AIR3-CT94-2327 Development and Harmonisation of Monitoring Systems for Forest Resources Management in Europe

Contacts




To find similar Items, click on a keyword below:
AIR Cluster IX - Forestry : Forestry : Wood (Lignocellulose)

	Contract No	AIR3-CT94-2327
	Total Cost	1 806 800
	EC Contribution	989 500
	Start Date	01/12/1994
	Duration	42 months

---

OBJECTIVE:

Forest inventory and monitoring systems used in Europe differ considerably, making comparisons and integration of data unreliable. In recent years environmental condition of forests have changed, making old systems outdated with respect to the underlying functions. Modern forest management considers not only timber supply function, but other forest functions and ecological variables as well. For optimal, environmentally sound forest management these inventory and monitoring systems have to be developed further and harmonised across Europe.

The project intends to harmonise assessment methods for supporting forest management decisions and to develop inventory and monitoring systems that include all forest functions.

Based on surveys of the spatial distribution of trees, forest areas and nontimber variables in the main regions of Europe computer models will be formulated. The programme EUROFOREST will generate forests for extended analyses and simulation, and the programme EUROTAX will simulate alternative assessment methods for timber and nontimber functions. Alternative model formulations for volume and assortment calculations can be tested by computer simulation. Each team will be responsible for the development of assessment methods for some particular forest function, with using auxiliary information that can be incorporated into the design with a GIS.

The monitoring systems for the inventory and monitoring of forest resources will be harmonising and extending existing systems. The monitoring system will be developed by computer simulation, practical application of the results will be the establishment of modern monitoring systems in the regions. Field manuals and guides will be developed for distribution of the system within the European Union.

Contacts

Coordinator

• Prof Dr Dieter R PELZ / Abteilung Forstliche Biometrie Universität Freiburg / GERMANY

Participant

• Dr Jacques RONDEUX / Faculte des Sciences agronomiques de Gembloux / BELGIUM
• Prof Dr Walter Schöepfer / Forstliche Versuchs- und Forschungs- anstalt Baden-Württemberg / GERMANY
• Dr Stillanos GATZOJANNIS / National Agric Research Foundation GREECE
• Dr Ing Javier MARTINEZ MILLAN / Universidad Politecnica de Madrid SPAIN