The need for criteria and indicators to qualitatively assess forest development

Background

Climate change is altering the composition and structure of forests worldwide. To ensure that we can continue benefitting from the many useful forest functions, or forest ecosystem services (ESS) that they provide, scientists are forecasting the consequences of alternative management approaches into the future – often over strategic timeframes of multiple decades or even centuries. The tools used for doing so include models of forest development (MFD) and decision support systems (DSS). One remaining challenge when using MFD and DSS is linking abstract model outputs with specific indicators that tell us how ESS develop over time. While criteria and indicators (C&Is) have been used to assess the sustainability of forest management since the Montreal process [1] and a common understanding of sustainable forest management comprising management principles, guidelines and indicators exists across Europe, to monitor the progress of forests towards goals outlined in the EU forest strategy [2] using such C&I to analyse abstract modelling output remains a challenge. For example: Number of breeding pairs of a specific bird species may be a good indicator for diversity, however, a computer-based forest model will not be able to deliver this information [3]. At best we may get specific forest structures from our model. To assess the potential diversity of future forests therefore requires a different, modellable indicator.

Aim

In this Bachelor project you will: (1) identify and assess the various uses of criteria and indicators in forestry based on a literature review, (2) assess exemplary modelling results from MFD and DSS that will be provided by your supervisory team regarding output data types and structures, and finally (3) form matches between indicators and modelling output for the most relevant forest characteristics such as biodiversity, potential for carbon storage and sequestration, timber production and others, or develop proxies for doing so.

Methods

Literature review, review of European and international policies and forest/ timber certification standards, review of forest planning tools and models, and the way data is used in them.

Wanted

Highly motivated student interested in contributing to the closing of an important research gap between real world assessments of biodiversity and other forest characteristics, and the modelling tools used today.

You will get to:

• Deepen your knowledge about the use of criteria and indicators in forest assessment, planning, and management..
• Expand your network by discussing your work with experts from different fields of forest sciences.
• Be a co-author on a publication resulting from this work.
• Be part of a motivated, fun, and energetic team of scientists.

Supervisor:

Prof. Dr. Verena Griess

The project has a flexible starting date.

If the idea of participating in cutting-edge interdisciplinary research excites you, please contact verena.griess(at)usys.ethz.ch. The FORM team is looking forward to hearing from you!

1. The Montréal Process. "external page Criteria and Indicators for the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Temperate and Boreal Forests". Accessed May 29, 2024. 
2. Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, The Council, The European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. “external page New EU Forest Strategy for 2030” Accessed May 29, 2024. 
3. Raimo et al. (2022): external page Developing fine-grained nationwide predictions of valuable forests using biodiversity indicator bird species. Ecological Applications 32(2).