisions at the stand level as to the choice of cutting method for existing stands to regenerate the desired species and develop a stand of the desired structure. Two related critical decisions in stand-level forest management are (1) selecting the best tree species to regenerate on a given site, and (2) selecting the appropriate method of cutting existing stands for both the regeneration of the desired species within a certain time and for maintaining or developing the desired stand structure. This paper discusses the management factors and principles and criteria for choosing a cutting method to meet decision (2) (i.e., the reproduction method). The four criteria used to guide the appropriate reproduction method are (1) maximum sustainable forest productivity, (2) stand reliability, (3) silvicultural feasibility, and (4) harvesting feasibility. With these criteria in mind, a stand-level guide devised for coastal British Columbia is proposed. This guide is in the form of a dichotomous key and is based on 13 selected ecological, stand, and management factors. Combining this approach with principles, criteria and guidelines for tree species selection already practiced, regeneration and management objectives can be achieved both on a species-and site-specific basis. Key words: forest reproduction methods, decision support systems, silvicultural prescriptions, harvesting methods, stand regeneration, stand structure

scholarly journals Provisioning forest and conservation science with high-resolution maps of potential distribution of major European tree species under climate change

2021 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Debojyoti Chakraborty ◽  
Norbert Móricz ◽  
Ervin Rasztovits ◽  
Laura Dobor ◽  
Silvio Schueler
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Potential Distribution ◽  
Input Data ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Forest Trees ◽  
Climatic Suitability ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Planting Material

Abstract •Key message We developed a dataset of the potential distribution of seven ecologically and economically important tree species of Europe in terms of their climatic suitability with an ensemble approach while accounting for uncertainty due to model algorithms. The dataset was documented following the ODMAP protocol to ensure reproducibility. Our maps are input data in a decision support tool “SusSelect” which predicts the vulnerability of forest trees in climate change and recommends adapted planting material. Dataset access is at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3686918. Associated metadata are available at https://metadata-afs.nancy.inra.fr/geonetwork/srv/fre/catalog.search#/metadata/fe79a36d-6db8-4a87-8a9f-c72a572b87e8.

scholarly journals A Hierarchical Route Guidance Framework for Off-Road Connected Vehicles

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Judhajit Roy ◽  
Nianfeng Wan ◽  
Angshuman Goswami ◽  
Ardalan Vahidi ◽  
Paramsothy Jayakumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Optimal Path ◽  
Computational Cost ◽  
Grid Cell ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Route Guidance ◽  
Low Resolution ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Optimal Cost

A new framework for route guidance, as part of a path decision support tool, for off-road driving scenarios is presented in this paper. The algorithm accesses information gathered prior to and during a mission which are stored as layers of a central map. The algorithm incorporates a priori knowledge of the low resolution soil and elevation information and real-time high-resolution information from on-board sensors. The challenge of high computational cost to find the optimal path over a large-scale high-resolution map is mitigated by the proposed hierarchical path planning algorithm. A dynamic programming (DP) method generates the globally optimal path approximation based on low-resolution information. The optimal cost-to-go from each grid cell to the destination is calculated by back-stepping from the target and stored. A model predictive control algorithm (MPC) operates locally on the vehicle to find the optimal path over a moving radial horizon. The MPC algorithm uses the stored global optimal cost-to-go map in addition to high resolution and locally available information. Efficacy of the developed algorithm is demonstrated in scenarios simulating static and moving obstacles avoidance, path finding in condition-time-variant environments, eluding adversarial line of sight detection, and connected fleet cooperation.

A Web‐based Decision Support Tool for Forage Species Selection

2002 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Miller ◽  
M. H. Hall ◽  
J. Voortman ◽  
P. J. Kolb
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Species Selection ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Forage Species

scholarly journals Persistence-Based Area Prioritization for Conservation: Applying Occupancy and Habitat Threats and Risks Analyses

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 554-564
Author(s):  
Liani M. Yirka ◽  
Jaime A. Collazo ◽  
Steven G. Williams ◽  
David T. Cobb
Keyword(s):  
Land Cover ◽  
Habitat Management ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Illustrative Case ◽  
Occupancy Models ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Persistence Probability ◽  
Area Of Interest ◽  
Maritime Forest

Abstract Effective habitat conservation is predicated on maintaining high levels or increasing local persistence probability of the species it purports to protect. Thus, methodological approaches that improve the inferential value of local persistence are of utmost value to guide conservation planning as they inform area selection processes. Herein we used the painted bunting Passerina ciris, a species of conservation interest in North Carolina, as an illustrative case that combined single-season, single-species occupancy analyses and a threats and risk decision support tool to rank five areas of conservation interest in terms of local persistence probability. We used survey data from two seasons (2008–2009) grouped into 21 natal dispersal sampling units and land-cover data from 12 habitat classes to establish the relationship between local occupancy probability and habitat. Occupancy increased most strongly with increasing amount of maritime forest. Projections to year 2050, relative to year 2000, indicated that a potential loss of maritime forest of 200–1,300 ha, depending on the area of interest. Projected loss was lowest at Bald Head Island–Wilmington (2%) and highest at Camp Lejune (27%). Bald Head Island–Wilmington ranked highest in projected local persistence probability (0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.53–0.99), whereas Top Sail–Hammocks Beach Park ranked lowest (0.28; 95% CI = 0.03–0.82). Estimates of local persistence offer decision-makers another criterion to prioritize areas for conservation and help guide efforts aimed at maintaining or enhancing local persistence. These include in situ habitat management, expanding or connecting existing areas of interest. In the future, we recommend the use of multiseason occupancy models, coupled with measures of uncertainty of land-cover projections, to strengthen inferences about local persistence, particularly useful in nonstationary landscapes driven by human activities.

A protocol for sampling pastures in hill country

2016 ◽  
Vol 78 ◽  
pp. 203-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.J. Hutchinson ◽  
D.R. Scobie ◽  
J. Beautrais ◽  
A.D. Mackay ◽  
G.M. Rennie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Random Sampling ◽  
Geographical Information Systems ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Accurate Estimate ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Topographic Complexity ◽  
Hill Country

To develop a protocol to guide pasture sampling for estimation of paddock pasture mass in hill country, a range of pasture sampling strategies, including random sampling, transects and stratification based on slope and aspect, were evaluated using simulations in a Geographical Information Systems computer environment. The accuracy and efficiency of each strategy was tested by sampling data obtained from intensive field measurements across several farms, regions and seasons. The number of measurements required to obtain an accurate estimate was related to the overall pasture mass and the topographic complexity of a paddock, with more variable paddocks requiring more samples. Random sampling from average slopes provided the best balance between simplicity and reliability. A draft protocol was developed from the simulations, in the form of a decision support tool, where visual determination of the topographic complexity of the paddock, along with the required accuracy, were used to guide the number of measurements recommended. The protocol was field tested and evaluated by groups of users for efficacy and ease of use. This sampling protocol will offer farmers, consultants and researchers an efficient, reliable and simple way to determine pasture mass in New Zealand hill country settings. Keywords: hill country, feed budgeting, protocol pasture mass, slope

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document