Does Management Unit Definition Matter? Impacts on Ecosystem Services in Contrasting Landscapes

Management units (MUs) are the core spatial entities where forest management strategies are applied. Their delineation is typically based on stand characteristics (e.g., tree species, age structure), ownership boundaries, or legacy units established decades ago. Before a new forest management plan is developed—typically every ten years—foresters revise these MU boundaries using aerial imagery and ground-based assessments. However, the implications of how these boundaries are defined are rarely questioned. This Master’s thesis investigates how different approaches to MU definition, and how frequently they are revised, may alter the expected provisioning of ecosystem services (ES) such as timber and biodiversity. The study compares these impacts across two contrasting landscapes: one topographically complex and one relatively homogeneous. Using forest inventory data, current MU and stand boundaries, and a forest dynamics model, we will simulate forest development under different MU delineation strategies and planning cycles. This research has direct implications for forest policy, planning efficiency, and the integration of ES into spatial forest decision-making. **Wanted** We are seeking a highly motivated Master’s student with an interest in forest planning, landscape modeling, and ecosystem service assessment. The project will require combining spatial data with forest dynamics modeling and comparative analysis across planning scenarios. **You are:** - Curious about how spatial planning decisions affect forest outcomes - Comfortable working with spatial data and simulation tools - Interested in developing or applying forest dynamics models (e.g., Forest Studio, LandClim, or similar) - Familiar with R, or willing to learn The project has a flexible start date and will be carried out in collaboration with practitioners in Canton Zurich. **You will get to** - Work with real-world forest management data and spatial planning scenarios - Explore forest ecosystem dynamics under varying assumptions about management unit design - Compare ecosystem service outcomes across landscapes and modeling scenarios - Gain skills in forest modeling, ES evaluation, and landscape analysis - Contribute to an applied and policy-relevant research question - Potentially co-author a publication based on thesis results - Collaborate with an experienced research team working on forest planning and ecosystem services

Management units (MUs) are the core spatial entities where forest management strategies are applied. Their delineation is typically based on stand characteristics (e.g., tree species, age structure), ownership boundaries, or legacy units established decades ago. Before a new forest management plan is developed—typically every ten years—foresters revise these MU boundaries using aerial imagery and ground-based assessments. However, the implications of how these boundaries are defined are rarely questioned.
This Master’s thesis investigates how different approaches to MU definition, and how frequently they are revised, may alter the expected provisioning of ecosystem services (ES) such as timber and biodiversity. The study compares these impacts across two contrasting landscapes: one topographically complex and one relatively homogeneous.
Using forest inventory data, current MU and stand boundaries, and a forest dynamics model, we will simulate forest development under different MU delineation strategies and planning cycles. This research has direct implications for forest policy, planning efficiency, and the integration of ES into spatial forest decision-making.

**Wanted**

We are seeking a highly motivated Master’s student with an interest in forest planning, landscape modeling, and ecosystem service assessment. The project will require combining spatial data with forest dynamics modeling and comparative analysis across planning scenarios.

**You are:**

- Curious about how spatial planning decisions affect forest outcomes

- Comfortable working with spatial data and simulation tools

- Interested in developing or applying forest dynamics models (e.g., Forest Studio, LandClim, or similar)

- Familiar with R, or willing to learn

The project has a flexible start date and will be carried out in collaboration with practitioners in Canton Zurich.

**You will get to**

- Work with real-world forest management data and spatial planning scenarios

- Explore forest ecosystem dynamics under varying assumptions about management unit design

- Compare ecosystem service outcomes across landscapes and modeling scenarios

- Gain skills in forest modeling, ES evaluation, and landscape analysis

- Contribute to an applied and policy-relevant research question

- Potentially co-author a publication based on thesis results

- Collaborate with an experienced research team working on forest planning and ecosystem services

- How sensitive ES outcomes are to MU definitions - Whether more dynamic or fine-grained MU revisions offer meaningful ecological or economic benefits - How landscape context influences the relationship between MU structure and ES provision

- How sensitive ES outcomes are to MU definitions
- Whether more dynamic or fine-grained MU revisions offer meaningful ecological or economic benefits
- How landscape context influences the relationship between MU structure and ES provision

Supervisors: Dr. Olalla Díaz-Yáñez, Prof. Dr. Verena Griess If the idea of participating in cutting-edge research with practical relevance excites you, please contact olalla.diaz(at)usys.ethz.ch.

Supervisors: Dr. Olalla Díaz-Yáñez, Prof. Dr. Verena Griess
If the idea of participating in cutting-edge research with practical relevance excites you, please contact olalla.diaz(at)usys.ethz.ch.