ACAN-NRCan FOR-CAST Research

The Department of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has a requirement for a technical and ecological application of an ecosystem model for Canada implemented in SpaDES (Spatially Discrete Event Simulator) that will assess the forest degradation of forested lands of Canada. The requirement will use the SpaDES-compatible modules and their outputs in a continuously flexible and updatable workflow. Thus, the approach can be updated as policies and regulations change, and as datasets and models improve. Use of the SpaDES platform requires such that the work is compatible with existing modules and workflows and implemented in accordance with current and forthcoming changes to the SpaDES platform and module infrastructure. The work will involve working within the SpaDES environment to evaluate indicators of forest degradation. This will require: 2.1. Development and creation of functions organized as an R package designed for forest degradation. 2.2. development and creation of local forest indicator summaries from large amounts of SpaDEScreated datasets. 2.3. development and creation of global forest indicator summaries from large amounts of SpaDEScreated datasets. 2.4. development and creation of a web application to visualize these indicators.