Abstract

Forest managers need tools to predict the behavior of forests not only for the main stand parameters, such as basal area and volume, but also for ecosystem services such as timber volume and carbon sequestration. Useful tools to predict these parameters are growth and yield model systems with several possible options for modeling, such as the whole stand-level model, with or without diameter distribution generation, individual tree-level model, and compatibility models. However, those tools are scarce or developed mainly for forest plantations that are mostly located in the northern hemisphere. Thus, this study focuses on analyzing predictions of several growth and yield models built for native mixed Nothofagus forests from southern Chile, using the simulator Nothopack. A dataset of 19 permanent plots with three measurements were used for comparing the different models. Individual tree-level simulation presented the best goodness-of-fit statistics for stand parameters and ecosystem services. For example, the basal area gave an R-emp(2) of 0.97 and 0.87 at 6 and 12 years of projection. However, the stand-level simulations with a generation of diameter distribution and both compatibility models showed satisfactory performance, both in accuracy and bias control. The simulator Nothopack, which has the capability of obtaining detailed outputs, is a useful tool to support management plans for these forest ecosystems.