Assessing Forest Vitality and Forest Structure Using 3D Data: A Case Study From the Hainich National Park, Germany

The adaptation of forest management to changing environmental conditions due climate change relies on information the current and tree vitality. In common practice, percentage crown defoliation is used as a proxy for vitality, an approach that has several drawbacks. By performing laser scanning plot in Hainich National Park, we tested new quantifying Based difference structural complexity measured between summer winter, assessed via box-dimension, provides objective reproducible method does not only allow quantification defoliation, but also includes effects branch diebacks. addition, box-dimension lengths 2013 2021 studied overall development trees analyze alteration their On average, found decrease complexity, well most investigated forest. Further, mean (summer minus winter) decreased with ascending vitality class. We conclude was negatively affected over period 8 years, argue newly proposed based holds potential be measure deciduous forests.