Article Allometric Equations for Estimating Tree Aboveground Biomass in Tropical Dipterocarp Forests of Vietnam Bao Huy 1,2, Krishna P. Poudel 2, Karin Kralicek 2, Nguyen Dinh Hung 3, Phung Van Khoa 4, Vu Tan Phương 5 and Hailemariam Temesgen 2,* 1 Department of Forest Resources and Environment Management, Tay Nguyen University, 567 Le Duan, Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak 630000, Vietnam;
[email protected] 2 Department of Forest Engineering, Resources and Management, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA;
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[email protected] (K.K.) 3 Forest Inventory and Planning Institute, Vinh Quynh, Thanh Tri, Ha Noi 100000, Vietnam;
[email protected] 4 Vietnam National University of Forestry, Xuan Mai, Chuong My, Ha Noi 100000, Vietnam;
[email protected] 5 Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Ðuc Thang, Bac Tu Liem, Ha Noi 100000, Vietnam;
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[email protected]; Tel.: +1-541-7378549; Fax: +1-541-7379126 Academic Editors: Shibu Jose and Timothy A. Martin Received: 23 May 2016; Accepted: 16 August 2016; Published: 22 August 2016 Abstract: There are few allometric equations available for dipterocarp forests, despite the fact that this forest type covers extensive areas in tropical Southeast Asia. This study aims to develop a set of equations to estimate tree aboveground biomass (AGB) in dipterocarp forests in Vietnam and to validate and compare their predictive performance with allometric equations used for dipterocarps in Indonesia and pantropical areas. Diameter at breast height (DBH), total tree height (H), and wood density (WD) were used as input variables of the nonlinear weighted least square models.