Potential contributions of statistics and modelling to sustainable forest management: review and synthesis

Keith Rennolls, University of Greenwich
Margarida Tomé, Technical University of Lisbon
Ronald E. McRoberts, USDA Forest Service, St Paul, USA
Jerome K. Vanclay, Southern Cross University
Valerie LeMay, University of British Colombia
Biing T. Guan, National Taiwan University
George Z. Gertner, University of Illinois

Abstract

This chapter provides a review of the statistical and modelling disciplines, their techniques and potential contribution to sustainable forest management (SFM). The main topics covered are:

Mensuration and models for sustainable forest management (SFM) Inventory and monitoring for forest sustainability: criteria and indicators Models of tropical forests for the conservation of biodiversity Integrating information and models across spatial and temporal scales for SFM Climate and carbon models in relation to sustainability New techniques for the statistical analysis of sustainability data Uncertainly analysis in modeling and monitoring for SFM Forest data, information and model archives

There are major contributions to be made, in particular in the areas of information and model integration where a synthesis of information and models across both spatial and temporal scales is required. There is a great need for international collaboration on the development of open and shared forest data and model repositories/archives, as well as continued development of forest information systems.