Timeline and methods
Estimated time for implementation from 07-01-2016 to 06-30-2020 comprises 4 phases with the content and timetable which takes into account the preparatory, feasibility work and activities related to assessing the results and preparation of application outputs and final project report.
E01. Development and implementation of software tools in modeling forest stand development, 07/2016 – 06/2020
The phase is aimed at development of software support tools for modeling of forest stand development and evaluation of the achieved results. The first objective is to create software library with functions for mathematical equations and procedures, frequently used in forestry applications (e.g. volume equations, biomass computations, chemical elements content, biodiversity indices etc.). Software library will allow rapid development of applications in forestry research and specific analytical tools for data processing. In the project, it will be used for processing and evaluation of simulation results. The other developed software packages will be the tools (computer scripts) supporting simulations of development of large number of forest stands. These tools will allow rapid application of changes and modifications in proposed management scenarios simulations for tens or hundreds of forest stands under different climate scenarios. Software application of probabilistic model of forest stand decline or damage due to the injurious agents will be the third output. The software development will follow the principles of object-oriented programming. This will increase the usefulness of theoutputs for other application and projects.
E02. Forest stand development under different types of management and multicriterial evaluation of magement scenarios, 07/2016 – 06/2020
Preparatory activity within this phase will include selection of respresentative forest stand types for evaluation of management scenarios and preparation of input data for simulations of forest stands growth (site characteristics, initialization of forest stands in utilized computer growth model, climatic characteristics for current climate and climate change scenarios). It is planned to use growth simulators calibrated for Slovakian conditions for simulations of future stands development. Forest management scenarios will be defined for representative stand types. Indicators of ecosystem services will be defined for multicriterial evaluation. The main activity within this phase will be modeling and evaluation of representative stand type’s development using forest growth simulator under different management scenarios and expected climate change scenarios. The achieved results will be evaluated based on preferences of forest managers and other stakeholders. The optimal forest management scenario, based on the results of evaluation, will be proposed for representative stand types.
E03. Cooperation with forest managers and the other stakeholders, 07/2016 – 06/2020
During the lifetime of the project a close cooperation is planned within the exploring of forest management alternatives in interaction with various stakeholders. Planned activities of this phase of the project will be primarily aimed at ensuring and facilitating the interaction and communication with all interested and involved parties. Activities of this phase will be utilized for definitions of management scenarios for representative stand types. The need for active participation of stakeholders will be fulfilled by their involvement in surveys, discussions and workshops, which increases application-research level of the project and the rate of acceptance of the results.
E04. Project outcomes dissemination, 10/2016 – 06/2020
Project outcomes dissemination will be ensured both at national and international level. This requirement will be fulfilled by the active involvement of researchers in seminars and national and international scientific conferences, as well as through publishing of professional publications, non-reviewed articles and reviewed papers in national and international scientific and professional journals. An important part of dissemination activities will be promoting the visibility of the project and presentation of results, publications and other project outputs through the website of the National Forest Centre and own project website. Great emphasize will be put on the active involvement of stakeholder in the project. In addition to traditional dissemination activities, joint workshops and seminar of researchers and involved parties will be held, which will provide a space for group discussion.