Application of an Adaptive Forest Management Simulation Model Based on Zoning in a Man-Made Forest

• Main Authors: Katsuaki Sugiura, Waka Sonohara
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-06-01
• Series: Forests
• Subjects: locality class (distance to road); site quality class; forest stand; GIS; man-made forest; simulation; sustainable forest management
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/10/6/482

In this study, shifts from the current forest physiognomy to a target forest physiognomy were modeled by applying the concept of zoning simulation. The objective was to present the process of generating management options for man-made forests in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The assessment method was a wide-ranging and long-term simple simulation based on several indicators, such as geographical distribution and tree species, and adapted the concept of changes in forest physiognomy. A headwater forest in Kanagawa Prefecture, which covers an area of about 3784 ha and consists of 4445 forest stands, was investigated. Four plans were established based on the present state of the forest stands. The results indicated that factors for expressing forest physiognomy and their expression methods should be determined, and physiognomy models should be constructed to establish the actual state of the forests in each region. With this simulation, it is possible to forecast long-term changes at forest stand and basin levels for each scenario. However, only data from forestry register were used in this study, and it is expected that different results would be obtained by conducting a determination of stand position in the forest physiognomy together with a field survey.