Contributions to Forestry Modelling Research

Abstract

It is generally accepted that models facilitate understanding of complex systems and thereby promote learning and scientific discovery. Applications of several kinds of models in plantation forestry and related fields are presented, together with some critical comments relating to model characteristics. The paper introduces a few examples of the modelling tools available to foresters. It is not a review, but rather an attempt to present research results in the modelling field and to demonstrate the growing relevance of modelling research in forestry.