THE INFLUENCE OF LOGGING ON A MALAYSIAN DIPTEROCARP RAIN-FOREST - A STUDY USING A FOREST GAP MODEL

We present the first application of a forest gap model to the study of logging techniques in Malaysian tropical Dipterocarp rain forests. Th e aim of this paper is to reveal the impact of different logging techn iques on forest composition, sustainability and logged biomass. We per formed simulations both with and without damage to trees due to harves ting. The latter simulations allowed us to deduce that an optimum logg ing cycle of 100 years maximizes yield. In contrast, short logging cyc les of 20 years show low yields and dramatic changes in the species co mposition of the forest. To restore the species composition to its und isturbed state, a regeneration time of 200 years is needed. From our s imulations we deduce that it is crucial to take logging damage into ac count in order to obtain realistic descriptions of both the yield and forest composition. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.