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PARTNER 1
Partner 1
Institute
Project Team
Enterprises

University of Agricultural Sciences

Institute of Forest Growth Research

Peter Jordan Str. 82

A.-1190 Wien

Austria

The Institute of Forest Growth Research 

does teaching and research in Forest Biometrics, Forest Inventory, Growth Modeling and Forest Ecosystem Restoration. We are proud to mention that Walter Bitterlich the inventor of the angle count method, was the former head of the institute. Since 1980 members of our organization actively work in tree growth modeling including an intensive cooperation in this field with the Intermountain Research Forest Research Station, in Moscow Idaho. This collaboration included research stays in Idaho by Hubert Sterba and Hubert Hasenauer working on joint modeling projects together with Robert A. Monserud who spent a semester in Vienna parameterizing PROGNAUS from the data of the Austrian National Forest Inventory. In addition the institute collaborates with the forestry Department at Virginia Tech, which has implemented one of the most successful practical forest growth and yield models for Loblolly pine within the framework of a research cooperative. Both Hubert Hasenauer as well as Hubert Sterba have worked in Blacksburg with Harold E. Burkhart the Head of the Cooperative and Tim Gregoire one of the world expert in statistical modeling applications. To enhance our modeling efforts in a physiological oriented aspect Hubert Hasenauer has spent 7 month at the Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group at the University of Missoula. His collaboration with Steven W. Running, the developer of FOREST-BGC and Ramakrishna Nemani, Remote Sensing and ecological modeling expert have enhanced our knowledge on developing computer models for forest management purposes.

The two simulation models developed at the institute (MOSES and PROGNAUS) are based on a different philosophy in describing individual tree growth depending on the data available and the expected needs of the potential users. The simulator MOSES (Modeling Stand Response) is distant dependent and focuses on stand simulation. It is used in forestry schools for educational purposes. Furthermore some companies use MOSES for scenario calculations and demonstration proposes. The simulator PROGNAUS is distance independent and was particularly designed to project forest growth on a larger scale using inventory data. A first prototype application ordered by the Austrian saw mill association to forecast harvest potentials in Austria was very successful.

 

Project Team

Hubert Hasenauer - Coordinator of ITM

is A.o. University Professor for Forest Growth Research, Forest Biometrics and Modeling. He has worked at the Forestry Department at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, VA, U.S.A., the Intermountain Research Station in Moscow, ID, U.S.A. and the Forestry School in Missoula, Montana U.S.A. From 1981 to 1986 he worked as a forest manager for the federal forest company in Austria. His research interests are individual tree growth models with special emphasis on silvicultural application, physiological modeling and forest ecosystem restoration.

Relevant Publications

  • Hasenauer, H. 1994. Ein Einzelbaumwachstumssimulator für ungleichaltrige Fichten-Kiefern- und Buchen-Fichtenmischbestände. Forstl. Schriftenreihe, Univ. f. Bodenkultur, Wien. Österr. Ges. f. Waldökosystemforschung und experimentelle Baumforschung. ISBN3-900865-07-8. 152 pp.

  • Hasenauer, H., and R.A. Monserud. 1997. Biased predictions for tree height increment models developed from smoothed "data". Ecol. Modeling. 98: 13-22.

  • Hasenauer, H. 1997. Dimensional relationships of open-grown trees in Austria. Forest Ecol. and Manage. 96: 197-206.

  • Golser, M., and H. Hasenauer. 1997. Predicting juvenile tree height growth in uneven-aged mixed species stands in Austria. Forest. Ecol. and Manage. 97: 133-146.

  • Hasenauer, H., R.A. Monserud, and T.G. Gregoire. 1998. Using simultaneous regression techniques with individual-tree growth models. Forest Sci. 44 (1):87-95.

 

Hubert Sterba 

is O. University Professor for Forest Mensuration, Growth and Yield and Head of the Institute of Forest Growth Research. He is also the acting Dean of the Forest Faculty and was Rector at the University during 1986-1989. Between 1980 and 1986 he was consultant with the Austrian National Forest Inventory. His international career includes research at the Intermountain Research Station in Moscow Idaho, U.S.A., the Forestry Department, at the Polytechnic Institute and State University in Virginia, Blacksburg, VA, U.S.A. and at the Mulawarman University in Samarinda, Indonesia.

Relevant Publications

  • Monserud R.A., and H. Sterba. 1996. A basal area increment model for individual trees growing in even- and uneven- aged forest stands in Austria. Forest Ecol. and Manage. 80: 57-80.

  • Monserud R.A., H. Sterba, and H. Hasenauer. 1997. The Single-Tree Stand Growth Simulator PROGNAUS. In: Teck, R., M. Moser & J. Adams (eds): Proceedings: Forest vegetation simulator conference. 1997: Feb. 3-7, Fort Collins, CO. Gen.Tech.Rep. INT-GTR-373. Ogden, UT. U.S.D.A. For.Serv. Int.Res.Stn: 50-56.

  • Sterba H., and R.A. Monserud. 1997. Applicability of the forest stand growth simulator PROGNAUS for the Austrian part of the Bohemian Massif. Ecological Modeling 98: 23-34.

  • Monserud, R.A., and H. Sterba. 1999. Modeling individual tree mortality for Austrian forest species. Forest Ecol. and Manage. 113: 109-123.

  • Sterba, H., M. Golser, M. Moser, and K. Schadauer. 1999. A timber harvesting model for Austria. COMPAG (in press).

 

Enterprises Participating

The Forests of the Prämonstratenser Monastery Schlägl

Contact: Johannes Wohlmacher

The Prämonstratenser Monastery Schlägl owns approx. 6000 ha managed forests in the Austrian part of the Bohemian Massif. These forests lies between 600 and 1200 m elevation and comprise the northern slopes with the creeks running to the Moldava in Chechnya as well as the southern ones where the waters mound into the Mühl and further on into the Danube.

Since 1945 the clear cut system has been abandoned in favor of single tree harvesting. Since the late sixties the management system was Target Diameter Harvesting (TDH i.e. "Zielstärkennutzung" according to Reininger.

In 1960 an inventory was started using temporary angle count sampling, every year thus investigating one of at that time 7 management districts (Reviere) with a planned inventory cycle of 10 years. In 1988 in the first of the then only 5 remaining districts a permanent angle count sampling was started with about 500 plots per district. The plot centers were marked and the polar coordinates of the "in-trees" of the angle counts with a basal area factor of BAF=4 m²(ha-1 were taken. The tree species, and the stem quality in terms of classes of clear bole length and stem damages were recorded as well as the breast height diameter (dbh), the base of the green crown and the tree height. Every year one more district was covered with this kind of permanent sample plots.

In 1998 then, the first remeasurement of the permanent samples of the first district took place, thus achieving increment and harvest during the last 10-year period in terms of total stem volume by species, size and quality classes of the trees.

 

 

Fürstenberg'sche Forst und Güterdirektion Weitra

Contact: Rolf Bernot

 

 

 

 

Experimental Forest of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Vienna

Contact: Josef Gasch

The experimental forest is owned by the Austrian Federal Forest Company which is in charge of the forest management practices applied. The size of the forest is about 1000 ha, covered with all major tree species and forest types in Austria (Norway spruce, Fir, Larch, Scots pine, Beech, Oak, etc). The forest area is located in the Rosalie valley near the Lower Austria/Burgenland border. The elevation ranges from about 400 m up to nearly 900 m, including steep slopes mostly west facing. The total timber volume in the forest is about 287,000 m3 or 320 m3/ha. The current annual volume increment is 7.8 m3/ha. Since the forest district has been declared as experimental forest, forest practice has been changed to promote uneven aged mixed species stands.

A permanent sample plot design has been established with 0.5 points/ha (= 141 x 141 m grid) to collect regeneration development and forest growth data throughout the forest. Every year one fifth of the plots are measured to ensure a 5 year remeasurement interval for studying regeneration development and forest growth. So far the second remeasurement has been completed. In addition to the routine inventory data collected in the forest a number of pe rmanent research plots are available for testing model simplifications and do evaluation runs. In summary the forest represents an excellent data base for studying the application of tee growth models as an alternative management tool to predict tee growth and perform silvicultural treatment scenarios for regeneration establishment, development and tree growth.