Assessing and Harmonizing Lying Deadwood Volume with Regional Forest Inventory Data in Wallonia (Southern Region of Belgium)

in Open Forest Science Journal (2012), 5

Using lying deadwood or coarse woody debris (CWD) is on the rise among national and local forest inventories. We compared two generally recommended methods for lying deadwood: line intersect sampling and ... [more ▼]

Using lying deadwood or coarse woody debris (CWD) is on the rise among national and local forest inventories. We compared two generally recommended methods for lying deadwood: line intersect sampling and fixed area sampling. We assessed both methods in plots of the regional forest inventory of Wallonia (southern region of Belgium) and we developed bridging functions that converts CWD volume estimates to estimates that would have been obtained with different thresholds. [less ▲]

National Forest Inventory contributions to forest biodiversity monitoring

in Forest Science (2012), 58(3), 257-268

Forests are the most biodiverse terrestrial ecosystems. National forest inventories (NFIs) are the main source of information on the status and trends of forests, but they have traditionally been designed ... [more ▼]

Forests are the most biodiverse terrestrial ecosystems. National forest inventories (NFIs) are the main source of information on the status and trends of forests, but they have traditionally been designed to assess land coverage and the production value of forests rather than forest biodiversity. The primary international processes dealing with biodiversity and sustainable forest management, the convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Forest Europe, Streamlining European Biodiversity Indicators 2010 of the European Environmental Agency, and the Montréal Process, all include indicators related to forest biodiversity. The scope of this article is to review and present possibilities offered by NFIs to harmonize estimation of indicators useful for international forest and present possibilities offered by NFIs to harmonize estimation of indicators useful for international forest biodiversity monitoring and reporting. We summarize key findings from Working Group 3 of Action E43 (« Harmonization of National Forest Inventories in Europe : Techniques for Common Reporting ») of the European program Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST). We discuss definitions and techniques for harmonizing estimates of possible biodiversity indicators based on data from NFIs in Europe and the United States. We compare these possible indicators with indicators selected by international processes. The results demonstrate that NFIs can report comparable or harmonized estimates of indicators for multiple biodiversity features (forest categories, deadwood, forest age, forest structure, and forest naturalness), but for others (ground vegetation and regeneration) NFIs should invest more in harmonization efforts. On the basis of these key findings, we recommend that NFIs should represent a main component of a future global biodiversity monitoring network as urgently requested by the CBD. [less ▲]

Bridging national and reference definitions for harmonizing forest statistics

in Forest Science (2012), 58(3), 214-223

Harmonization is the process of making information and estimates comparable across administrative borders. The degree to which harmonization succeeds depends on many factors, including the conciseness of ... [more ▼]

Harmonization is the process of making information and estimates comparable across administrative borders. The degree to which harmonization succeeds depends on many factors, including the conciseness of the definitions, the availability and quality of data, and the methods used toconvert an estimate according to a local definition to an estimate according to the reference definition. Harmonization requires the availability and use of common reference definitions and methods for converting from estimates based on national definitions to estimates based on reference definitions. This article focuses on conversion methods, which are characterized as « bridges » because they can be seen as a means of crossing from islands of local definitions to the mainland of a reference definition. A structured approach is proposed for constructing bridges of three kinds : reductive, neutral, and expansive bridges. A hierarchical decision tree is presented to guide users and to summarize the propositions and case examples with different types of bridges to illustrate the concepts. Although the article addresses harmonization of forest information, the results are relevant for harmonizing a broad variety of area statistics. [less ▲]

Evaluer les ressources forestières et leur disponibilité : un préalable à l'amélioration de leur mobilisation. Etude menée à l'échelle du territoire communal de Gouvy.

in Silva Belgica (2011), 118(6), 30-37

Dans le cadre du projet Interreg Grande Région "REGIOWOOD" et plus particulièrement de l'action s'intéressant à la mobilisation des ressources ligneuses en petite forêt privée, une étude a été menée sur ... [more ▼]

Dans le cadre du projet Interreg Grande Région "REGIOWOOD" et plus particulièrement de l'action s'intéressant à la mobilisation des ressources ligneuses en petite forêt privée, une étude a été menée sur le territoire de la commune de Gouvy avec l'objectif de caractériser les ressources forestières, leur disponibilité et les freins à leur mobilisation. Cette étude trouve sa justification dans la nécessité de disposer d'informations objectives utiles pour mener à bien toute démarche d'amélioration de la mobilisation des ressources en bois. L'estimation de la ressource en bois a été réalisée au niveau communal (paragraphe 1) via l'analyse des données cadastrales (paragraphe 2) et la réalisation d'un inventaire spécifique des ressources (paragraphe 3). Les multiples données qui ont pu être rassemblées grâce à un inventaire par échantillonnage ont été complétées par des chiffres résultant d'une évaluation par simulation de l'évolution probable, et sous certaines conditions, du capital ligneux (épicéa commun) au cours des 5 et 10 prochaines années (paragraphe 4). L'exploitation de ces informations doit s'accompagner d'un dialogue et d'une concertation avec les propriétaires de la ressource (paragraphe 5) avant de proposer les démarches les plus adéquates à mener en matière de mobilisation et de valorisation de leurs biens (paragraphe 6). [less ▲]

Harmonization tests

in Chirici, Gherardo; Winter, Susanne; McRoberts, Ronald E. (Eds.) National Forest Inventories - contributions to Forest Biodiversity Assessments (2011)

Chapter 5 reports the results of testing the proposed prodedures for harmonizing estimates of indicators for six of the seven essential features of forest biodiversity. Twenty indicators were tested using ... [more ▼]

Chapter 5 reports the results of testing the proposed prodedures for harmonizing estimates of indicators for six of the seven essential features of forest biodiversity. Twenty indicators were tested using data from the common database. In general, positive results were obtained for forest categories, forest structure, forest age, deadwood, and naturalness; the results were less positive for ground vegetation because of the considerable differences in definitions and data acquisition methods. Of importance is, that the test focused on assessing harmonization procedures rather than on producing comprehensive estimates for particular countries or forest categories. [less ▲]

The need for harmonized estimates of forest biodiversity indicators

in Chirici, Gherardo; Winter, Susanne; McRoberts, Ronald E. (Eds.) National Forest Inventories - contributions to Forest Biodiversity Assessments (2011)

The investigations of Working Group 3 of COST Action E43 focused on assessing the ability of NFI's to report harmonized estimates of forest biodiversity indicators using NFI data. Four related factors ... [more ▼]

The investigations of Working Group 3 of COST Action E43 focused on assessing the ability of NFI's to report harmonized estimates of forest biodiversity indicators using NFI data. Four related factors motivated the investigations. Firstly, the importance of forest biodiversity for the economic, environmental, and social well-being of earth's civilizations is gaining wide international acceptance. Secondly, this acceptance has led to numerous international forest sustainability and biodiversity agreements that require periodic reports of estimates of indicators. Thirdly, the ability to report comparable estimates is impeded by the variety of sampling designs, plot configurations, selected variables, and measurement protocols used by the NFIs of different countries. Fourthly, the features of individual NFIs have evolved in response to unique ecological, economic, topographic, and climatic characteristics, and desire of the individual countries to retain the features. The general conclusion of these motivating factors is that apart from substantial standardization of NFIs, the best method for facilitating comparable reporting is to develop harmonization methods. Working Group 3 undertook a four-phase approach to developing methods for harmonizing estimates of biodiversity indicators using NFI data. The first phase entailed evaluating the importance of biodiversity variables and the feasibility of assessing them using NFI data. The conclusion of this phase was the selection of 17 biodiversity variables that were both important and feasible, grouping of them into seven essential features, and construction of common reference definitions for the variables. The second phase entailed evaluation of the agreement among NFIs with respect to the common definitions and measurement practices. The third phase entailed development of bridges (Stahl et al submitted) for converting estimates of forest biodiversity indicators obtained using national definitions to estimates consistent with the reference definitions. The fourth phase entailed construction of a common database of NFI data contributed by NFIs participating in COST Action E43 and testing of reference definitions and bridges developed by Working Group 3. The following chapters provide details and specific results for the four phases. [less ▲]

FINE-SCALE HABITAT SELECTION BY TWO SPECIALIST WOODPECKERS OCCURRING IN BEECH AND OAK-DOMINATED FORESTS IN SOUTHERN BELGIUM

in Ardeola (2010), 57(2), 339-362

We studied the identification of key habitat parameters for two specialist woodpecker species (middle spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos medius and lesser spotted woodpecker D. minor) associated with mature ... [more ▼]

We studied the identification of key habitat parameters for two specialist woodpecker species (middle spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos medius and lesser spotted woodpecker D. minor) associated with mature broadleaved forests ecosystems in Europe, and the modelling of their specific requirements with a view to assist forest managers. The study was conducted in four beech and oak-dominated forests (Haut-Fays, Halma, Gembes and Croix-Scaille) located in the Ardennes Region of Southern Belgium. The study sites covered a total area of ca. 20 km². A census of woodpecker occurrence (presenceabsence) was implemented from 2000 to 2003 within 255 1-ha plots. Habitat variables describing stand age, tree density, snag density, stand composition and vertical vegetation structure were also sampled at the same plots to develop both logistic and autologistic regression models describing habitat use.Middle spotted woodpecker (MSW) uses the oak-rich locations (mean basal area of 15.6 m²/ha), with selection of areas with the largest, oldest oak trees (mean circumference > 150 cm), and with a high diversity of tree species in the overstory. Similarly, the lesser spotted woodpecker (LSW) was detected in areas presenting the highest percentage cover of oak trees but with a selection of younger stands, with a high density of snags and dead wood (mean of 9 m³/ha). The integration of an autocorrelation term improved model performance for the LSW but not for MSW. Our results highlight the importance of a high disponibility of oak trees for these two sympatric species. The climax forest in northwest Europe is beech so that public and private owners must develop appropriate forest management plans to prevent the conversion of oak to beech forests. In particular, forest managers can promote an active oakregeneration management to obtain a balanced representation of age classes. They must also aim to maintain/increase the volume of dead wood resources by reserving all trees produced by storms or any other cause of natural mortality. [less ▲]

Avifaune forestière - Etude d'habitat du Pic mar

Poster (2010, May 12)

En tant que bio-indicateurs, les espèces spécialistes des grands massifs forestiers feuillus ont un intérêt pour l'étude et le suivi de la diversité de ces milieux.

L'inventaire forestier national permanent du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, aperçu de la méthodologie

Poster (2010, May 12)

L'inventaire forestier national du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg assure depuis 1998 la mesure par échantillonnage des 89 000 ha de forêt que compte le pays. La collecte des données s'étale sur 3 ans et est ... [more ▼]

L'inventaire forestier national du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg assure depuis 1998 la mesure par échantillonnage des 89 000 ha de forêt que compte le pays. La collecte des données s'étale sur 3 ans et est réalisée tous les 10 ans au niveau d'unités d'échantillonnage à placettes concentriques. Ces données concernent tous les aspects de la forêt dans l'esprit de multifonctionnalité qui lui est assigné. [less ▲]

Inventaire Permanent des Ressources Forestières de Wallonie - Guide méthodologique

Book (2010)

L'objectif de ce guide est avant tout de fournir aux utilisateurs des résultats de l'Inventaire permanent des Ressources forestières de Wallonie toutes indications utiles relatives aux objectifs ... [more ▼]

L'objectif de ce guide est avant tout de fournir aux utilisateurs des résultats de l'Inventaire permanent des Ressources forestières de Wallonie toutes indications utiles relatives aux objectifs poursuivis par celui-ci, à la méthodologie (méthodes de mesure, conventions, etc) sur laquelle il s'appuie et à ses limitatons, à la nature des données récoltées et à divers aspects de leur traitement ainsi qu'à diverses facettes de leur valorisation afin que toutes analyses de résultats fournis puissent se situer dans un contexte clairement défini et évitent de conduire à des interprétations erronées. [less ▲]