There are many theoretical approaches to modelling forest systems, but not all of them have valid practical applications. This book reviews current thinking on various models and explores a variety of areas and approaches. The papers in this book have been selected and developed from those presented at a workshop held in Portugal in June 2002. The topics covered include: forest reality and modelling strategies; mathematical approaches and reasoning; estimation processes models; validation and decision under uncertainty and model archives and metadata.The book will be of significant interest to those in areas of forestry, applied ecology, and statistics and economics.

Table of Contents:
Part I: Forest reality and modelling strategies 1: Suggestions for choosing an appropriate level for modelling forest stands, H Burkhart, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, USA 2: Mapping forest site productivity for Alberta, R A Monserud, USDA, Portland, USA and S Huang, Forest Management Branch, Canada 3: Growth modelling of Eucalyptus regnans for carbon accounting at the Landscape Scale, C Dean, CRC, Canberra, Australia, S Roxburgh and B Mackey 4: Spatial distribution modelling of forest attributes coupling remotely sensed imagery and GIS techniques, G Chirici, Universita di Firenze, Italy, P C Corona, M Marchetti, F Marelli and L Bottai 5: Algorithmic and interactive approaches to stand growth modelling, M Hauhs, University of Bayreuth, Germany 6: Linking process-based and empirical forest models in Eucalyptus plantations in Brazil, A Almeida, R Maestri, Aracruz Xcelulos, SA, Brazil, J Landsberg and J Scolforo 7: A strategy for growth and yield research in Komatiland Forests in South Africa, H Kotze, Komatiland Forests, South Africa Part II: Mathematical approaches and reasoning 8: Quantitative tools for modelling forest systems at different scales, R Amateis, Virginia Tech, USA 9: GLOBTREE, an individual tree growth model for Eucalyptus globulas in Portugal, P Soares and M Tomé 10: Modelling dominant height growth: effect of stand density, C Meredieu, INRA, France, S Perret and P Dreyfus 11: Testing for temporal dependence of pollen cone production in jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb), S Magnussen, Canadian Forest Service, Canada, V Nealis and A Hopkin 12: Spatial stochastic modelling of cone production from stone pine (Pinus pinea l) stands in the Spanish northern plateau, N Nanos, R Calama, CIFOR-INIA, Spain, N Canadas, C Garia and G Montero 13: Modelling the carbon sequestration of a mixed, uneven-aged, managed forest using the process model SECRETS, G Deckmyn, University of Antwerp, Belgium, R Ceulemens, J Garcia and B Muys 14: An allometric-weibull model for interpreting and predicting the dynamics of foiliage biomass on scots pine branches, R Fleming, Canadian Forest Service, Canada 15: Diameter distribution models and height-diameter equations for Estonian forests, A Kiviste, Estonian Agricultural University, Estonia, A Nilson, M Hordo and M Merenäkk 16: Modelling the diameter at breast height growth of Populus x euramericana plantations in Spain, F Rodriguez, Universirtat de Liedia, Spain, J De la Rosa and A Aunos 17: Stand growth and productivity of mountain forests in southern Siberia in a changing climate, N M Tchebakova, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia and E I Parfenova Part III: Estimation Processes 18: Estimation and application of size-biased distributions in forestry, J Gove, USDA, USA 19: Sop model - the parameter estimation alternatives, A Amaro 20: Evaluating estimation methods for logistic regression in modelling individual-tree mortality, V Alenius, Finnish Forest Research Institute, Finland, H Hokka, H Salminen and S Jutras 21: Using process-dependent groups of species to model the dynamics on a tropical rain-forest, N Picard, CIRAD, Mali, S Gourlet-Fleury and P Sist 22: Modelling current annual height increment of young Douglas-fir stands at different sites, P Radonja, Institute of Forestry, Yugoslavia 23: Simulation and sustainability of cork oak stands, N Ribeiro, Universidade de Evora, Portugal and A Oliveira Part IV: Models, validation and decision under uncertainty 24: A critical look at procedures for validating growth and yield models, S Huang, Forest Management Branch, Canada, Y Yang and Y Wang 25: Model testing by means of cost-plus-loss analyses, T Eid, Agricultural University of Norway 26: Regulating the yield of goods and services from forests: Developing tools to support management decisions and policy development for multiple objective forest management, P van Gardingen, University of Edinburgh, UK 27: CAPSIS: computer-aided projection for strategies in silviculture: advantages of a shared forest-modelling platform, F Coligny, INRA, France, P Ancelin, G Cornu, B Courbaud, P Drefus, F Goreaud, S Gourlet-Fleury, C Meredieu and L Saint-Andre 28: Expected volume and value of structural dimension lumber from 25-, 30-, 35-, 40- and 50 year old loblolly pine plantation timber, H Carino, Auburn University, USA and E Biblis 29: Comparing models for growth and management of forest tracts, J Colbert, USDA, USA, D Fekedulegn and M Schuckers 30: Landscape visualization under three different forest growth simulators, F Knauft, University of Bayreuth, Germany 31: How good is good enough: information quality needs for management decision-making, D Reed, Michigan Technological University, USA Part V: Model archives and metadata 32: Forest modelling: Conserving the past and building the future, K Rennolls, University of Greenwich, London, UK 33: A logic approach to design specifications for integrated application of diverse models in forest ecosystem analysis, K Reynolds, USDA, USA Part VI: Conclusions 34: Emerging trends and future directions: a workshop synthesis, D Reed, A Amaro, R Amateis, Virginia Tech, USA, S Huang, Forest Management Branch, Canada and M Tomé