Remsoft Educational Partner Program Annual Report 2012

Transcription

1 Remsoft Educational Partner Program Annual Report 2012

2 Overview Educational Institutions around the world are using Remsoft software to enhance sustainable management practices. Each institution has provided a brief abstract as to how they have implemented this technology into their program. For more information about the Remsoft Educational Partner Program, please contact partners@remsoft.com. Table of Contents Waiariki Institute of Technology... 3 Université du Quebec à Chicoutimi... 3 Université du Quebec en Abitibi-Temiscam... 4 University of New Brunswick... 5 Université de Moncton University of Maine Université Laval University of Georgia University College Dublin University of Canterbury University of Alberta University of Alaska Stephen F. Austin State University Sir Wilfred Grenfell College Oregon State University Mississippi State University Michigan Technical University Lanamme University of Costa Rica College of North Atlantic Copyright Remsoft Inc All rights reserved. 2

3 Waiariki Institute of Technology Forest Estate Planning, Supply Chain Management This year I've finally got to work on Woodstock RSPS and build my first model. This has probably been the most enjoyable professional development I've done in 2012! The model is not quite ready to run (as it still requires some inputs into the optimise & outputs model sections) - a lot of debugging has gone on! & I'm almost there. The focus of developing the model was to mirror a forest estate management project undertaken by our year 2 Diploma in Forest Management students. The "Greenfields" forest has a mix of age classes of radiata pine with goal being to create an even harvest of the mature radiata pine over a 5 year period. Now that the teaching year is finished I can focus on finishing, debugging and testing the model with a view to either creating a new model for our Supply Chain Management woodflow scenario (including Allocation Optimiser) and/or to play around with the regimes model to refine things a bit more. Either way I've got loads of things to work on with the ultimate focus of introducing RSPS to our Year 2 Diploma in Forest Management students in Semester 1 and let them actually build a model (even a simple model will do) in Semester 2. I have found that more than half of the fun (& it is fun when you finally take the first step!) is in building the model (suprise, suprise!). Too often it is easy to run software without actually thinking or even knowing what you're doing or trying to achieve- not the case with RSPS as it requires some logical thought processes & forces you to critique what your management goals are! something a professional should always be doing!. Anyway 2013 will be a case of "under promising & over delivering" as opposed to the reverse for 2012.RSPS is without doubt a wonderful tool and we'll sure to have lots of fun & learning in Thanks for the opportunity to use it! Université du Quebec à Chicoutimi Valeur actualisée nette des projets de boisement forestier en zone boréale. Nous utilisons Woodstock dans le but de construire un modèle d'optimisation de la valeur actualisée nette (VAN) pour d'éventuels projets de boisement de milieux dénudés boréaux, particulièrement les pessières à lichens. Ces projets sont potentiellement intéressants en tant que moyen de compenser les émissions de gaz à effet de serre (GES) provenant d'industries ayant une faible concentration d'émission de leurs GES, puisque dans de tels cas, la captation directe des gaz est techniquement irréalisable. Le modèle en construction vise donc à confirmer d'un point de vu économique ce potentiel des projets de boisement et d'en établir les conditions de rentabilité. Ce projet coopératif se fait en partenariat avec les HEC de Montréal et la firme GENIVAR. En tant qu'acquéreurs récents de Woodstock, nous n'en sommes à son apprentissage mais le concept du modèle visé est bien arrêté. L'emplacement des sites, leur potentiel de croissance, le choix d'espèces plantées ainsi que le scénario sylvicole appliqué seront paramétrés afin de calculer les revenus découlants des crédits carbones octroyés et de la valeur des produits du bois. Quant aux dépenses, elles seront déterminées selon la quantité de nouvelles routes construites, les coûts des opérations sylvicoles et du suivi des plantations ainsi que la perte d'opportunités agricoles s'il y a lieu. Les solutions optimisées produites par Woodstock nous permettra de déterminer des moyens de faire une saine intégration de ces projets de compensation dans l'aménagement durable de la forêt boréale. Copyright Remsoft Inc All rights reserved. 3

4 Université du Quebec en Abitibi-Temiscam Contribution des débris ligneux grossiers à la rétention du carbone en forêt boréale. Ce projet vise à déterminer l importance du bois mort pour la séquestration du carbone dans les forêts boréales mixtes du Québec, et à évaluer les effets des coupes sur leur dynamique. Les forêts boréales constituent une réserve importante de carbone, principalement dans les sols, où la matière organique se décompose très lentement. Le bois mort, ou débris ligneux grossiers (DLG), représente une quantité substantielle de matière organique du sol, il constitue donc un pool de carbone important. L aménagement forestier va modifier la dynamique des DLG et va avoir un impact considérable sur le cycle du carbone. Les coupes forestières génèrent des DLG, particulièrement des arbres morts au sol, au détriment des chicots. Suite à l exportation du bois, elles diminuent la quantité de carbone total de l écosystème, et modifient l allocation du carbone dans les différents réservoirs (arbres, sous-bois, sol, débris ligneux grossiers). Dans le cadre de l aménagement écosystémique, de nouvelles approches sylvicoles sont testées ; elles sont basées sur la diversification des interventions sylvicoles, de façon à mieux reproduire les conditions créées par les perturbations naturelles. Le passage d un aménagement équien à un aménagement laissant après coupes différentes proportions de couvert végétal pourrait avoir un impact sur le rôle de la forêt de puits de carbone. Ce projet a pour objectifs (1) d étudier le rôle des DLG dans la rétention du carbone via la formation de molécules stables et difficilement dégradables ; (2) d étudier les effets des différents types de coupes (partielles, totales) sur la dynamique des DLG et la répartition du carbone dans les différents réservoirs de l écosystème ; (3) d améliorer les simulations des flux de carbone entre l atmosphère et la forêt à partir du modèle CBM-CFS. Effets des stratégies d aménagement écosystémique sur le calcul de la possibilité forestière et le maintien de la mosaïque naturelle dans la sapinière à bouleau blanc de l ouest. La Forêt d enseignement et de recherche du lac Duparquet (FERLD) a été établie par le gouvernement du Québec et est gérée par les Universités du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue et à Montréal depuis 1995, comme une démonstration d une approche d aménagement forestier écosystémique (AFÉ). Basée en grande partie sur les connaissances de la dynamique naturelle et du fonctionnement des écosystèmes de la sapinière à bouleau blanc de l ouest, l approche d AFÉ propose essentiellement: 1) de maintenir la structure d âge et la composition de la mosaïque forestière naturelle à l échelle du paysage et 2) d intégrer la dynamique naturelle dans les pratiques sylvicoles à l échelle du peuplement forestier. D autres aspects touchant la gestion et la conservation du territoire ont aussi été implantées dont 1) l inclusion d une zone de conservation intégrale couvrant 25 % du territoire; 2) l intégration d une classification fine des milieux riverains, humides et aquatiques en vue de conservation des forêts de haute valeur de conservation; et 3) l emploi de coupes partielles, variant de la coupe totale avec rétention variable jusqu au jardinage. Bien que, conceptuellement, l approche constitue un avancement pour l atteinte des objectifs biophysiques de l aménagement forestier durable, l impact à long terme de l ensemble de ces mesures sur le maintien de la diversité écosystémique (l ensemble des types de peuplements et des classes d âge de la mosaïque naturelle) et sur la possibilité ligneuse, reste à vérifier. L objectif de ce projet est de mesurer les impacts de chacune de stratégies de l approche d AFÉ de la FERLD sur la disponibilité des ressources ligneuses et sur la structure de la forêt via une analyse de la possibilité forestière et de l évolution de la mosaïque sous aménagement. L analyse considérera chacune des étapes menant au calcul de la possibilité forestière et fournira une documentation détaillée afin d évaluer la pertinence des intrants utilisés lors des analyses. Étude sur la rentabilité financière des strategies d aménagement écosystémique Le projet porte sur l évaluation de la viabilité financière des strategies de coupes partielles par rapport à une stratégie de coupe totale (CPRS) et sur la modélisation de la chaîne de valeur liée à la certification Copyright Remsoft Inc All rights reserved. 4

5 (CFSC) des bois issus de peuplement en Abitibi-Témiscaminque. Cette evaluation sera realise grâce au couplage de Woodstock avec l analyse marginale. Un premier objectif sera de determiner, via une analyse marginale, quelles strategies de coupes partielles sont rentables suivant un certains gradients de coupe. Au plan méthologique la première étape consistera à développer une grille d analyse financière et technique des strategies de coupes partielles en collaboration avec une groupe restreint de spécialistes (interface foresterie/finance). Puis, avant de procéder à l analyse proprement dite des strategies retenues, une validation externe de la grille d analyse sera faite auprès d une groupe de partenaires externs, ceci afin d évaluer l impact possible des spécificités et contraintes institutionelles susceptible d affecter l évaluation des investissements dans ce domaine. La grille retenue constituera le résultat de la phase intelligence de l analyse marginale des projets de coupes partielles par rapport à une coupe CPRS. L évaluation de la viabilité financière d un projet d investissement repose sur une série de variables clés qui sont entachées d incertitude. En effet, les flux financiers marginaux estimés sur la vie utile d un projet découlent de previsions pour une série de variables dont les valeurs sont elles-mêmes incertaines. À des variables financières s ajoutent des paramètres techniques caractérisant les diverses strategies de coupes partielles, certains de ces paramètres influençant la productivité et/ou, la valeur des bois à récolter. Or, les approaches habituelles telles, par exemple, la valeur actualisée nette (VAN) et le taux de rendement interne (TRI) ignorent l incertitude associée aux variables clés d un projet seront examinées: l analyse de sensibilité, l analyse de scénarii discrets, l arbre de decision et la simulation en context probabiliste, c est-à-dire avec des distributions de probabilités associées à chacune des variables clés. Le développement de modèles d analyse de sensibilité, d analyse de scénarii et de simulations permet d évaluer l impact de variation dans les paramètres de la decision sur la viabilité financière des projets c est-à-dire de tenir compte de l incertitude reliée à certains paramètres. University of New Brunswick FOR 2006 Management of Natural Systems Introduces management design issues and practices for a variety of natural systems so that students can effectively work across related disciplines. Objectives: (a) quantitatively design and evaluate strategies aimed at producing a desired set of outcomes for natural systems, including forests, wildlife populations, and hydrological networks; and b) communicate technical information clearly and succinctly in written format. FOR 3006 Forest Management Continuation of FOR Introduction to linear programming in forest management. Introduction to elements of resource modelling and productivity assessment (e.g. water flow) at the stand level. Analysis of the impact of alternative interventions at the operational level and their integration with strategic and tactical plans, including: financial and socioeconomic evaluation of forest management and resulting value flows; and risk management for insect or pathogenic attacks and wildfire. Post-implementation assessment of activities as a critical part of the management process. Prerequisite: FOR 2006, FOR 3005, or permission of instructor. FOR 4096 Forest Landscape Design and Management Integrates value-flow planning with landscape planning by: 1) introducing students to the concepts and techniques used in dealing with the spatial dimensions in forest management planning; 2) introducing students to the difficulties involved with management for a complex set of demands, where resources Copyright Remsoft Inc All rights reserved. 5

6 demanded have production functions that include complex spatial and temporal relationships of inputs, many of which are unknown; and 3) exposing students to techniques available to forecast landscape patterns resulting from flow driven management planning, and to design landscape patterns based on analysis of natural dynamics. Prerequisite: FOR 3006, or permission of instructor. FOR 4020 Management Practicum Practical exercise in forest landscape management, designed to provide an opportunity to integrate skills and knowledge gained throughout the program. Working with a client and/or the public, students will develop goals and objectives, design and gather inventory data (if required), then develop an integrated landscape management plan at the strategic, tactical and operational levels. Learning modules will be provided specific to the needs of the project. Additional topics include project management, conflict resolution, professional practice and forestry associations. The project requires completion of a group report and presentation. Prerequisites: FOR 2281, FOR 3005, FOR 3006, FOR Co-requisite: FOR ENVS6003 Seminar: Current Issues in Environmental Management This course brings together students who are studying in the area of environmental and resource management to provide a forum for the discussion of interdisciplinary issues in related disciplines. There are two specific objectives in the seminar: 1. To bring environmental and resource managers to the classroom and expose students to a broad spectrum of areas of study in the discipline. 2. To provide a forum through which students may hone their formal presentation skills and provide a rigorous analysis of a particular issue. Post Doc - Forest Carbon Management 1. Research objectives Objectives of this project are to 1) develop software to calculate and forecast live tree biomass, site specific dead organic matter C, and C transfer and storage in wood products for Acadian forests and forest treatments using stand management models STAMAN and FVS; 2) identify and document GHG emissions resulting from JDI forest operations, product manufacturing, transport, and product use; 3) develop a software to easily parameterize and integrate 1) and 2) into strategic forest management models (Woodstock) used by JDI and other companies; and 4) use this GHG accounting-management frame-work on JDI lands to identify optimum forest policy to minimize net GHG emissions (forest and forest product C capture plus forest and forest sector emissions) over short (25 years) and long (200 years) terms. This modeling framework will provide regionally calibrated and detailed stand and forest level GHG sequestration and emission estimates for alternative management strategies for JDI and other forest lands. Sensitivity of biomass growth and decay rates as well as other parameters on resulting GHG and biomass dynamics under alternative management strategies will be explored. 2. Progress To date, Dr. Chris Hennigar with assistance from MScF Candidate Ryan Cameron (NSERC IPS) and J.D. Irving, Limited staff have built a comprehensive greenhouse gas emission profile for the entire Woodlands Division of J.D. Irving, Limited. Work on this profile includes: Quantifying the company s current and projected forest GHG stocks, including live and dead biomass pools, over 100 years for all lands (2.375 Mha) owned or managed in Maine, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick under the company s existing forest strategic management plan. Compiling company operation statistics on: o Silviculture, harvest, and transport system emission rates, Copyright Remsoft Inc All rights reserved. 6

7 o Annual product production and electricity and fossil fuel consumption for 11 sawmills, 3 chip plants, and 5 pulp and paper manufacturing facilities, o A mass balance of mill biomass inputs and outputs for each facility in order to track carbon transfer from forest into finished products. A forest product carbon flow model that quantifies and tracks specific company forest products through use, disposal, and decay in landfills according to US harvested wood product accounting guidelines. Life cycle emission inventories of various fuel and electricity sources to quantify upstream (indirect) emissions from forest and mill activities. An integrated forest management-c-accounting optimization model that seamlessly blends current company forest management information with statistics and models above within Remsoft s Spatial Planning System. A manuscript is currently under development to disseminate these findings. This work also sets the stage for the second phase and main purpose of this project, which is to explore plausible forest management alternatives to reduce the company s GHG footprint using Remsoft s Spatial Planning System. Assessing climate change impacts on wood supply: using a Woodstock model The rate of climate change has greatly increased over the last century said to be due to greenhouse gas emissions, such as CO2. Concentrations of CO2 are predicted to increase over the next century as they have over the last, thus increasing the greenhouse gas effect. As a result, environmental factors directly related to tree growth will be impacted, such as temperature and precipitation. Even though ecosystems are resilient and can adapt to steady changes in the environment, climate change is occurring faster than they can adapt. As a result, letting forests adapt naturally to anthropogenic climate change may be a poorer management strategy, especially economically, than using silvicultural strategies to actively encourage the development of species better adapted to climate change. Towards this end a number of studies and models have been produced to predict impacts for specific areas with site-specific environmental conditions or at a broader landscape scale. This makes it difficult to employ stand level management strategies as these models are either too general or too limited in their application. This thesis will develop a model that will allow companies to quantify the impacts of climate change on forest values at a stand level scale. Three software programs will be used to develop this model. JABOWA-3 (a gap model) will be used to project species-specific impacts, STAMAN to develop impacted yield curves which will then be input into Woodstock by Remsoft to project impacted forest values. The response of the forest to changing conditions will be assessed by analyzing three forest values. These values are wood supply (measured using merchantable growing stock; m3), annual allowable cut (m3/year), and species composition (%). Aligning strategic planning with Supply Chain Current approaches in hierarchical forest management planning models include i) aspatial linear programming approaches together with after the fact spatial analysis (such as Woodstock /Stanley and SVMM, ii) explicit spatial analysis of forest management combined with heuristics and visual interaction and reaction (PATCHWORKS ) and various customized approaches (BC, NS). Few existing approaches include supply chain issues in the strategic modeling; this are either ignored or added sequentially. If multi-model approaches are used, how should the iterations between models work. What is gained and lost by a multi-model approach? M.Sc.F Grant Virgin The spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.)) is a forest defoliator indigenous to eastern North America that targets balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) and spruce (Picea sp.). Populations periodically increase to outbreak levels about every 35 years, which may last from 5 to 15 years. Many studies have quantified budworm influence on tree/stand-level growth reduction and survival. Stand- Copyright Remsoft Inc All rights reserved. 7

8 projection models quantify impacts by modifying these parameters based on cumulative defoliation level. With the last defoliation in New Brunswick occurring in 1995, recent studies have focused on quantifying post-outbreak impacts. It is common for residual hosts to have form defects (due to top-kill) or to exhibit signs of physiological stress. Stress is widely believed to make trees more vulnerable to secondary disturbances (i.e. non-budworm disturbances fungi, wind-throw etc.). Increased rates of mortality post-outbreak and form defects are poorly represented in existing models, the emphasis is on projecting impacts during the outbreak itself. Given recent increases in budworm populations in Quebec and New Brunswick, the timing is appropriate to evaluate model performance over the short and long-term for stand-level budworm impact projections, hence the objectives of this study are to: 1) simulate a variety of stand types and budworm outbreak scenarios using the existing stand projection models STAMAN and FVS, and evaluate relative to empirical data using permanent sample plots, 2) use key differences between observed and predicted (error) to adjust model relationships to improve projections, and 3) employ the improved models to project how alternative management between outbreaks will alter susceptibility and vulnerability to budworm from in New Brunswick. Methods will include, monitoring stand-level performance indicators (e.g. mortality, volume, diameter distribution, density etc.) across time while comparing projected and empirical datasets. In order to differentiate between normal stand development and budworm-induced density-independent impacts, results will be analyzed relative to outbreak phase (pre-outbreak, outbreak, 1-10 years post-outbreak, and >10 years post-outbreak). Greenhouse gas emissions from forest operations and strategies to maximize net forest-sector carbon sequestration Current literature has quantified greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced from forest operations (e.g., planting (Johnson et al. 2005), harvesting (Klvac and Skoupy 2009) and trucking (Johnson et al. 2005)), and milling (Bergman and Bowe 2008). Potential for storing carbon (C) in both wood products and the forest for alternative management strategies has also been studied for the Acadian forest (Neilson et al. 2007, Hennigar et al. 2008). However, no study has taken a combined view to quantify the impact of including forest operation emissions when evaluating GHG reduction benefits of alternative forest management. This project will first evaluate the influence that forest operations (encompasses all silviculture, road construction, transportation, and manufacturing activities) emissions may have on alternate forest management choices (e.g., amount and intensity of timber or biomass harvesting) to minimize forest-level net GHG emissions (forest and forest product C stock change minus forest operation emissions) on a million hectare industrial forestry landbase with area located in New Brunswick, Maine and Nova Scotia. Four management scenarios will be forecasted using Remsoft s Spatial Planning System Model (RSPS; Remsoft Inc. 2010): business as usual management (J.D. Irving Limited s, current management plan), maximize net carbon storage (in the forest and wood products), avoided GHG emissions from biomass energy production, and increased biomass harvest. Using provincial average wood product prices and operating costs, annual discounted net revenues (product/c expected revenues operation costs) will be included as a performance indicator in the trade-off analysis, to show financial implications and [or] benefits of alternative management scenarios. A sensitivity analysis will explore at the forest level, the impact of 9 stand replacing natural disturbance scenarios (e.g., fire, insect) on net GHG emissions across a matrix of plausible spatial extents and frequencies to elucidate the sensitivity of conclusions drawn from the previous analysis to uncertain future events. The significance of overall results to the inclusion of forest operation and milling GHG emissions will be explored, along with the sensitivity of GHG emissions associated with the production electricity, which is used by the milling facilities (ex. Using nuclear energy production rather than coal). This project will attempt to address two main questions. What degree of influence do forest operation emissions have on management choices (harvest volume, method of removal and products produced) to reduce long-term GHG emissions when evaluated in concert with C sequestration potential of forests and Copyright Remsoft Inc All rights reserved. 8

9 forest products? What management strategies (forest treatment levels) provide cost-effective opportunities to minimize net GHG emissions for the Acadian forest region? Transition to Triad Management An Improved Approach to Triad Management in Forestry? Application of triad zoning management (TZM) in forestry is proposed as a way to reduce tradeoffs between wood supply and protected forest area by spatially allocating land into three zones: I.) An Intensive Forestry Zone; where timber growth is maximized through intensive, high yield silviculture in part through establishing plantations with high volume yields, fast growth rates, and short harvest rotations; II.) III.) A Protected Forest Zone; where no resource extraction occurs; and An Extensive Forest Zone; a matrix encompassing both intensive forestry and protected areas that is managed using silviculture systems patterned after natural disturbance regimes. TZM may provide a suitable solution to conflicting timber supply and protected area management objectives by generating greater volumes over a smaller land base through intensive forestry. However, immediate allocation of operable area into protected area may cause short-term reductions in timber supply. Short-term wood supply reductions result from 1.) The immediate reduction in operable area (and thus operable volume) due to land allocation to protected area, and 2.) The time lag between initial allocation of forest to the intensive zone and increased volume yields that arise under intensive high yield silvicultural practices; e.g. the time required for plantations to grow and become harvestable. This project will attempt to address whether problematic short-term wood supply impacts that arise under TZM can be mitigated by creating and implementing a transitional triad management (TTM) approach. TTM capitalizes on the value of specialization applied under TZM, but will gradually allocate operable area into protected reserves over time, rather than all at once. This is based on the assumption that maintaining the harvestable land base in the short term can maintain wood supply until increased yields from intensive forestry are realized. Factors to be considered in implementing this project include: 1) What is the desirable magnitude and rate of increase in protected area; 2) what is the time lag between intensification and increased yield, 3) to what degree is short term wood supply decreased by TZM, and 4) how can harvest impacts on stands entering protected status be minimized through spatial arrangement or harvest prescription? In general this research attempts to determine a relationship between the desired amount of protected area and the rate of protected area allocation on the wood supply profile over time. Three TMZ land allocation strategies will be applied to New Brunswick Crown Licenses 1 and 7: i. 10% Protected / 70% Extensive / 20% Intensive; ii. 20% Protected / 55% Extensive / 25% Intensive; iii. 25% Protected / 40% Extensive / 35% Intensive. The wood supply profile resulting under each scenario will provide a measure of comparison for which to determine success of TTM. Gradual allocation of operable area into protected reserves under TTM will be based on the extent of initial decrease in wood supply, and the time it takes for intensification to increase wood supply to the status quo level for each TZM scenario. Remsoft Woodstock Modeling software will be used in forecasting management options. TTM success will be evaluated by the degree to which reductions in timber supply are decreased under Protected/Extensive/Intensive land allocation strategies assessed, relative to TZM. If TTM is validated it may increase attraction and practicality of applying a zoning management approach in forestry. TTM could be used to help forest managers simultaneously meet conflicting, but important, objectives of maintaining wood supply and increasing protected area. Copyright Remsoft Inc All rights reserved. 9

10 Université de Moncton FORS Gestion intégrée des forêts I (Integrated Forest Management I) Introduction au système de planification spatiale RSPS (6 exercices): 1. Introduction à la syntaxe Woodstock 2. Introduction à la recherche dichotomique avec Woodstock (formulation et interprétation) 3. Recherche dichotomique avec Woodstock (formulation et interprétation) 4. Introduction à la programmation linéaire avec Woodstock (formulation et interprétation) 5. Programmation à buts multiples avec Woodstock (formulation et interprétation) 6. Introduction à Woodstock (configuration de la base de données spatiales, creation des sections Landscape et Areas, création de cartes et de rapports) Introduction to the RSPS spatial modeling system (6 exercises): 1. Introduction to Woodstock syntax 2. Introduction to binary search with Woodstock (formulation and interpretation) 3. Binary search with Woodstock (formulation and interpretation) 4. Introduction to linear programming with Woodstock (formulation and interpretation) 5. Goal Programming with Woodstock (formulation and interpretation) 6. Introduction to Woodstock (configuring spatial database, building Landscape and Areas sections, generating maps and reports) FORS Gestion intégrée des forêts II (Integrated Forest Management II) Les étudiants planifient et réalisent un inventaire multi-ressources pour un bloc de terres publiques (superficie variant entre 400 et 1400 hectares), créent des tables de peuplement, des tables de rendement (Staman), et des fenêtres d habitat pour chaque type de peuplement pour plusieurs prescriptions sylvicoles potentielles. Ils subdivisent le territoire à l étude en zones ayant différents objectifs d aménagement et préparent un plan d aménagement multi-ressources pour ce territoire en utilisant le système RSPS. Plusieurs scénarios sont testés pour un horizon de planification de 80 ans, et l évolution temporelle de plusieurs indicateurs est évaluée, y compris les volumes ligneux, et des indicateurs écologiques et financiers. Un scénario est choisi parmi ceux testés et la répartition spatiale des activités d aménagement associées à ce scénario est effectuée par période de 5 ans, et ce pour les 25 premières années de l horizon de planification. Students design and carry out a multi-resource inventory for a block of Crown Land (areas have varied between 400 and 1400 hectares), produce stand tables, yield tables (Staman) and habitat windows for each stand type for a number of different possible silvicultural prescriptions. They subdivide the area into zones with different management objectives, and prepare a multi-resource management plan for this area using the RSPS system. Several scenarios are tested for an 80 year planning horizon, with several indicators tracked through time, including timber volumes, ecological and financial indicators. A scenario is selected amongst those tested and management activities for this scenario are mapped out by 5-year periods for the first 25 years of the planning horizon. Copyright Remsoft Inc All rights reserved. 10

11 University of Maine SFR 477 Forest Landscape Management and Planning SFR 477 on the integration of biophysical and socioeconomic sciences for multiple use management to achieve desired products services, and conditions of forest lands. This would include application of modern analytical procedures for strategic, tactical, and operational forest planning at the landscape level. Several lecture and lab periods would be focused on introducing the students to Remsoft applying it to generate solutions. The student would then use the software in their capstone course, which focuses on developing a long-term forest management plan for a given piece of ground. Université Laval Analyse de scénarios d aménagement (cours de premier cycle, optionnel) Analyse de scénarios d aménagement et identification des enjeux principaux. Woodstock est utilisé comme logiciel de calcul. Possibilité forestière et scénarios climatiques Un étudiant au doctorat, Narayan Dhital, termine d analyser plusieurs scénarios d aménagement d une forêt boréale de plus d un million d hectares ( Des courbes de rendement sensibles au climat ont été élaborées et seront utilisées afin d analyser la sensibilité des stratégies d aménagement aux changements probables de productivité. La modification du régime de perturbation et de la dynamique de succession seront également prises en compte. Un article doit aussi paraître dans le prochain numéro de Forestry Chronicle (janvier/février 2013): Dhital N., Raulier F., Asselin H., Imbeau L., Valeria O. et Bergeron Y. Emulating boreal forest disturbances dynamics: can we maintain timber supply, aboriginal land use, and woodland caribou habitat? For. Chron., sous presse. Analyse de viabilité de scénarios d aménagement Une étudiante au doctorat, Georgina Rodriguez, utilise l analyse de viabilité des populations, une méthode d analyse utilisée en biologie de la conservation, pour tester la robustesse des calculs de possibilité faits dans Woodstock face à des évènements stochastiques comme les feux, les défoliations par les insectes, le chablis et la succession forestière. Différentes méthodes de protection de la possibilité forestière contre le risque induit par les feux sont testées et comparées dans une unité d aménagement forestier en Abitibi. Impact des effets de scénarios de défoliation sur la possibilité forestière Un étudiant au doctorat, Guillaume Sainte-Marie, sous la direction de Dan Kneeshaw et Dave MacLean, s'intéresse à la protection des forêts contre la tordeuse des bourgeons de l'épinette et de ses effets sur les pertes de bois au Québec. Il utilise Woodstock pour explorer les effets sur la possibilité forestière. Optimisation de la récolte de bois dans un contexte de protection de l habitat du caribou forestier en forêt boréale Un étudiant à la maîtrise, Guillaume Cyr, s'intéresse à trouver la meilleure organisation spatiale des secteurs d opérations pour trouver un compromis entre maximiser la possibilité forestière et augmenter la superficie de l habitat favorable au caribou des bois. Il utilise Woodstock pour explorer les effets sur la possibilité forestière. Copyright Remsoft Inc All rights reserved. 11

12 Finalement, voici une publication de l année dernière qui traite également de planification forestière réalisée avec l aide de Woodstock: Garet J., Raulier F., Pothier D., et Cumming S Forest age structures as indicators of sustainability in boreal forests: are we measuring them correctly? Ecol. Indic., 23: University of Georgia Forest planning (FORS 4710/6710) In our forest planning course, we use a property of land called the Putnam Tract (from Bettinger et al. 2009, Forest Management and Planning) to explore the use of linear programming for the development of forest plans. The theory behind linear programming is sufficiently covered using lectures and examples developed within Lindo software, and along the way several forest plans are developed for the Putnam Tract. REMSOFT Spatial Planning System / Woodstock model is then employed to solve one or more of the Putnam Tract management scenarios (e.g., even-flow of wood volume harvested). The first session is spent on the development of the Primary Input File, the Landscape File, the Areas File, the Lifespan File, and the Transition File. During this exercise, transfer of information from GIS to the Landscape File of Woodstock, is explored and the development of Themes are discussed. During this process, we attempt to describe the connections between a harvest scheduling model and other parts of an overall information system (i.e., GIS). During this session, the need for transitions of forests is discussed, and the logic employed in Woodstock to make these possible. In a second session various parameters contained in the Control Modules are described, information necessary for the Yields Module are developed. These efforts from previous experiences in developing forest plans are then considered and described. A few outputs are then developed and the graphics available with the Spatial Planning System are examined. In a third session the need for and use of, the Actions File are explored. The transitions and outputs that were previously developed are then built upon. In the Optimize File the objectives and constraints of a problem are defined. Finally, a problem is solved and the students are asked to compare the results generated (and the overall process) to other methods that had been employed. University College Dublin Future-oriented integrated management of European forest landscapes An European forestry research project started in November 2011 focussing on forest policy, land-use and sustainable forest management. It is a large scale project with 20 partners, including the UCD Forestry at University College Dublin. The project is part (75%) funded by the Cooperation programme of the European Commission's seventh framework programme for research (FP7) under the environment theme (ENV Land-use and European forest ecosystems). The motivation behind the project comes from difficulties in implementing land-use policies in Europe related to the forest. The environmental and socio-economic roles of European forests are well documented and acknowledged in policy documents of both the European Union and its member states, including Ireland. But, there are problems with forestrelated land-use policies, the main issue being mismatches between the policies and their implementation at the landscape level. Hence, there is a need to improve existing policy and management approaches so as to ensure they deliver a better balance between multiple and conflicting demands for forest goods and services. Reducing the degree of mismatches and segregation of forest functions, and providing a new policy and integrated management approaches that is sensitive to ecological, socioeconomic and political issues are the main objectives of the INTEGRAL project. The involvement of national and local stakeholder groups all the way through the project will play a decisive Copyright Remsoft Inc All rights reserved. 12

13 role in the successful completion of the project. The research design will be applied in a total of 20 landscapes in Europe and two of these are in Ireland: The western peatland forests - these represent blanket peatland areas that were afforested in 1950s to 1980s. On these sites forest productivity is low but ecological value is high; most of these forests are owned by Coillte. The Newmarket case study - represents an "afforestation" case study, i.e. an area when high levels of private afforestation occurred in the 1980s and 1990s and where in the past there has been animosity to forestry. Landscape-level, multi-resource planning models for both case study areas are being developed which can accommodate multi-stakeholder objectives and multi-level policy constraints. In the western peatland case study the University is collaborating with Coillte. University of Canterbury FORE 316 Forest Management Woodstock was used in this course to illustrate concepts of forest estate modeling. University of Alberta FOR 431 Integrated Forest Management Problem solving, decision making and planning in relation to the management of forest resources. Application of models and related tools. Public involvement and issues management will be addressed. Requires payment of additional student instructional support fees. Refer to the Fees Payment Guide in the University Regulations and Information for Students section of the Calendar. Prerequisite: REN R 299 (or FOR 302, 303, 304) and FOR 323 and REN R 430. Credit cannot be obtained for both CAPS 431 and FOR 431. (Offered jointly by the Departments of Renewable Resources and Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology). [Renewable Resources] This is the capstone course for the UAlberta forestry program. The students use RSPS to development a forest management plan as the capping project for their program. University of Alaska Advanced Topics in Landscape Ecology The discipline of Landscape Ecology is now globally established and its essential role is widely acknowledged for human well-being. This course builds on digital and modeling opportunities in this discipline, including GIS, R, XML, data mining and machine learning. It follows a problem-based learning and critical thinking approach based on a balanced scientific debate and discussions. It is specifically designed for advanced and graduate students to understand and apply advanced, quantitative Landscape Ecology topics (e.g. land-, seascape and sustainability). Copyright Remsoft Inc All rights reserved. 13

14 Stephen F. Austin State University FOR 411 Timber Management We use Remsoft in our timber management class to perform harvest scheduling of loblolly pine plantations managed by the Author Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture at Stephen F. Austin State University. We want to expose the forest management students to state-of-the-art techniques and software used in forest planning decision making. Sir Wilfred Grenfell College Incorporation of climate change into long-term forest ecosystem management planning in the Humber River Basin With available climate-responsive yield information and other model inputs (e.g., forest inventory, description of silvicultural treatments, constraints, and management objectives), we will formulate a broad range of forest ecosystem management scenarios and conduct scenario analysis using the Remsoft Forest Planning System to determine where, and what, adaptive strategies are to be incorporated into long-term forest ecosystem planning and forest carbon management in relation to climate change. As a result, this project will (i) offer an efficient method of performing strategic analysis of adaptive forest ecosystem management scenarios to cope with climate change in mesoscale river basin(s); (ii) increase the students participation in applied research and develop their expertise related to applications of forest ecosystem modeling in natural resources assessment and management. Oregon State University FOR 457 Techniques for Forest Resource Analysis Use of linear programming, nonlinear programming, dynamic programming, and simulation to solve complex forest management problems, with emphasis on intertemporal multiple use scheduling. Forestry transportation problems, multiple-use allocation, and investment analysis. FE 447 Tactical and Operational Planning Techniques Use of linear, mixed integer, heuristic methods, and simulation to solve forest operations management problems with emphasis on harvest scheduling, transportation planning, crew, and truck scheduling. FOR 459 Forest Resource Planning and Decision Making Integration of biological, economic and amenity characteristics of the forest system in resource management planning and decision making. Senior capstone class projects. Mississippi State University FO 8243 Advanced Forest Resource Management and Planning Donald Grebner and Ian Munn have an online version of Mississippi State University s traditional lecture based course on Advance Forest Management and Planning. The intent of this graduate level course is to teach students about financial analysis, growth and yield models, stand management, as well as mathematical programming techniques such as dynamic programming, goal programming, and mixed Copyright Remsoft Inc All rights reserved. 14

15 integer programming. They intend to use Remsoft Spatial Planning system as the platform for teaching the forest level planning aspect of the course. Data sets used will include those in textbook Forest Management and Planning by Bettinger, P., Boston, K., Siry, J., and Grebner, D. Michigan Technical University Vegetation Modeling The class "FW Vegetation Modelling" is a required class in the Forestry undergraduate curriculum in the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science at Michigan Technological University. Enrollment in the class is approximately 20 students each year, almost exclusively Forestry majors who are taking the class to fulfill the curricular requirement. The class is held in the spring semester of the student's third year, after the completion of a semester-long field practicum. In the field practicum our students learn silviculture, forest harvesting techniques, multiple resources management, land measurements and geomorphology. The culmination of the field semester is the development of a prescription and plan for an 80 acre tract of land. The class is intended to expand the students technical skills to the assessment of multiple stands and multiple resources at scales that might be considered "forest level". The class begins with coverage of tree- to stand-level models, including the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS), and the use of FVS for multi-stand simulations and the design of stand-to-forest management regimes for multiple values, including timber production and financial value. My class was historically limited, however, to the use of FVS for forest-level analyses. Elsewhere in our curriculum our students are exposed to operations research methods and linear programming. So a natural extension of my class was to include forest planning. After a review of software options, and the processes at local forest companies and consulting forestry organizations, Remsoft software was selected as the platform for students. Over the past year curricular modules are being developed, incorporating the software. This coming spring will be the first time the software is used, and will involve exercises in basic principles of forest- to landscape-level planning, as well as concrete examples using the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science's "Ford Center and Research Forest". Last year a new forest inventory was completed on the forest which will form the foundation of the class use of the Remsoft software. Lanamme University of Costa Rica Long term investment plan for optimizing Costa Rica s pavement condition Based on observed treatments in Costa Rica and treatments not used in the country, a strategic level investment plan was developed to demonstrate to local transportation agencies and political authorities the benefits of long term investments in pavements considering the principles of Pavement Management Systems. Methodology for an investment plan for asphalt overlays and road safety involving pavement friction data According to collected data about pavement conditions by the Lanamme UCR and existing information about road safety it is planned to develop a methodology for an investment plan in asphalt overlays and road safety of a corridor. Copyright Remsoft Inc All rights reserved. 15

16 College of North Atlantic Integrated Resource Management Students in this course of the Forest Resources Technician program are provided with an orientation and demonstration of the Remsoft Spatial Planning system and its application to sustainable forest management planning in a Newfoundland context. The students learn the process of constructing a wood supply model for a small woodlot: constructing landscapes, yields, actions and transitions. Students then contrast this experience with the GIS-based approached used in their respective integrated resource management plan developed as part of the course requirements. The use of the Remsoft tools is intended to link the students' newly gained knowledge around management planning with current practices used in industry and government processes. In addition to the demonstrations, this coming year we intend to develop specific lab activities around silviculture planning using the Remsoft simulation tools. The network license will enable students to run the analysis themselves; thereby, gaining first-hand experience with Remsoft tools in forest planning. Copyright Remsoft Inc All rights reserved. 16