Site index modeling in Poland: its history and current directions

Michał Zasada^1,2 AND Chris J. Cieszewski¹

¹ Warnell School of Forest Resources

University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

² Department of Dendrometry and Forest Productivity

Warsaw Agricultural University, Poland

Abstract:
Growth and yield models are some of the most important tools used in modern forestry for the support of various management and policy-related decisions. In recent decades their role has been increasing due to considerable advances in computer technology and biometrical research. Development of site models is one of the most important parts of growth and yield modeling for even-aged stands since these models affect most of the other functions and algorithms. Although the history of site modeling in Poland is almost 100 years old, the more modern approaches were first applied there only about 20 years ago with the development of the first anamorphic site model for Scots pine. Recently we have re-structured the Scots pine model into a dynamic form and initiated new efforts towards developing new, polymorphic, base-age invariant models for all main tree species in Poland. The purpose of this presentation is to describe this effort in the context of the history of Polish site modeling.

Author Keywords:

site modeling, site index, growth and yield model, base-age invariance, polymorphic curves.

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