et.nwfva:Forest Yield Tables for Northwest Germany and their Application

The new yield tables developed by the Northwest German Forest Research Institute (NW-FVA) provide a forest management tool for the five main commercial tree species oak, beech, spruce, Douglas-fir and pine for northwestern Germany. The new method applied for deriving yield tables combines measurements of growth and yield trials with growth simulations using a state-of-the-art single-tree growth simulator. By doing so, the new yield tables reflect the current increment level and the recommended graduated thinning from above is the underlying management concept. The yield tables are provided along with methods for deriving the site index and for interpolating between age and site indices and extrapolating beyond age and site index ranges. The inter-/extrapolations are performed traditionally by the rule of proportion or with a functional approach.