FTB 201 FOREST INVENTORY AND BIOMETRY (1+1) Theory Forest inventory – objectives – kinds of enumeration – random and non random samplings – sampling design – size and shape of sampling unit – sampling intensity – errors in inventory – conduct of enumeration – total, linear, strip and partial enumeration – line plot surveys – point sampling – use of horizontal point sampling – instruments used – non sampling errors – vertical point sampling Determination of age of trees – age of standing tree – age of felled trees – determination of growth of trees – objectives – kinds of growth – determination of increment of trees with annual rings – without rings – mean annual increment (MAI), current annual increment (CAI) and the relation between the two – increment per cent and formulae used – characteristic curves for diameter, basal area, height, form and volume growth. Measurement of crops – determination of diameter, height, age and volume of crops – sample plots and methods of volume measurement - Estimation of growth and yield of stands – stand structure – growth of stand – methods of determining past and future growth – stand density – canopy density – site quality – fractional quality – yield tables kinds, preparation and use – stand table – stand volume table. Practical Determination of age trees in standing trees by occular and other methods – age of felled tree with annual rings – estimation of CAI and MAI for a few species like Eucalyptus, teak, Ailanthus – calculation of increment per cent by different methods – stump and stem analysis – determination of diameter, height, age and volume of crops – random sampling – different methods – non random sampling – exercise in linear strip enumeration – exercise in horizontal point sampling using different instrument – exercise in vertical point sampling – estimating canopy density – estimating site quality by different methods – estimating fractional quality – determination of increment of stands using yield tables – preparation of money yield table. Lecture Schedule 1. Forest inventory – kinds of enumeration – kinds of sampling. - Sampling design, size and shape of sampling units – sampling intensity. 2. Point sampling – horizontal point sampling – concept – proof of underlying principle – use. 3. Instruments used in point sampling – wedge prism – Spiegel Relaskop – Tele Relaskop – determination of volume of stands – non sampling errors in horizontal point sampling – vertical point sampling. 4. Determination of age of standing trees – different methods – determination of age of felled trees with annual rings and trees without rings. 5. Growth of trees - determination and objectives – classification of increment. 6. CAI and MAI and their relationship – increment per cent and formulae for estimating the same. 7. Determination of growth of trees - Stump analysis – stump analysis curves. 8. Determination of growth of trees - Stem analysis – age – computation of age – mean diameter for decades, mean volume for decades and bark thickness. 9. Mid Semester Examination 10. Increment boring – increment in trees without rings. 11. Measurement of crops – Determination of diameter, height, age and volume of crops 12. Sample plots – selection, number, shape, size and layout of measurement of sample plots by different methods. 13. Stand structure – growth of stand – methods of determining past and future growth. 14. Stand density – canopy density 15. Site quality – different methods of assessing site quality – fractional quality. 16. Yield table – definition – contents – kinds and preparation of yield tables. 17. Application and uses of yield tables – stand table – definition – objectives and application – stand volume table. Practical Schedule 1. Random sampling – exercise in multistage sampling – non-random sampling – exercise in systematic sampling. 2. Determination of age of standing trees 3. Calculation of MAI and CAI for Eucalyptus, teak and Casuarina 4. Solving problems on increment per cent using different formulae. 5. Stump analysis and construction of stump analysis curves. 6. Exercise in stem analysis - Construction of stem analysis curves. 7. Stem analysis contd. 8. Estimation of crop diameter and crop height 9. Volume measurements in sample plots using Hossfelds, Hartig’s and Block’s methods 10. Exercise in linear strip enumerations 11. Exercise in horizontal point sampling using wedge prism 12. Exercise in horizontal point sampling using Spiegel Relaskop 13. Estimating the canopy density for a few tree species like teak, tamarind and Neem 14. Estimation of site quality – site index curves 15. Exercise in the preparation of yield table 16. Exercise in the preparation of money yield table 17. Final Practical Examination Assignment 1. Determination of growth of trees with annual rings 2. Yield tables for few commercially important tree species 3. Basal area estimation for few trees 4. Forest inventory and yield prediction References Avery, T.E. 1967. Forest measurements. Mc Graw – Hill Book Company, New York, 290 p. Bruce, D. and Schumacker F.1980. Forest Mensuration. McGraw Hill Book Company, New York. Chaturvedi, A.N. and Khanna, L.S. 1982. Forest Mensuration. International Book Distributors, Dehra Dun. Hamilton, G.J. 1988. Forest Mensuration. Hand Book. Forestry Commission Booklet No. 39. Jerram, M.R.K. 1980. Elementary Forest Mensuration. Maslekar, A.R. 1990. Foresters Companion. Jugal Kishore and Co. (Pub.Divn.), Dehra Dun. P.603. Negi, S.S., Hand Book of Forestry. Pieter, G.de Vries, 1986. Sampling theory for forest Inventory. Springer - Verlag Berlin Heidellery. P. 399. Websites 1. www.fbmis.info 2. www.und-forest.gwdg.de/forst/fbi.e 3. forestry.msn.edn/faculty 4. www.fia.fs.fed.us 5. www.geo.unizh.ch/rsl/services FTB 201 FOREST INVENTORY AND BIOMETRY (1+1) DEFINITION Questionnaire of Forest Inventory published by F.A.O. described forests as all lands bearing a vegetative association dominated by trees of any size, exploited or not, capable of producing wood or other products, of exerting an influence on the climate or on the water regime, or providing shelter for live stock and wild life. Forest, therefore, means an area which fulfills the required criteria. ‘Inventory’ is originally, a commercial term meaning the record showing the quantity and value of articles in a store. The forest inventory therefore has to necessarily provide information about the size and shape of the area and the qualitative and/or quantitative information of the growing stock. Loetsch and Haller (46) define the term forest inventory as follows: “Forest Inventory is the tabulated, reliable and satisfactory tree information, related to the required unit, respectively units, of assessment in hierarchic order”. In a sense, forest inventory is an attempt to describe quantity, quality, diameter distribution of forest trees and many of the characteristics of land upon which the trees are growing. It is synonymous with the term ‘Cruse’ used in North America or the term ‘Enumeration’ used in India. Forests, define enumeration as the counting, singly or together, of individuals of one or more species in a forest crop and their classification by species, size, condition, etc. With the increasing importance of forest areas for non-wood values such as recreation, watershed management, wild life, etc., the concept of forest inventory has widened. Regular inventories are now made about the number of tigers, elephants, rhinoceros and other threatened species of wild life. Recently, an inventory was made regarding the rare plant species growing in silent valley in Kerala to decide if the forest could be cleared for a river valley project. In the cases where non-timber information is to be compiled it is essential that specialists in these allied fields, work in cooperation with the inventory specialists, in planning and executing the inventory. OBJECT As far as the timber inventories (or enumerations) are concerned, the main object is to determine volume of timber growing in the forest with a view to determine the yield. Less frequently, hey are required for assessing the value for purposes of the sale of exchange or for estimating the return to be expected from clear-felled coupes. They are also required for determining the current periodic annual increment and lastly they may be carried out to prepare map of the area showing regions of high or low volume production per unit of area to help decision making in setting up of industries. In short, the object of forest inventories is to supply information for forest management and planning and for pre-investment decision on forest industry establishment or expansion. These are also required to assess the feasibility of a project from economic, social or any other considerations. KINDS OF ENUMERATION Enumerations are of the following main kinds: (i) Total or Complete; (ii) Partial or Sample (i) Total or complete enumeration means that enumeration of the desired species above the specified diameter limit is carried out over the entire area of the forest unit under consideration. Being expensive and time consuming, it is done in comparatively smaller areas of valuable and intensively managed forests where maximum possible accuracy is desired in the estimate, viz., P.B.I. areas of uniform or other shelterwood systems. Total enumeration is also done in case of miscellaneous forests where the number of species is very large or the species of economic importance form a small portion and are confined only to favourable localities. Total enumeration is also carried out for