Edge Trees – An Important Consideration for Forest Inventory

When comparing edge trees with “normal” trees (found inside a stand) it becomes obvious they can be significantly different.  A generalisation is often that edge trees are shorter and fatter (greater taper) and also tend to have large branching. An edge tree therefore represents approx. 30-50% less value than a normal tree. It is therefore important to include these in the inventory planning component. If ignored a systematic error/bias is introduced (Gregoire, 1982). Overall grade/log product mix, stocking (SPH), basal area (BA) and volume (standing and recoverable) will be biased, eventually effecting forest/woodlot value.

The impact of the value loss along the edge is obviously related to the severity of the edge effect and the amount of exposure to its surrounding environment.   Therefore changing its effect on the tree due to stem defects (large branching, forking, lean and sweep).

Value loss also occurs due to overestimating stocking density and basal area (Ducey et al, 2004) since when assuming net stocked area (NSA) the edge of the canopy is used as a mapping feature.  Usually, 2-3m meter is used to represent the drip line from the edge of the canopy to the ground. This assumption seems reasonable for edges within forests but for forest edges next to open land, the drip line may be larger i.e. 5-12m due to full light and wind exposure (Figure 1).   So when providing guidance in your forest inventory procedures it is often wise to consider 3 types of edges:

The combined effect of forest edges will have a negative effect any volume reconciliation especially as it relates to forest value.   This can be large for small woodlots / stands in particular.

Figure 1 – Edge effect and the effect on the second row within the same stand

So the key is significant errors can occur when sampling a stand which has a lot of forest edge. Plot establishment within small wood lots (<3 ha) may therefore not be the best option (Maclaren, 2000). In reality forest edges should be sampled as equivalent proportion in relation to the forest NSA. If done correct projected estimates of volume and value will most likely be very close.

Recording Abnormal Heights in PlotSafe

Some trees have heights that should not be used to predict the heights of other trees using a height-diameter regression and would not be predicted well from the height-diameter relationship of normal trees. In these cases, record the height as for a normal tree then use Ctrl+U or Tools > Abnormal Height to record the fact that this height is abnormal. You cannot set the height to abnormal if the stem does not have a height. To remove an abnormal height, use Ctrl+U or Tools > Abnormal Height again.  This can be implemented on the forest edge where trees exhibit very different height to diameter ratios than the rest of the forest.

These appear in the tree list at the plot level with a + just after the height to indicate this is an abnormal height tree, and therefore will not be included in the diameter height regression to impute trees heights for those trees not given a tree height measurement in the field.

Back at the stem description level, the icon in the left column also changes to represent a stunted tree top.

Considerations When Using ETS FMA (Forest Measurement Approach) Data for Assessing Recoverable Volume by Log Type

Recently we have had queries from some of our clients looking to utilise an existing Emission Trading Scheme Forest Measurement Approach (FMA) for forest valuation and product mix estimation.  It is important to consider that the current FMA inventory procedures do not include forest edges in their inventory design.   This is due to a different set of objectives, this being biomass or carbon estimation while attempting to reduce the complexity of the inventory design.  FMA plots are moved from the forest edge into the stand thus avoid capturing any of these effects mentioned within.  So if thinking of combining a forest product yield inventory (like MARVL, Method of Assessing Recoverable Volume by Log-type) inventory with FMA without careful consideration can very quickly have a large bias on the end answer.

Forest Plotting Methods of Assessing Forest Edge

• Edge Plots – Installing Edge Plots Using PlotSafe – Mirage Plot Technique
• Edge Plots – Installing Edge Plots Using PlotSafe – Walkthrough Mirage Plot Technique

Our team will be happy to assist you in every component of the above. If you need further assistance, please contact us.

Reference:

– Maclaren, J. P. (J. Piers) & Forest Research Institute (N.Z.) 2002, How much wood has your woodlot got? : a practical guide to estimating the volume and value of planted trees, Forest Research, Rotorua, N.Z

– MJ Ducey, JH Gove, HT Valentine 2004, A Walkthrough Solution to the Boundary Overlap Problem. Forest Science 50(4):427-435

– Gregoire, T.G. 1982, The unbiasedness of the mirage correction procedure for boundary overlap. Forest Science 28:504-508