Quoted from: https://formind.org/model/formind/formix/

Ecosystem structures of tropical forests are under threat due to changes in climate and land-use. There is increasing evidence that many logging strategies are not sustainable since they exceed the regeneration capacities of forests. The need for a reliable assessment of rainforest’s growth dynamics over long time periods and under changing environmental conditions, had led to the development of the dynamic forest growth simulation model FORMIX3. This model enables us to investigate the effects of both logging and climate change on forest growth.

The high number of tree species in tropical rainforests is particularly challenging. Therefore, tree species are aggregated into few functional groups in FORMIX3, according to their physiognomical and physiological attributes. The model describes individual tree growth on the basis of a carbon balance, including various processes: tree growth is constrained by  photoproduction of the leaves and climate in different canopy layers, and by respiration and biomass losses. Trees compete for light and space. Dying large trees fall down and create gaps in the forest. Young trees germinate if enough light reaches forest floor.

The model was applied to investigate long-term impacts of various logging strategies and climate change in different types of tropical rainforests, e.g. in Paraguay and Malaysia (dipterocarp forest of the lowlands in Sabah, hill dipterocarp forest in Sarawak, peat swamp forest in Malaysia Peninsula). A complete model documentation, results of comprehensive model testing and an exemplary model application as well as discussions of simulation results are available in Huth et al. (1998, 2000, and 2001).