Forest Management Tool for Estimating Growth and Yield Stand Parameters in Pine Plantations. A Case of Sao Hill Forest Plantation

Emanuel Martine; Wilson A. Mugasha; Jamal Banzi

doi:10.37284/eajfa.8.1.3026

Emanuel Martine Sokoine University of Agriculture
Wilson A. Mugasha Sokoine University of Agriculture
Jamal Banzi Sokoine University of Agriculture

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37284/eajfa.8.1.3026

Keywords: FIT, Forest Inventory, Decision Support, Forest Management Practices, Pinus Patula

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Abstract

This study presents the Forest Inventory Tool (FIT), designed for estimating and forecasting stand volume, growth, yield, and tree size distribution for Pinus patula plantations in Tanzania. The tool is designed to accommodate growth dynamics changes associated with the manipulation of management practices. Implementing management plans is often hindered by challenges such as budgetary constraints, weather state and market fluctuations often disrupt the implementation of management plans. These disruptions may lead to the omission of critical practices like thinning and harvesting, resulting in discrepancies between the analysed and forecasted metrics in the management plan and the actual stand state. The tool addresses these challenges by automating data processing, enabling real-time updates, and reducing reliance on manual analysis to update the stand structure that is prone to error. The FIT development followed the standard forest management prescriptions outlined in the forest management plan, which directs the five-year operations (e.g. thinning, pruning, planting and clear-felling). It was designed using Excel VBA to integrate inventory data with management prescriptions. Forest data were collected through stratified systematic sampling across 60 compartments. The FIT applies yield models to forest inventory data to inform forest structure and forecast its development under different management practices. The tool generates key stand parameters for forest management, including an overview of the plantation, stand summaries for a five-year management plan, and dynamic updates on plantation status. It provides an automated solution for managing plantations by supporting decision-making. It is recommended that the tool be expanded to support a broader range of species and be developed into an app or web-based platform to improve its applicability across different forest types and ensure remote access.

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