Traditionally the purpose of National Forest Inventories (NFIs) has been to provide continuously updated information regarding the state of a given nation's forest resources, including their timber volumes, species composition and sustainable development. But with increased international reporting requirements – to the FAO, the ITTO, the UN's Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Ministerial Conference Protecting Forest in Europe and other international bodies – the potential role of how NFIs can accurately respond to these requirements has received some considerable attention.
Addressing the issue of how well countries are able to respond to current international reporting requirements, National Forest Inventories discusses the importance of comparable reporting, and the possible approaches for achieving comparability across Europe and globally. It includes country status reports from 37 countries worldwide, and it discusses methodologies and techniques for a common reporting system.
Preface
Acknowledgements
List of Abbreviations
1. Introduction; E. Tomppo et al.
1.1 History of NFIs
1.2 Uses of NFI data
1.2.1 The use of NFI for national forestry and environment planning and policy
1.2.2 The use of NFI data for international reporting
1.3 Harmonising forest resource information
1.4 Objectives and overview of COST Action E43
1.4.1 Structure and detailed objectives of COST Action E4
1.4.2 Participating countries and institutions
1.4.3 The approach taken
1.4.4 The primary benefits of COST Action E4
1.5 COST Action E43 contributions and the structure of the book
References
2. Comparison of National Forest Inventories; M. Lawrence et al.
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Diversity in definitions
2.2.1 Forest area
2.2.2 Growing stock volume
2.3 Diversity of sampling designs
2.4 Diversity of sample plot configurations
2.5 Diversity of increment and drain
2.6 Error estimation
2.7 Use of COST Action E43 reference definitions in country NFIs
2.8 Discussion
References
3. National Forest Inventories: Prospects for Harmonised International Reporting; R.E. McRoberts et al.
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Standardisation or harmonisation
3.3 Constructing reference definitions
3.4 Constructing bridges
3.4.1 An expansive bridge for forest area
3.4.2 A neutral bridge for forest type classification in Italy
3.4.3 An expansive bridge for above-ground biomass
3.4.4 A reductive bridge for forest structural diversity
3.5 Summary
References
4. Summary of Accomplishments; E. Tomppo et al.
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Reference definitions and the comparability of definitions
4.3 Bridges for converting estimates
4.4 National forest inventories and harmonisation of reporting
4.4.1 Harmonised forest resources reporting
4.4.2 Harmonised greenhouse gas reporting
4.4.3 Harmonised biodiversity reporting
4.5 Knowledge sharing to support future work
References
National Forest Inventories Reports
1. Austria; T. Gschwantner et al.
1.1 Development of the Austrian National Forest Inventory
1.2 The use and users of the results
1.3 Current estimates
1.4 Sampling design
1.5 Estimation techniques
1.6 Options for estimates based on reference definitions
1.7 Current and future prospects
References
2. Belgium (Walloon Region); J. Rondeux et al.
2.1 Development of the regional forest inventory (RFI) in Wallonia
2.2 The use and users of the results
2.3 Current estimates
2.4 Sampling design
2.5 Estimation techniques and data processing
2.6 Options for estimates based on reference definitions
2.7 Current and future prospects
2.8 Cost Action E43 and its influence on RFI
References
3. Brazil; J. Freitas et al.
3.1 Development of the national forest inventory of Brazil
3.2 The uses and users of the results
3.3 Methodological framework
3.4 NFI associated programs
3.5 Institutional framework and strategies for implementation
3.6 Future prospects
References
4. Canada; M.D. Gillis et al.
4.1 Development of Canada's National Forest Inventory
4.2 The uses and users of the results
4.3 Design of Canada's National Forest Inventory
4.4 Estimation techniques
4.5 Governance
4.6 Future prospects
References
5. China; X. Lei et al.
5.1 Development of China's National Forest Inventory
5.2 The use and users of the results
5.3 Current estimates
5.4 Sampling design
5.5 Estimation techniques
5.6 Options for estimates based on reference definitions
5.7 Current and future prospective
References
6. Croatia; M. Vedris et al.
6.1 Introduction
6.2 History of Forest Inventory in Croatia
6.3 Development of the Croatian National Forest Inventory
6.4 Sampling design
6.5 Estimation techniques
6.6 Data management and reporting
References
7. Cyprus; L. Loizou
7.1 Development of forest inventories in Cyprus
7.2 The use and the users of the results
7.3 Current estimates
7.4 Sampling design
References
8. Czech Republic; M. Cerny et al.
8.1 Development of the Czech National Forest Inventory
8.2 The use and users of the results
8.3 Current estimates
8.4 Sampling design
8.5 Management
8.6 Estimation procedures
8.7 Harmonized estimates
8.8 Current status and future prospects
References
9. Denmark; A. Bastrup-Birk et al.
9.1 Development of the National Forest Inventory of Denmark
9.2 The use and the users of the results
9.3 Current estimates
9.4 Sampling design
9.5 Estimation techniques
References
10. Estonia; V. Adermann
10.1 Development of Estonian National Forest Inventory
10.2 The use and users of the results
10.3 Current estimates
10.4 Sampling design
10.5 Estimation techniques
10.6 Options for harmonized reporting
10.7 Reporting and prospects
References
11. Finland; E. Tomppo, T. Tuomainen
11.1 Development of Finland's National Forest Inventory
11.2 The use ad users of the results
11.3 Current estimates
11.4 Sampling design and field measurements
11.5 Estimation Techniques
11.6 Options for harmonized reporting
11.7 Current and future prospects
11.8 The influence of COST Action E43 and related projects
References
12. France; N. Robert et al.
12.1 Development of France's National Forest Inventory
12.2 The use and users of the results
12.3 Current estimates
12.4 Sampling design
12.5 Estimation techniques
12.6 Options for harmonized reporting
12.7 Current and future prospects
References
13. Germany; H. Polley et al.
13.1 Development of the German National Forest Inventory
13.2 The use and users of the results
13.3 Current estimates
13.4 Sampling design
13.5 Management
13.6 Estimation techniques
13.7 Options for harmonized reporting
13.8 Options for estimates based on reference definitions
13.9 Current and future prospects
References
14. Great Britain; M. Lawrence, G. Bull
14.1 Development of the Great Britain's National Forest Inventory
14.2 The use and users of the results
14.3 Current estimates
14.4 Sampling design
14.5 Management
14.6 Estimation techniques
14.7 Options for harmonized reporting
14.8 Current and future prospects
References
15. Greece; I. Meliadis et al.
15.1 Development of the Greek National Forest Inventory
15.2 General use of the results
15.3 Current estimates
15.4 Sampling design
15.5 Estimation techniques
15.6 Current and future prospects
References
16. Hungary; L. Kolozs, A. Szepesi
16.1 Development of the Hungarian National Forest Inventory
16.2 The use and users of the results
16.3 Current estimates
16.4 Sampling design
16.5 Estimation techniques
16.6 Options for harmonized reporting
16.7 Current and future prospects
References
17. Iceland; A. Snorrason
17.1 Development of Iceland's National Forest Inventory
17.2 The use and users of the results
17.3 Current estimates
17.4 Sampling design
17.5 Estimation techniques
17.6 Options for harmonized reporting
17.7 Future prospects
References
18. Ireland; C. O'Donovan, J. Redmond
18.1 Development of the Irish National Forest Inventory
18.2 The use and users of the results
18.3 Current estimates
18.4 Sampling design
18.5 Estimation techniques
18.6 Options for harmonized reporting
18.7 Future prospects
18.8 Influence of COST Action E43
References
19. Italy; P. Gasparini et al.
19.1 Development of the Italian National Forest Inventory
19.2 The use and users of the results
19.3 Current estimates
19.4 Sampling design
19.5 Management
19.6 Estimation techniques
19.7 Options for harmonized reporting
19.8 Future prospects
References
20. Japan; Y. Hirata et al.
20.1 Introduction
20.2 Forest inventory under the Forest Planning System
20.3 Forest Resources Monitoring Survey
20.4 International reporting
References
21. Latvia; J. Jansons, I. Licite
21.1 Development of Latvia's National Forest Inventory
21.2 The use and users of the results
21.3 Definitions of forest and growing stock
21.4 Sampling design
21.5 Estimation techniques
References
22. Lithuania; A. Kuliesis et al.
22.1 Development of the Lithuanian National Forest Inventory
22.2 The use and users of the results
22.3 Current estimates
22.4 Sampling design
22.5 Estimation techniques
22.6 Options for estimates based on reference definitions
22.7 Current and future prospects
22.8 Implementation of COST Action E43 results
References
23. Luxembourg; J. Rondeux, M. Wagner
23.1 Development of the national forest inventory in Luxembourg
23.2 The use and users of the results
23.3 Current estimates
23.4 Sampling design
23.5 Estimation techniques
23.6 Data processing and analysis
23.7 Current and future prospects
References
24. The Netherlands; W.P. Daamen, G.M. Dirkse
24.1 Development of the Netherlands national forest inventory
24.2 Sampling design of NFI5
24.3 Options for harmonized reporting
References
25. New Zealand; P.N. Beets et al.
25.1 Development of New Zealand's National Forest Inventory
25.2 Uses and users of NFI information
25.3 Current estimates
25.4 Sampling design
25.5 Estimation techniques
25.6 Options for estimates based on reference definitions
25.7 Current and future prospective
25.8 Influence of COST Action E43
References
26. Norway; S.M. Tomter et al.
26.1 Development of Norway's National Forest Inventory
26.2 The use and users of the results
26.3 Current estimates
26.4 Sampling design
26.5 Estimation techniques
26.6 Options for estimates based on reference definitions
26.7 Future prospects
26.8 The influence of COST Action E43 and related projects
References
27. Poland; R. Michalak, S. Zajaczkowski
27.1 Introduction
27.2 The use and users of the results
27.3 Sampling design of the new NFI
27.4 Management
27.5 Integration of the NFI and forest monitoring
References
28. Portugal; S. Barreiro et al.
28.1 Development of Portugal's National Forest Inventory
28.2 The use and users of NFI results
28.3 Design of the present NFI5
28.4 Estimation techniques
28.5 Current and future prospective
28.6 Options for estimates based on reference definitions
28.7 The influence of COST Action E43 and related projects
References
Appendix 28.1
29. The Republic of Korea; S.-H. Kim et al.
29.1 Development of the national forest inventory of Korea
29.2 The uses and users of the results
29.3 Current estimates
29.4 Sampling design
29.5 Management
29.6 Future prospects
References
30. Romania; G. Marin et al.
30.1 Development of Romania's National Forest Inventory
30.2 The use of the NFI information
30.3 Current definitions
30.4 Sampling design
30.5 Management
30.6 Estimation techniques
30.7 Current and future prospects
References
31. Russian Federation; O.N. Solontsov
31.1 Development of the Russian National Forest Inventory
31.2 The use and users of the results
31.3 Sampling design and methodology
31.4 Management
31.5 Current status and future perspective
References
32. Slovak Republic; M. Moravcik et al.
32.1 Slovakia's National Forest Inventory
32.2 The use and users of the results
32.3 Current estimates
32.4 Sampling design
32.5 Data processing
32.6 Structure of outputs
32.7 Information system
32.8 Conclusions
References
33. Slovenia; G. Kusar et al.
33.1 Development of forest inventories in Slovenia
33.2 The use and users of the 2007 FECS results
33.3 Current estimates
33.4 National Forest Inventory - the 2007 FECS
33.5 Estimation techniques
33.6 Current and future prospects
33.7 COST Action E43 effects on the 2007 FECS
Acknowledgements
References
34. Spain; I. Alberdi Asensio et al.
34.1 Development of Spain's National Forest Inventory
34.2 The use and users of the results
34.3 Current estimates
34.4 Sampling design
34.5 Estimation techniques
34.6 Options for harmonized reporting
34.7 Current and future prospects
References
35. Sweden; A.-L. Axelsson et al.
35.1 Development of Sweden's National Forest Inventory
35.2 Uses and users of NFI information
35.3 Current estimates
35.4 Sampling design
35.5 Estimation
35.6 Options for harmonized reporting
35.7 Current and future prospects
35.8 Influence of COST Action E43 on Swedish NFI
References
36. Switzerland; A. Lanz et al.
36.1 Development of Switzerland's National Forest Inventory
36.2 The use and users of the result
36.3 Current estimates
36.4 Sampling design
36.5 Estimation techniques
36.6 Options for harmonized reporting
36.7 Current and future prospects
References
37. United States of America (USA); R.E. McRoberts et al.
37.1 Development of the national forest inventory of the USA
37.2 The uses and users of the results
37.3 Current estimates
37.4 Sampling design
37.5 Estimation techniques
37.6 Harmonization
37.7 Future prospects
References