04/05/2005

A modern tool for forestry experts, forest managers and forest owners has been developed by the NAGREF (National Agricultural Research Foundation) in co-operation with the Institute of Forest Growth at the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna. Known as "Drymos", this software tool runs in a Windows environment, and is the first forest simulator in Greece. The objective of the programme, which is presented in issue 18 of the NAGREF journal, is to study the reaction of forest stands of broad-leaved oak to forest management operations.

The software simulates the increase in diameter, breast height, tree height, a change in height to the base of the green crown, and also mortality. All calculations are carried out separately for each tree in the stand that the user wishes to simulate. The spatial distribution of each tree is also taken into account, through its co-ordinates. The forest simulation may cover up to 150 years and is calculated for each five-year period.

When starting the simulator, the user can open the list of trees in the stand that he wishes to simulate. After the file is selected, the programme shows the simulator’s main window on the screen, with the tree trunk ‘s horizontal cross section.

The user may select trees, virtually mark certain trees or areas for logging, carry out plantings, introduce natural regeneration and, in general, implement various alternative forest management scenarios and compare the results relative to total production, in graphic or tabular form.

The scenarios can be examined at the management study drafting stage, when decisions on alternative forest management schemes are taken. Forestry experts and forest managers can use "Drymos" by selecting scenarios more similar to a certain forest. The software is also useful for chief foresters and forest directors and inspectors, as an objective criterion when discussing, providing guidelines or inspecting forest management work in the forest.

Forest owners are also in a position to select the most suitable management for their forests. All the above potential users can now make predictions, something that was not possible with other tools. Most importantly, however, the "Drymos" simulator can be applied to mixed and irregular stands, something that conventional management tools are unable to do.

"Drymos" was designed on the basis of long-term data from permanent experimental surfaces of the two NAGREF Forest Research Institutes, in Athens and Thessaloniki, and has been developed in Greek as well as in English. With the necessary know-how, NAGREF researchers are now able to parameterise other forest species.

Information

Forest Research Institute 57006 Vassilika, Thessaloniki

tel.: 2310 465719, 461172 (extension 234)

e-mail: qrecor@fri.gr