How adaptable are forest growth models for simulating alternative silvicultures in the Northwest?

Abstract

We apply criteria that assess the adaptability of forest growth simulation models for modeling alternative silvicultural systems under experimentation in the Northwest. The ability to simulate stand growth under increasingly heterogeneous structures and mixed-species compositions is an important aspect of evaluating the compatibility of management alternatives. The most important criteria summarize the infrastructure of the model: portability, extendibility, source code availability, and adequate documentation. We apply these criteria to seven stand growth simulation models from the region. Although none of the candidate models is fully adaptable, the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) came c..