On the potential to combine cross-border NFI data in remote sensing driven carbon stock assessment: Latvian and Lithuanian study

Abstract

The nationally developed and used approaches for the assessment and monitoring of carbon budgets are quite frequently based on different approaches even for countries with similar forest conditions and forestry traditions. The presentation discusses the potential for combining National Forest Inventory (NFI) data crossing national borders to support remote sensing driven carbon stock assessment and mapping. The study elaborates on the outputs of case study done on Latvian-Lithuanian border area. We test the performance of information borrowing technique, expecting that field measurements in one area can also be used in neighboring areas. Medium resolution satellite images and non-parametric estimation are used to provide carbon estimates for smaller areas than it is possible with field data only. Latvian and Lithuanian NFI sample plot data is utilized as the input field information. Information, originating from mature forest stands inventory (a kind of systematic sampling based inventory following the NFI principles) in four Lithuanian State forest enterprises is used for the validation. The potential of mature forest inventory data to increase the field measurement sample is also investigated. Compatibility and usability of Latvian and Lithuanian NFI data for cross-boundary remote sensing driven applications is also discussed, including legal aspects for common data use.