EFDM

EFDM projects future forest resource dynamics under user-defined management and disturbance scenarios to support scenario-based strategic planning and policy analysis.

Key Features:

• Area-Based Matrix Model: EFDM operates as an area-based matrix model that integrates protection schemes, forest-management alterations, and threats such as pests, wind, and drought.
• Scenario Simulation: The model simulates large-scale impacts by combining transitions (for example, from even-aged forestry to continuous cover forestry), land-use changes, and tree species changes into comprehensive scenarios.
• Input Flexibility: EFDM accepts an initial forest state and models for management activities such as thinning, felling, and other silvicultural treatments.
• Customizable Outputs: The tool produces user-defined outputs including wood volumes, extent of old forests, dead wood, carbon storage, and harvest income.

Scientific Applications:

• Strategic Planning and Policy Support: EFDM provides projections of potential future forest states under alternative management strategies to inform strategic planning and policy analysis.
• Optimization Systems Integration: EFDM can be used as a component within optimization systems aimed at evaluating and improving forestry practices.
• Climate Change Impact Studies: The model can be integrated with other models to assess the impacts of climate change on forests and to explore adaptive management strategies.

Methodology:

EFDM employs an area-based matrix approach to model forest dynamics and simulates future scenarios by applying management-activity models (thinning, felling, silvicultural treatments) and disturbance factors to an initial forest state.