ALCES© is a fast user-friendly landscape simulator that enables resource managers, society, and the scientific community to explore and quantify dynamic landscapes subjected to single or multiple human landuse practices. ALCES assists resource managers in identifying environmental and industrial problems and in discovering mitigation strategies for issues related to flows of natural resources. ALCES can be run for relatively small landscapes (for example, a quarter-section) or for large regional landscapes of millions of hectares.

Numerous landscapes are undergoing rapid transformation in response to multiple overlapping landuses that include forestry, agriculture, mining, the energy and transportation sectors, and the footprints associated with humans (cities, towns, acreages). Collectively, these landuse trajectories can compromise ecological services (air, water, wildlife) and can lead to reduced sustainability of natural resource production (for example, shortages of merchantable wood). ALCES provides its users with a fast strategic simulator that explores ecological and industrial risk associated with different development trajectories and identifies mitigation strategies that minimize adverse effects.

The ALCES Discussion Group is intended primarily for clients of Forem Technologies who are currently running ALCES. Within these pages members may pose questions, describe problems and suggest improvements concerning the ALCES program. All members are strongly encouraged to reply to posted messages that they may be able to answer. Members of Forem Technologies will also be active in replying to messages posted.