Evaluation of forest growth simulators with NFI permanent sample plot data from Finland

Tree-level and stand-level forest growth simulators and their combination were evaluated using data from a large network of permanent sample plots of the National Forest Inventory covering the whole of Southern Finland. The simulators were built up with the SIMO framework. The evaluation was carried out both at the stand-level and separately for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), Norway spruce (Picea abies), silver birch (Betula pendula) and white birch (Betula pubescens) strata within the plots. Effects of different factors, e.g. age, soil type, stand density and geographical location on the results were also analysed.