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Forest Landscape Management: From Data to Decision

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A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecology and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 March 2019) | Viewed by 33802

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jan Kašpar

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Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16521 Praha Suchdol, Czech Republic
Interests: forest management; harvest scheduling; multicriteria decision analysis
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Prof. Dr. Róbert Marušák

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Department of Forest Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic
Interests: optimization techniques and decision support systems for forest management; forestry planning; forest mensuration; forest monitoring and inventories; forest yield in changing climate and ecological conditions
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Prof. Dr. Harald Vacik

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Institute of Silviculture, Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190 Vienna, Austria
Interests: sustainable forest management; decision support systems; multicriteria analysis; fire research
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Prof. Dr. Pete Bettinger

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School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 East Green Street, Athens, GA 30602, USA
Interests: forest management; forest planning; forest operations; GIS; GPS
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Forest management practices and their impacts on ecosystems have been mostly studied at the stand level or other smaller local spatial scales to support multifunctionality and sustainability of forests. Translation to higher scales cannot be achieved by simple multiplying of the data from the stand or local scale by the larger area of the landscape. At the same time, it is evident that the forest alone influences the landscape and its other elements and vice versa. Thus, proper forest practices have a significant impact on economic, as well as environmental and social aspects at the landscape level. Forest resources management impacts on the larger landscape scale is insufficiently studied and understood. To achieve a sustainable landscape it requires precise data, reliable models and relevant decision systems. This Special Issue consists of a presentation of high quality scientific papers on (i) data, (ii) risk and uncertainty, (iii) modelling and assessment, and (iv) decision. New, progressive and innovative approaches and scientific achievements in terrestrial data gathering, remote sensing and data processing as a base of the landscape management are all addressed within the first thematic area of the papers. It was recognised that climate change brings many associated effects, which include increasing occurrence of extreme natural events and disturbances, such as storms, floods, fires, heat waves and droughts, soil erosion, desertification, and damage caused by pests and diseases. These factors are significantly affecting the landscape on the scale of forest and non-forest ecosystems. Risk and uncertainty analysis and modelling approaches for predicting landscape components, disturbances and landscape development are also covered by this special issue. To build a bridge between science and practice is the prerequisite for development of an effective decision support system based on temporal and spatial optimization of landscape management supporting bio-economy and ecosystem services.

Dr. Jan Kašpar
Prof. Dr. Róbert Marušák
Prof. Dr. Harald Vacik
Prof. Dr. Pete Bettinger
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

landscape
sustainability
management
decision
ecosystem services

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 8702 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analyzing Visitors’ Preferences and Evaluation of Satisfaction Based on Different Attributes, with Forest Trails in the Akasawa National Recreational Forest, Central Japan

by Tong Zhang, Weikang Zhang, Huan Meng and Zhi Zhang

Forests 2019, 10(5), 431; https://doi.org/10.3390/f10050431 - 19 May 2019

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 4232

Abstract

For forest park managers and designers, it is very important to provide forest trails and high–quality forest landscapes that meet visitor’s needs. In this study, based on demographic characteristics, our main purpose is to analyze whether the preferences of visitors for different trails differ, and to discuss whether forest park visitors’ satisfaction is affected when preferences for choosing trails change, mainly in order to improve knowledge about visitors’ needs for forest walking spaces. Through this analysis, we can aid in the planning and management of forest parks to improve visitors’ experiences. We mainly consider five attributes, namely, sex, age, number of visitors, number of visits and duration of stay in the park, in a questionnaire, and use the Kruskal–Wallis Test and Mann–Whitney U Test to analyze multigroup data in “SPSS for Windows”. The results are as follows: (1) Visitors with different attributes exhibit significant differences in terms of their choices of forest trails and the evaluation of visitor satisfaction in the duration of stay. (2) The correlation analysis showed that trail condition factors, such as the degree of difficulty and facility status, affect the satisfaction evaluation of tourists on many levels. In addition, the number of visits by visitors is negatively correlated with the preference for a forest trail based on recreational indicators. (3) Compared to visitors who stay in the forest for a short amount of time, visitors who remain in the forest for longer have a higher satisfaction level. Based on these results, we recommend that parks consider the number of visits (visiting experience) and the duration of stays in the forest when planning walking routes to more effectively plan forest park trails. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Landscape Management: From Data to Decision)

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25 pages, 1287 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Goal Programming as a Backcasting Tool to Assess the Impact of Local Stakeholder Determined Policies on the Future Provision of Ecosystem Services in Forested Landscapes

by Edwin Corrigan and Maarten Nieuwenhuis

Forests 2019, 10(5), 386; https://doi.org/10.3390/f10050386 - 30 Apr 2019

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2646

Abstract

Forest management in Ireland has traditionally focused on timber production and policies have been implemented with this in mind. Since the mid-1990s, the focus is transitioning from timber production to a more multifunctional forest management approach following the principles of sustainable forest management. A method known as “backcasting” has the potential to include local stakeholders into land-use and policy planning. Two case study areas were chosen to investigate the potential of backcasting for integrated forest landscape planning in Ireland: Western Peatlands and Newmarket. Potential beneficial policies produced by local stakeholders in participatory workshops were assessed for robustness using a goal programming model and the resulting changes in forest management and ecosystem service provisions were analysed. While each evaluated backcasting policy increased the provision of that policy’s targeted ecosystem service(s), it was at a cost to some others. The widening of buffer zones did reduce the landscape level risk to water sedimentation and the policy to enhance each landscape’s recreation potential did the intended. However, both policies reduced the amount of timber produced for most potential futures. The option of using genetically improved tree species showed potential to mitigate the effect of these policies on timber production. We present this study as a useful reference point toward evaluating the efficacy of a range of potentially implementable scenarios in Ireland. We believe the backcasting approach has promise for future use in other landscapes, given the success of this approach in our study. Given that much of the information required to model the ecosystem services was extracted from scientific research and datasets from outside of Ireland, the approach may well be useful for others seeking to do similar outside of Ireland. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Landscape Management: From Data to Decision)

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21 pages, 3776 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Different Management Scenarios on the Availability of Potential Forest Habitats for Wildlife on a Landscape Level: The Case of the Black Stork Ciconia nigra (Linnaeus, 1758)

by Jan Banaś, Stanisław Zięba, Małgorzata Bujoczek and Leszek Bujoczek

Forests 2019, 10(5), 362; https://doi.org/10.3390/f10050362 - 26 Apr 2019

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3145

Abstract

This study analyzed the effects of various forest management scenarios on habitats of the black stork, which has very specific requirements: it needs extensive forest complexes with a significant proportion of old trees for nesting, and bodies of water for foraging. The relationship between different forest management scenarios and the presence of black storks was examined in a large forest complex (9641 ha of managed stands) surrounded by wetland areas. A simulation of forest development under three management regimes was performed for eighteen 10-year periods. Management scenarios differed in terms of the species composition of stands, rotation age, retention tree areas, and silvicultural treatments. The basic scenario was characterized by a species composition consistent with natural-type stands, but with higher proportions of Scots pine and oak, with rotation ages of 100 and 140 years, respectively, managed by the shelterwood system. The productive scenario featured monospecific stands with a dominance of Scots pine with a rotation age of 90 years, harvested by clearcutting. Finally, the long rotation scenario introduced mixed tree stands with a long rotation age (110 and 180 years for Scots pine and oak, respectively). As compared to the basic scenario, the total harvest volume was greater by 14.6% in the productive scenario and smaller by 16.2% in the long rotation scenario. The availability of habitats for black stork changed as a result of different species compositions and age structures of tree stands. A considerable decrease in rotation age (below 100 years) and the elimination of oak trees from stands in the productive scenario adversely affected potential habitats for black stork. On the other hand, the factors favorable to black stork habitats were a long rotation age, the presence of oak in stands, the application of shelterwood cutting, and the use of retention trees in the long rotation scenario. This scenario would probably also benefit other bird species legally protected under the European Union’s Birds Directive. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Landscape Management: From Data to Decision)

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25 pages, 3482 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Implementing Climate Change and Associated Future Timber Price Trends in a Decision Support System Designed for Irish Forest Management and Applied to Ireland’s Western Peatland Forests

by Anders Lundholm, Edwin Corrigan and Maarten Nieuwenhuis

Forests 2019, 10(3), 270; https://doi.org/10.3390/f10030270 - 18 Mar 2019

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4763

Abstract

Research Highlights: Predicting impacts on forest management of Climate Change (CC) and dynamic timber prices by incorporating these external factors in a Forest Management Decision Support System (FMDSS). Background and Objectives: Forest managers must comply with Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) practices, including considering the long-term impacts that CC and the bioeconomy may have on their forests and their management. The aims of this study are: (1) incorporate the effects of CC and Dynamic Prices (DP) in a FMDSS that was developed for Ireland’s peatland forests, (2) analyse the impact of global climate and market scenarios on forest management and forest composition at the landscape level. Materials and Methods: Remsoft Woodstock is a strategic planning decision support system that is widely used for forest management around the world. A linear programming model was developed for Ireland’s Western Peatland forests while using Woodstock. Data from Climadapt, which is an expert-based decision support system that was developed in Ireland, were used to include CC effects on forest productivity and species suitability. Dynamic market prices were also included to reflect the changing demands for wood fibre as part of the European Union (EU) and global effort to mitigate CC. Results: DP will likely have more impact on harvest patterns, volumes, and net present value than CC. Higher assortment prices, especially for pulpwood, stimulate the harvesting of forests on marginal sites and off-set some of the negative CC growth impacts on forest profitability. Conclusions: Incorporating CC and bioeconomy prices in a forest decision support system is feasible and recommendable. Foresters should incorporate the expected global changes in their long-term management planning to mitigate the negative effects that un-informed management decisions can have on the sustainability of their forests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Landscape Management: From Data to Decision)

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16 pages, 6314 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Analysis of Temperate Forest Structure: A Geostatistical Approach to Natural Forest Potential

by Jesús A. Prieto-Amparán, Eduardo Santellano-Estrada, Federico Villarreal-Guerrero, Martin Martinez-Salvador, Alfredo Pinedo-Alvarez, Griselda Vázquez-Quintero, María C. Valles-Aragón and Carlos Manjarrez-Domínguez

Forests 2019, 10(2), 168; https://doi.org/10.3390/f10020168 - 16 Feb 2019

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2974

Abstract

Forest ecosystems represent an important means of ecosystem services; they are key as carbon sinks, water collectors, soil stabilizers, suppliers of great biological diversity, among other benefits. In addition, regionalization based on forest conditions provides a valuable approach to understanding and analyzing spatial patterns, which is useful as a tool for the implementation of forest ecosystem protection and conservation programs. In this research, the structure of a temperate forest in the western Sierra Madre region of Mexico was analyzed and characterized. The study unit was the watershed and the analysis used a geospatial approach combined with multivariate techniques such as: Principal Component Analysis, Cluster Analysis (CA), Discriminant Analysis (DA) and Multivariate Analysis of Variance. We evaluated the relationships among spectral satellite data, thematic maps and structural forest variables. A total of 345 watersheds were grouped based on these variables. The grouping of watersheds under low, medium and high production conditions was carried out with CA, defining 3 groups. The validation of the grouping was performed through DA, estimating errors with the restitution method, as well as with the cross-validation method. Significant differences were found among the groups. The grouping of watersheds provides observable evidence of the variability of the forest condition throughout the area. This study allows identifying forest areas with different levels of productivity and can help to detect levels of vulnerability and ecological fragility in natural forests in temperate zones. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Landscape Management: From Data to Decision)

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12 pages, 3789 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High Precision Individual Tree Diameter and Perimeter Estimation from Close-Range Photogrammetry

by Martin Mokroš, Jozef Výbošťok, Julián Tomaštík, Alžbeta Grznárová, Peter Valent, Martin Slavík and Ján Merganič

Forests 2018, 9(11), 696; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9110696 - 10 Nov 2018

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 5150

Abstract

Close-range photogrammetry (CRP) can be used to provide precise and detailed three-dimensional data of objects. For several years, CRP has been a subject of research in forestry. Several studies have focused on tree reconstruction at the forest stand, plot, and tree levels. In our study, we focused on the reconstruction of trees separately within the forest stand. We investigated the influence of camera lens, tree species, and height of diameter on the accuracy of the tree perimeter and diameter estimation. Furthermore, we investigated the variance of the perimeter and diameter reference measurements. We chose four tree species (Fagus sylvatica L., Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl., Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. and Abies alba Mill.). The perimeters and diameters were measured at three height levels (0.8 m, 1.3 m, and 1.8 m) and two types of lenses were used. The data acquisition followed a circle around the tree at a 3 m radius. The highest accuracy of the perimeter estimation was achieved when a fisheye lens was used at a height of 1.3 m for Fagus sylvatica (root mean square error of 0.25 cm). Alternatively, the worst accuracy was achieved when a non-fisheye lens was used at 1.3 m for Quercus petraea (root mean square error of 1.27 cm). The tree species affected the estimation accuracy for both diameters and perimeters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Landscape Management: From Data to Decision)

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15 pages, 3384 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Plot Positioning Errors on the Optimality of Harvest Prescriptions When Spatial Forest Planning Relies on ALS Data

by Adrián Pascual, Timo Pukkala and Sergio De-Miguel

Forests 2018, 9(7), 371; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9070371 - 21 Jun 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4360

Abstract

Forest management planning is increasingly relying on airborne laser scanning (ALS) in forest inventory. The area-based method to interpret ALS data requires sample plots measured in the field. The aim of this study was to assess and trace the impacts of the positioning errors of field plots along the entire forest management planning process, from their effect on forest inventory results to the outcome of forest management planning. This research links plot positioning errors with the spatio-temporal allocation of forest treatments and calculates the inoptimality losses arising from plot positioning errors in ALS-based forest inventory. The study area was a forest management unit in Central Spain. Growing stock attributes were predicted for a grid of square-shaped cells. Alternative management schedules were simulated for the grid cells by using growth and yield models. Then, a spatial forest planning problem aiming at maximizing timber production with even-flow cuttings was formulated. Spatial objective variables were used to cluster management prescriptions into dynamic treatment units. We used simulated annealing to conduct spatial optimization. First, the true plot locations were used and then the whole process was repeated with normally distributed random errors with standard deviation equal to 2.5, 5 and 10 m, resulting in an average error of 1.47, 3.06 and 8.34 m, respectively. Increasing the level of positioning errors resulted in higher variability in the estimated growing stock attributes and in the achieved values of management goals. Sub-optimal prescriptions caused by the tested plot positioning errors caused up to 4.62% losses in timber production and up to 3.35% losses in utility. The losses increased with increasing plot positioning error. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Landscape Management: From Data to Decision)

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Review

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29 pages, 898 KiB

Open AccessReview

Acquisition of Forest Attributes for Decision Support at the Forest Enterprise Level Using Remote-Sensing Techniques—A Review

by Peter Surový and Karel Kuželka

Forests 2019, 10(3), 273; https://doi.org/10.3390/f10030273 - 19 Mar 2019

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 5621

Abstract

In recent decades, remote sensing techniques and the associated hardware and software have made substantial improvements. With satellite images that can obtain sub-meter spatial resolution, and new hardware, particularly unmanned aerial vehicles and systems, there are many emerging opportunities for improved data acquisition, including variable temporal and spectral resolutions. Combined with the evolution of techniques for aerial remote sensing, such as full wave laser scanners, hyperspectral scanners, and aerial radar sensors, the potential to incorporate this new data in forest management is enormous. Here we provide an overview of the current state-of-the-art remote sensing techniques for large forest areas thousands or tens of thousands of hectares. We examined modern remote sensing techniques used to obtain forest data that are directly applicable to decision making issues, and we provided a general overview of the types of data that can be obtained using remote sensing. The most easily accessible forest variable described in many works is stand or tree height, followed by other inventory variables like basal area, tree number, diameters, and volume, which are crucial in decision making process, especially for thinning and harvest planning, and timber transport optimization. Information about zonation and species composition are often described as more difficult to assess; however, this information usually is not required on annual basis. Counts of studies on forest health show an increasing trend in the last years, mostly in context of availability of new sensors as well as increased forest vulnerability caused by climate change; by virtue to modern sensors interesting methods were developed for detection of stressed or damaged trees. Unexpectedly few works focus on regeneration and seedlings evaluation; though regenerated stands should be regularly monitored in order to maintain forest cover sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Landscape Management: From Data to Decision)

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