Claude A. Vidal

National Forest Inventories: Prospects for Harmonised International Reporting

Despite the important differences in inventory estimates resulting from the use of different national definitions, variables, and variable thresholds, prospects for developing procedures leading to compatible estimates amongst countries are generally positive. Analyses of national definitions and responses to questionnaires distributed by COST Action E43 indicate that definitions tend to be based on the same rather small set of inventory variables. For example, national definitions of forest all focus on minimum area, minimum cover, minimum width, and minimum height, although the thresholds for these variables differ considerably among countries (Vidal et al. 2008). Important differences among these national definitions relate mostly to kinds of lands with tree cover that are considered forest for reporting purposes: for example, managed versus unmanaged forest land, inclusion or exclusion of forested park and leisure lands, inclusion or exclusion of forest lands whose tree cover consists primarily of non-native species, and inclusion or exclusion of permanently non-stocked areas within forest land (Cienciala et al. 2008).

The role of European National Forest Inventories for international forestry reporting

Key messageDespite agreements on definitions, the national data provided for international reporting are lacking comparability. To address this limitation the European National Forest Inventory Network has established criteria to harmonise definitions and to provide tools to transform national data into internationally comparable data.ContextForest reporting presents a series of challenges for countries, owing to diverse processes at international level such as the Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA), Convention on Biological Diversity, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol. Further challenges are faced at European level with Forest Europe and policy needs.AimsThe aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the national and international forest reporting processes and of the role of the National Forest Inventories (NFIs) and the long-associated challenges resulting from a lack of comparability in definitions used. In addition, there is a discussion on the role of the European National Forest Inventory Network (ENFIN) as a facilitator for enhancing harmonization and comparability of national data and the ancillary information required to monitor European forestry-related policies.MethodsNFIs take part to international reporting processes as providers of information. They are correspondent to the FRA process, and then they know very well the context of harmonization. Participating in the ENFIN research projects, NFIs, and particularly authors, conducted a screening exercise on harmonization status at European and World level.ResultsThis review article is a synthesis of the main findings of the abovementioned screening exercise. It highlights the main gaps in terms of comparability of result in international reporting. Thanks to ENFIN harmonization research project, it gives same ways of working as a possible benchmark for the rest of the world.ConclusionBased on the international reporting exercises, their interactions, and impacts on new forestry policy requirements, the need for a strengthened harmonization process can clearly be demonstrated. Due to European policy needs, research work within ENFIN has been initiated to develop tools for building comparable results at international level. This work is an important benchmark particularly for countries outside Europe from which to base future harmonization work.

Comparison of methods used in European National Forest Inventories for the estimation of volume increment: towards harmonisation

Key messageThe increment estimation methods of European NFIs were explored by means of 12 essential NFI features. The results indicate various differences among NFIs within the commonly acknowledged methodological frame. The perspectives for harmonisation at the European level are promising.ContextThe estimation of increment is implemented differently in European National Forest Inventories (NFIs) due to different historical origins of NFIs and sampling designs and field assessments accommodated to country-specific conditions. The aspired harmonisation of increment estimation requires a comparison and an analysis of NFI methods.AimsThe objective was to investigate the differences in volume increment estimation methods used in European NFIs. The conducted work shall set a basis for harmonisation at the European level which is needed to improve information on forest resources for various strategic processes.MethodsA comprehensive enquiry was conducted during Cost Action FP1001 to explore the methods of increment estimation of 29 European NFIs. The enquiry built upon the preceding Cost Action E43 and was complemented by an analysis of literature to demonstrate the methodological backgrounds.ResultsThe comparison of methods revealed differences concerning the NFI features such as sampling grids, periodicity of assessments, permanent and temporary plots, use of remote sensing, sample tree selection, components of forest growth, forest area changes, sampling thresholds, field measurements, drain assessment, involved models and tree parts included in estimates.ConclusionIncrement estimation methods differ considerably among European NFIs. Their harmonisation introduces new issues into the harmonisation process. Recent accomplishments and the increased use of sample-based inventories in Europe make perspectives for harmonised reporting of increment estimation promising.

From inventory to consumer biomass availability—the ITOC model

Key message The application of the ITOC model allows the estimation of available biomass potentials from forests on the basis of National Forest Inventory data. The adaptation of the model to country-specific situations gives the possibility to further enhance the model calculations.ContextWith the rising demand for energy from renewable sources, up-to-date information about the available amount of biomass on a sustainable basis coming from forests became of interest to a wide group of stakeholders. The complexity of answering the question about amounts of biomass potentials from forests thereby increases from the regional to the European level.AimsThe described ITOC model aims at providing a tool to develop a comparable data basis for the actual biomass potentials for consumption.MethodsThe ITOC model uses a harmonized net annual increment from the National Forest Inventories as a default value for the potential harvestable volume of timber. The model then calculates the total theoretical potential of biomass resources from forests. By accounting for harvesting restrictions and losses, the theoretical potential of biomass resources from forests is reduced and the actual biomass potentials for consumption estimated.ResultsThe results from ITOC model calculations account for the difference between the amounts of wood measured in the forests and the actual biomass potentials which might be available for consumption under the model assumptions.ConclusionThe gap between forest resource assessments and biomass potentials which are available for consumption can be addressed by using the ITOC model calculation results.

Harmonisation of Data and Information on the Potential Supply of Wood Resources

The main objective of COST Action Usewood was to improve and harmonise data and information from National Forest Inventories (NFIs) on the potential supply of wood resources at European level considering the actual extent. This will improve the quality of data available to describe wood resources and possible wood uses. Such high quality information could be used for future scenario modelling and help inform political decision making for the renewable energy sector. The harmonisation of NFIs is based on reference definitions. Four different topics in terms of wood supply are covered and described in this chapter: forest available for wood supply, change estimation, stem quality, other wooded land and trees outside forest. These definitions will enable data comparison between countries and consequently, this will imply a transparent, comprehensive and robust information for decision-making.

Comparison of Wood Resource Assessment in National Forest Inventories

The collection of information on the approaches of wood resources assessment was essential to provide background details necessary to meet the objectives of COST Action Usewood. This chapter describes the processes that were used by COST Action Usewood to review the wood resource assessment methods used in NFI’s and gives an insight into the differences and similarities of definitions and methods applied by European NFIs. To address the specific objectives of COST Action Usewood, the activities of WG1 were organised into four sub-groups that would comprehensively describe the assessment of wood resources. The four sub-groups dealt with the topics of; Forest Available for Wood Supply, Stem Quality, Change Estimation and Other Wooded Land and Trees Outside Forest. The information provided through questionnaires and country reports provided the raw materials required to understand the differences between the definitions and components that make up the definitions that are applied nationally by the various NFIs. Results from the four sub-groups are presented outlining the diversity and similarities among the assessment of wood resources between countries.

Wood Resources Assessment Beyond Europe

Since woody biomass is an important renewable energy source and plays a decisive role in mitigating the effects of climate change the issue of the availability of wood is emerging as a relevant post-Kyoto decision. Accordingly, from a national to a global scale, production of better information on the quantities of wood available has turned out to be of importance for assessing sustainable management decisions in forest policy formulations. Additionally, the majority of these agreements require substantial amounts of harmonised, comparable and accurate information from the parties to assess overall progress, compliance with obligations, as well as to determine the next steps of the agreements. This chapter summarises the diversity of sampling methods, definitions and wood resource assessments (focused on forest available for wood supply, stem quality, change estimation and other wooded land and trees outside forest), for twelve NFIs outside Europe (Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Ecuador, Japan, New Zealand, Peru, Russia, South Korea and the US) that contributed to this book. Then, the differences and similarities among them and the European countries are discussed. The analyses provide a global overview of the current state of the potential harmonised assessment of wood availability and use.