by Diaz Yanez Olalla

The workshop on Tree Regeneration Modelling will focus on the simulation and assessment of the regeneration niche per se, i.e., as it arises from empirical data analysis vs. its representation in a wide range of models of forest dynamics. The key idea is that in most models of forest dynamics, regeneration processes are not formulated based on large empirical data sets but instead the regeneration niche arises as an “emergent property” of the formulations that are used to constrain regeneration (e.g., warmth during the summer; drought; light availability, etc.). This scientific exercise will statistically determine the regeneration niche from the simulation results of models of forest dynamics, and to contrast this with an empirically derived depiction of the regeneration niche. This approach will be one of the few attempts to provide an empirically-based model of tree regeneration for a wide range of environmental conditions and multiple species.

The first announcement of this workshop was sent to all the PROCLIAS community in the Autumn of 2021. The feedback has been very positive and already 15 modelling groups have confirmed their participation in the workshop. During the spring of 2022 each modelling group will set up their model to simulate the regeneration niche of ten major European tree species within the known, defined range of environmental conditions of several sites across Europe. A detailed protocol will be sent at the end of January to all the participants. The workshop will be held in Davos (Switzerland) on 20-23 of June.

We expect that the outcome from this workshop will also have added value for the entire PROCLIAS community beyond the forest sector e.g., by taking the approaches and processes develop in the context of forest models as an example and finding ways that this could be done with similar models in other sectors. With this, we hope that the experiences and outcomes of this workshop will generate interest beyond the forest model community.

If you would like to know about this workshop more please do not hesitate to contact the organizing team.

Timeline

30 November 2021: confirm participation in the Tree Regeneration Modeling Activity to the Organizing Team and return a brief survey on the regeneration model. This will allow the Organization Team to adjust the setup of the simulation studies that should be comparable across models, and certainly be comparable with the empirical data.

31 January 2022: Instructions for simulation studies specified by the Organizing Team.

30 April 2022: Modeling teams accomplish simulations of the regeneration niche and send results to the Organizing Team.

15 May 2022: Organizing Team sends information on empirically-based regeneration niche to each modeling team.

15 June: Modeling teams submit draft report/ presentation to Organizing Team.

20-23 June 2022: Workshop in Davos (Switzerland), starting on Tuesday morning and ending on Friday at noon. Participants are expected to arrive on Sunday 19 June; dinner will be provided.

- The workshop will include a field trip on Tuesday afternoon, i.e. a leisurely hike to examine tree regeneration in subalpine forests and at alpine treeline.

- An extension of the stay over the weekend (18-19 June) on a private basis may make sense.

31 October 2022: Manuscript(s) available for comments by all participants

20 December 2022: Manuscript(s) submitted