| Project Objectives and Background |
DSE’s Market-based Investments to Redress Landscape Decline project relies significantly on catchment/landscape biophysical modelling to investigate impacts of current and alternative land management practices on economic (production), environmental and social outcomes. Modelling tools particularly provide an objective platform for assessing the value of ecosystem goods and services and trade-offs against other values.
The scientific robustness of the forest growth, carbon accumulation and water-use modules used in such modelling must be well tested, and the models must provide for analysis of real-world scenarios. The further development and validation of these models can only be underpinned by rigorous field-based measurement of the biophysical processes represented in the models.
This project will provide underpinning research for the development, calibration and validation of the 3PG+ forest growth model in the Catchment Analysis Tool / Catchment Management Framework. This includes:
- effects of stand management (stocking, thinning, pruning);
- incorporation of understorey / weed component; and
- development of parameter sets for a wider range of species and environments.
The project will improve accuracy/precision and therefore confidence in the predictions of 3PG+ in the CAT/CMF suite, and allow application to a wider representation of forest management scenarios than is presently possible.
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Tree growth (carbon sequestration) and water use is being studied in simple and complex forests to develop, calibrate and validate the 3PG+ forest growth model incorporated in the Catchment Analysis Tool |
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| DFES Staff and Students |
Dr Tom Baker, Senior Research Fellow
Dr Pat Lane, Senior Research Fellow
Dr David Forrester, Research Fellow
Dr Paul Feikema, Research Fellow
John Collopy, Professional Officer
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| Project Partners and Collaborators |
Department of Sustainability and Environment
Department of Primary Industries
Future Farm Industries CRC
eWater CRC
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| Highlights - 2008 |
Significant further development of the 3PG+ in CAT model has been undertaken, including
- improved rainfall interception calculation;
- better understanding of the interaction of the (soil) Fertility Rating parameter and (soil) Plant Available Water-holding capacity; and,
- enhanced output of model predictions to facilitate visualisation of model sensitivity.
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| 2008/2009 Milestones |
- Collate published data/results from Britannia Creek and negotiate access to unpublished data.
- Collate published data/results from studies of E. cladocalyx.
- Complete collaborative water use measurements at Long Corner.
- Compile and review database of measured native forest water use, growth and associated site specifications
- Review/revise multi-layered vegetation capability of 3PG+ in CAT using first field results contingent on delivery of database - document of recommended program modifications
- Complete water use measurements at Carrajung.
- Complete revisions of 3PG+ in CAT validated for growth/carbon and water use, using updated species parameters, with examples for: E. globulus / E. nitens / P. radiata plantation stand management scenarios, mixed species forest, E. regnans forest, and E. cladocalyx plantations.
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| Publications |
Submitted papers
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Miehle, P., Grote, R., Battaglia, M., Feikema, P. and Arndt, S. Evaluation of a process-based ecosystem model for long-term biomass and stand development of Eucalyptus globulus plantations. Submitted to European Journal of Forest Research (December 2008).
Published peer-reviewed papers
- Feikema P, Beverly CR, Morris J, Collopy J, Baker T & Lane P. (2007) Predicting the impacts of plantation on catchment water balances using the 3PG Forest Growth Model. In Oxley L & Kulasiri D(eds), MODSIM 2007 International Congress on Modelling and Simulation. 2237-2243. Canberra, Australia: Modelling and Simulation Society of Australasia. http://www.mssanz.org.au/MODSIM07/papers/41_s34/PredictingTheImpact_s34_Feikema_.pdf
Other publications
- Feikema, P., Beverly, C., Morris, J., Collopy, J., Baker, T. and Lane, P. (2008). Predicting and managing the impacts of commercial plantations on catchment water balances. Project final report to Forest and Wood Products Australia. Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science, The University of Melbourne.
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| Presentations/Seminars |
Conference Presentations
- Conference on Processes Controlling Productivity in Tropical Plantations associated with IUFRO Working Group, Porto Seguro, Bahia, Brazil. 2.01.12 - Canopy processes.
- Forrester DI, Theiveyanathan S, Collopy JJ, Marcar NE (2008) Increasing water use efficiency using mixed species plantations of Eucalyptus and Acacia. Conference web site: http://www.ipef.br/iufro2008/.
- 2008 Era Change of Conference, Melbourne, 7 November 2008.
- Feikema, P. and Moran, R. (2008) Examining the impacts of forest management, fire and climate change on catchment water balances using process-based models.
- MODSIM, 10-13th December, Christchurch New Zealand:
- Feikema PM, Beverly CR, Morris JD, Collopy JJ, Baker TG, Lane PNJ. Predicting the impacts of plantations on catchment water balance using the 3PG forest growth model.
- International Symposium on Forest Soils and Ecosystem Health, 20-23rd August 2007, Noosa, Australia
- Grant, D.A., Feikema, P.M., Beverly, C.R., Baker, T.G. and Laffan, M. Plant available water in the 3-PG forest growth model.
Other Presentations/Seminars
- Forrester D (2008) Australian forest research on Eucalypts and Acacias as pure and mixed plantations and Silviculture for producing solid wood products. Presentation to Instituto Nacional de Investigacion Agropecuaria, Concordia, Entre Rios, Argentina.
- Forrester D (2008) Australian forest research on Eucalypts and Acacias as pure and mixed plantations and Silviculture for producing solid wood products. Presentation to Forest Research Institute of Chile, Concepcion, Region VIII, Chile.
- Department of Sustainability and Environment/Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science Seminar Series:
- Burnley Seminar Series:
- Dr David Forrester, Increasing the water use efficiency of Eucalyptus plantations. 3rd September 2008
- Dr Paul Feikema, Catchment water balance modelling using process-based models: limitations and opportunities. 13th August 2008
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| Other Knowledge Transfer and Outputs |
- Paul Feikema presented 3PG+ in CAT modelling work to RWG3 meeting, Mt Gambier, October 2007.
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| Contact |
Dr Tom Baker
Department of Forest & Ecosystem Science
Melbourne School of Land and Environment
University of Melbourne
500 Yarra Boulevard, Richmond, VIC 3121, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9250 6836
E-mail: tgbaker@unimelb.edu.au |
