Comparability of scots pine growing stock volume, estimated by NFI of Baltic countries

Abstract

Comparability of growing stock volume received by different countries is one of the most important prerequisites for successful forest resources assessment. Using volume function and NFI 2006-2010 data of Lithuania containing 6203 sample plots as reference data, 9 pine form factors and stem volume functions were analyzed, estimating their comparability. It was found out that differences between growing stock volume estimated by different volume functions and used in NFI of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, do not exceed 1-2% and are statistically insignificant. Volume functions used for study are comparable. The increase of deviations from reference volume was noticed for marginal sizes of trees, site conditions, or ages of trees, especially when functions of different type or construction are used.