Spatial optimization as a strategy for silvicultural stand planning

This project deals with the silvicultural question of which horizontal structure of individual stands represents an optimal forest structure for the fulfillment of clearly defined objectives, whereby ecologically defined objectives are at stake. Since every horizontal structure of stands - especially mixed stands - can be represented by the combination of individual trees according to species and stem distribution, the problem is to be tackled using the individual tree approach. Ecological research on individual tree effects in mixed stands provides deep insights into the interactions between tree species and individuals. In this project, this knowledge will be combined with optimization methods for the first time and used to develop recommendations for structuring mixed spruce-beech stands with regard to an optimal humus form. These recommendations are primarily intended to clarify the question of the form of the mixture, i.e. whether a regular, random or clumped distribution of mixed tree species should be preferred in mixed stands at the individual level. On the other hand, the project will investigate the optimal formation of a stand gap in a pure stand with regard to the provision of resources for regeneration. Methods of optimization are to be tested on these silvicultural examples in order to examine new possibilities of generating target forest structures with regard to changing environmental conditions and new objectives. The project is being carried out in collaboration with Prof. Dr. habil. S. Dempe from the Institute of Numerical Mathematics and Optimization at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg.