Harmonisation of stem volume estimates in European National Forest Inventories

Thomas Gschwantner; Iciar Alberdi; András  Balázs; Sébastien  Bauwens; Susann  Bender; Dragan  Borota; Michal  Bosela; Olivier  Bouriaud; Isabel  Cañellas; Jānis  Donis; Alexandra  Freudenschuß; Jean-Christophe  Hervé; David  Hladnik; Jurģis  Jansons; László  Kolozs; Kari T.  Korhonen; Milos  Kucera; Gintaras  Kulbokas; Andrius  Kuliešis; Adrian  Lanz; Philippe  Lejeune; Torgny  Lind; Gheorghe  Marin; François  Morneau; Dóra  Nagy; Thomas Nord-Larsen; Leónia  Nunes; Damjan  Pantić; Joana A.  Paulo; Tomas  Pikula; John  Redmond; Francisco C.  Rego; Thomas  Riedel; Laurent  Saint-André; Vladimír  Šebeň; Allan  Sims; Mitja  Skudnik; György  Solti; Stein M.  Tomter; Mark  Twomey; Bertil  Westerlund; Jürgen  Zell

doi:10.1007/s13595-019-0800-8

Harmonisation of stem volume estimates in European National Forest Inventories

Thomas Gschwantner, Iciar Alberdi, András Balázs, Sébastien Bauwens, Susann Bender, Dragan Borota, Michal Bosela, Olivier Bouriaud, Isabel Cañellas, Jānis Donis, Alexandra Freudenschuß, Jean-Christophe Hervé, David Hladnik, Jurģis Jansons, László Kolozs, Kari T. Korhonen, Milos Kucera, Gintaras Kulbokas, Andrius Kuliešis, Adrian LanzPhilippe Lejeune, Torgny Lind, Gheorghe Marin, François Morneau, Dóra Nagy, Thomas Nord-Larsen, Leónia Nunes, Damjan Pantić, Joana A. Paulo, Tomas Pikula, John Redmond, Francisco C. Rego, Thomas Riedel, Laurent Saint-André, Vladimír Šebeň, Allan Sims, Mitja Skudnik, György Solti, Stein M. Tomter, Mark Twomey, Bertil Westerlund, Jürgen Zell

Forest, Nature and Biomass

13 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

Key message: Volume predictions of sample trees are basic inputs for essential National Forest Inventory (NFI) estimates. The predicted volumes are rarely comparable among European NFIs because of country-specific dbh-thresholds and differences regarding the inclusion of the tree parts stump, stem top, and branches. Twenty-one European NFIs implemented harmonisation measures to provide consistent stem volume predictions for comparable forest resource estimates. Context: The harmonisation of forest information has become increasingly important. International programs and interest groups from the wood industry, energy, and environmental sectors require comparable information. European NFIs as primary source of forest information are well-placed to support policies and decision-making processes with harmonised estimates. Aims: The main objectives were to present the implementation of stem volume harmonisation by European NFIs, to obtain comparable growing stocks according to five reference definitions, and to compare the different results. Methods: The applied harmonisation approach identifies the deviations between country-level and common reference definitions. The deviations are minimised through country-specific bridging functions. Growing stocks were calculated from the un-harmonised, and harmonised stem volume estimates and comparisons were made. Results: The country-level growing stock results differ from the Cost Action E43 reference definition between − 8 and + 32%. Stumps and stem tops together account for 4 to 13% of stem volume, and large branches constitute 3 to 21% of broadleaved growing stock. Up to 6% of stem volume is allocated below the dbh-threshold. Conclusion: Comparable volume figures are available for the first time on a large-scale in Europe. The results indicate the importance of harmonisation for international forest statistics. The presented work contributes to the NFI harmonisation process in Europe in several ways regarding comparable NFI reporting and scenario modelling.

Original language	English
Article number	24
Journal	Annals of Forest Science
Volume	76
Number of pages	23
ISSN	1286-4560
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-019-0800-8
Publication status	Published - 1 Mar 2019

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Gschwantner, T., Alberdi, I., Balázs, A., Bauwens, S., Bender, S., Borota, D., Bosela, M., Bouriaud, O., Cañellas, I., Donis, J., Freudenschuß, A., Hervé, J.-C., Hladnik, D., Jansons, J., Kolozs, L., Korhonen, K. T., Kucera, M., Kulbokas, G., Kuliešis, A., ... Zell, J. (2019). Harmonisation of stem volume estimates in European National Forest Inventories. Annals of Forest Science, 76, Article 24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-019-0800-8

Gschwantner, T, Alberdi, I, Balázs, A, Bauwens, S, Bender, S, Borota, D, Bosela, M, Bouriaud, O, Cañellas, I, Donis, J, Freudenschuß, A, Hervé, J-C, Hladnik, D, Jansons, J, Kolozs, L, Korhonen, KT, Kucera, M, Kulbokas, G, Kuliešis, A, Lanz, A, Lejeune, P, Lind, T, Marin, G, Morneau, F, Nagy, D, Nord-Larsen, T, Nunes, L, Pantić, D, Paulo, JA, Pikula, T, Redmond, J, Rego, FC, Riedel, T, Saint-André, L, Šebeň, V, Sims, A, Skudnik, M, Solti, G, Tomter, SM, Twomey, M, Westerlund, B & Zell, J 2019, 'Harmonisation of stem volume estimates in European National Forest Inventories', Annals of Forest Science, vol. 76, 24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-019-0800-8

@article{4d5edc1282fe45df9f37af208f325460,

title = "Harmonisation of stem volume estimates in European National Forest Inventories",

abstract = "Key message: Volume predictions of sample trees are basic inputs for essential National Forest Inventory (NFI) estimates. The predicted volumes are rarely comparable among European NFIs because of country-specific dbh-thresholds and differences regarding the inclusion of the tree parts stump, stem top, and branches. Twenty-one European NFIs implemented harmonisation measures to provide consistent stem volume predictions for comparable forest resource estimates. Context: The harmonisation of forest information has become increasingly important. International programs and interest groups from the wood industry, energy, and environmental sectors require comparable information. European NFIs as primary source of forest information are well-placed to support policies and decision-making processes with harmonised estimates. Aims: The main objectives were to present the implementation of stem volume harmonisation by European NFIs, to obtain comparable growing stocks according to five reference definitions, and to compare the different results. Methods: The applied harmonisation approach identifies the deviations between country-level and common reference definitions. The deviations are minimised through country-specific bridging functions. Growing stocks were calculated from the un-harmonised, and harmonised stem volume estimates and comparisons were made. Results: The country-level growing stock results differ from the Cost Action E43 reference definition between − 8 and + 32%. Stumps and stem tops together account for 4 to 13% of stem volume, and large branches constitute 3 to 21% of broadleaved growing stock. Up to 6% of stem volume is allocated below the dbh-threshold. Conclusion: Comparable volume figures are available for the first time on a large-scale in Europe. The results indicate the importance of harmonisation for international forest statistics. The presented work contributes to the NFI harmonisation process in Europe in several ways regarding comparable NFI reporting and scenario modelling.",

author = "Thomas Gschwantner and Iciar Alberdi and Andr{\'a}s Bal{\'a}zs and S{\'e}bastien Bauwens and Susann Bender and Dragan Borota and Michal Bosela and Olivier Bouriaud and Isabel Ca{\~n}ellas and Jānis Donis and Alexandra Freudenschu{\ss} and Jean-Christophe Herv{\'e} and David Hladnik and Jurģis Jansons and L{\'a}szl{\'o} Kolozs and Korhonen, {Kari T.} and Milos Kucera and Gintaras Kulbokas and Andrius Kulie{\v s}is and Adrian Lanz and Philippe Lejeune and Torgny Lind and Gheorghe Marin and Fran{\c c}ois Morneau and D{\'o}ra Nagy and Thomas Nord-Larsen and Le{\'o}nia Nunes and Damjan Panti{\'c} and Paulo, {Joana A.} and Tomas Pikula and John Redmond and Rego, {Francisco C.} and Thomas Riedel and Laurent Saint-Andr{\'e} and Vladim{\'i}r {\v S}ebe{\v n} and Allan Sims and Mitja Skudnik and Gy{\"o}rgy Solti and Tomter, {Stein M.} and Mark Twomey and Bertil Westerlund and J{\"u}rgen Zell",

year = "2019",

month = mar,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1007/s13595-019-0800-8",

language = "English",

volume = "76",

journal = "Annals of Forest Science",

issn = "1286-4560",

publisher = "Springer-Verlag France",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Harmonisation of stem volume estimates in European National Forest Inventories

AU - Gschwantner, Thomas

AU - Alberdi, Iciar

AU - Balázs, András

AU - Bauwens, Sébastien

AU - Bender, Susann

AU - Borota, Dragan

AU - Bosela, Michal

AU - Bouriaud, Olivier

AU - Cañellas, Isabel

AU - Donis, Jānis

AU - Freudenschuß, Alexandra

AU - Hervé, Jean-Christophe

AU - Hladnik, David

AU - Jansons, Jurģis

AU - Kolozs, László

AU - Korhonen, Kari T.

AU - Kucera, Milos

AU - Kulbokas, Gintaras

AU - Kuliešis, Andrius

AU - Lanz, Adrian

AU - Lejeune, Philippe

AU - Lind, Torgny

AU - Marin, Gheorghe

AU - Morneau, François

AU - Nagy, Dóra

AU - Nord-Larsen, Thomas

AU - Nunes, Leónia

AU - Pantić, Damjan

AU - Paulo, Joana A.

AU - Pikula, Tomas

AU - Redmond, John

AU - Rego, Francisco C.

AU - Riedel, Thomas

AU - Saint-André, Laurent

AU - Šebeň, Vladimír

AU - Sims, Allan

AU - Skudnik, Mitja

AU - Solti, György

AU - Tomter, Stein M.

AU - Twomey, Mark

AU - Westerlund, Bertil

AU - Zell, Jürgen

PY - 2019/3/1

Y1 - 2019/3/1

N2 - Key message: Volume predictions of sample trees are basic inputs for essential National Forest Inventory (NFI) estimates. The predicted volumes are rarely comparable among European NFIs because of country-specific dbh-thresholds and differences regarding the inclusion of the tree parts stump, stem top, and branches. Twenty-one European NFIs implemented harmonisation measures to provide consistent stem volume predictions for comparable forest resource estimates. Context: The harmonisation of forest information has become increasingly important. International programs and interest groups from the wood industry, energy, and environmental sectors require comparable information. European NFIs as primary source of forest information are well-placed to support policies and decision-making processes with harmonised estimates. Aims: The main objectives were to present the implementation of stem volume harmonisation by European NFIs, to obtain comparable growing stocks according to five reference definitions, and to compare the different results. Methods: The applied harmonisation approach identifies the deviations between country-level and common reference definitions. The deviations are minimised through country-specific bridging functions. Growing stocks were calculated from the un-harmonised, and harmonised stem volume estimates and comparisons were made. Results: The country-level growing stock results differ from the Cost Action E43 reference definition between − 8 and + 32%. Stumps and stem tops together account for 4 to 13% of stem volume, and large branches constitute 3 to 21% of broadleaved growing stock. Up to 6% of stem volume is allocated below the dbh-threshold. Conclusion: Comparable volume figures are available for the first time on a large-scale in Europe. The results indicate the importance of harmonisation for international forest statistics. The presented work contributes to the NFI harmonisation process in Europe in several ways regarding comparable NFI reporting and scenario modelling.

AB - Key message: Volume predictions of sample trees are basic inputs for essential National Forest Inventory (NFI) estimates. The predicted volumes are rarely comparable among European NFIs because of country-specific dbh-thresholds and differences regarding the inclusion of the tree parts stump, stem top, and branches. Twenty-one European NFIs implemented harmonisation measures to provide consistent stem volume predictions for comparable forest resource estimates. Context: The harmonisation of forest information has become increasingly important. International programs and interest groups from the wood industry, energy, and environmental sectors require comparable information. European NFIs as primary source of forest information are well-placed to support policies and decision-making processes with harmonised estimates. Aims: The main objectives were to present the implementation of stem volume harmonisation by European NFIs, to obtain comparable growing stocks according to five reference definitions, and to compare the different results. Methods: The applied harmonisation approach identifies the deviations between country-level and common reference definitions. The deviations are minimised through country-specific bridging functions. Growing stocks were calculated from the un-harmonised, and harmonised stem volume estimates and comparisons were made. Results: The country-level growing stock results differ from the Cost Action E43 reference definition between − 8 and + 32%. Stumps and stem tops together account for 4 to 13% of stem volume, and large branches constitute 3 to 21% of broadleaved growing stock. Up to 6% of stem volume is allocated below the dbh-threshold. Conclusion: Comparable volume figures are available for the first time on a large-scale in Europe. The results indicate the importance of harmonisation for international forest statistics. The presented work contributes to the NFI harmonisation process in Europe in several ways regarding comparable NFI reporting and scenario modelling.

U2 - 10.1007/s13595-019-0800-8

DO - 10.1007/s13595-019-0800-8

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1286-4560

VL - 76

JO - Annals of Forest Science

JF - Annals of Forest Science

M1 - 24

ER -

Harmonisation of stem volume estimates in European National Forest Inventories

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