Perspektiven einer modellorientierten Waldwachstumsforschung

The transition from a volume increment-orientated yield science which follows dendrometrically the increment processes in pure stands without pronounced structure, to a system-orientated science of forest growth whose aims are biologically explanative patterns and ecological management programmes for the growth of richly structured pure and mixed stands, demands a new orientation of growth model research. What future growth models could be like is presented by means of the single-stem orientated growth simulator SILVA that reproduces the development of the single stems of a stand in dependence of locational conditions and spatial growth constellations. The simulator can be used as a planning instrument for a wide range of tree species, mixture forms, mixture structure, and treatment measures. In combination with the stand structure generator STRUGEN which-from verbal findings-generates realistic initial structures for prognostic runs, the practicability of the simulator SILVA and its usefulness as a research instrument are improved. In order to consolidate this model approach, emphasis will in future be on the investigation of the growth laws of single trees, the expansion and organization of the data basis (necessary for model parameterization and model validation) for pure and mixed stands as well as on the extension of statements by the following details of forest growth research: stem and crown morphology, quality of wood, assortment yield, financial yield and stand structure. The underlying model concept supports the organization of forest growth know-how, the synthesis of single aspects of forest growth into a concept of the entire system, and helps to identify gaps in our knowledge about forest growth research.