An individual - based spatially explicit simulation model for 1 strategic forest management planning in the eastern Amazon

7 A model to simulate the forest processes of growth, mortality and recruitment, and the 8 human process of forest management, in the Terra Firme forests of the eastern Amazon is 9 described. It is implemented within the SYMFOR (http://www.symfor.org) framework. It 10 is based on measurements from experimental plots in the Jarí and Tapajós national forest 11 areas over a 16 year period. All trees within the plot that have a diameter greater than 5 12 cm are simulated. 10 species groups are used to describe the natural processes affecting 13 tree behaviour. Growth rates are calculated for each species group using the tree diameter 14 and a competition index. Mortality and recruitment are stochastic, and recruitment 15 probability is based on the predicted growth rate of a hypothetical tree. Options exist to 16 vary the human interaction with the forest reflecting forest management decisions, as for 17 other SYMFOR models. Model evaluation compares model performance with data 18 describing forest recovery for 16 years following logging. 19 20 The model is applied to current forest management practice in the Brazilian Amazon, 21 with 40 m.ha of timber extracted on a cutting cycle of 30 years. Results show that the 22 yield can be sustained for 3 harvests following the first logging of primary forest, but that 23