The target tree management system

The global need to increase sustained forestry value production requires an operational silviculture and a practical method for controlling tree growth, especially that of target trees. The target tree management system has been designed for this purpose. It is applicable as a decision support tool in stands of any size and structure, including pure and mixed stands. For controlling the growth of selected target trees, only a few tree parameters (age, height and diameter) need to be taken from sample target trees and compared to site-specific growth norms. These target tree norms describe the optimal growth of target trees towards a specified production goal, easily modified by the forest owner to his own requirements. For each stand and tree species, the target tree management system delivers target tree related information on vitality, production risks, thinning volume within the next 10 years, value development, and the time required to reach the target diameter. Stands may be grouped and evaluated according to the importance of these criteria. This may be a strategic help towards solving the problems of timber market policy in the next decades. The system is also suitable for description of growth and yield in long-term experiments, especially those involving special treatments and the changing influence of climate and soil conditions, and provides for data transfer to the forest owners.