1. Improved large-area forest increment information in Europe through harmonisation of National Forest Inventories
- Author
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European Commission, Gschwantner, Thomas [0000-0001-9043-6884], Adame, P. [0000-0002-0559-8713], Aguirre, Ana [0000-0001-7723-2078], Alberdi, Iciar [0000-0003-1338-8465], Avitabile, V. [0000-0003-3646-052X], Cañellas, Isabel [0000-0002-9716-7776], Di Cosmo, Lucio [0000-0002-0611-1292], Freudenschuss, A. [0000-0002-6080-2051], Gasparini, P. [0000-0001-8801-0980], Korhonen, Kari T. [0000-0002-6198-853X], Marin, Gheorghe [0000-0003-2720-3038], Maslo, Jan [0009-0001-2188-1105], Mionskowski, Marcin [0000-0002-9222-521X], Morneau, François [0000-0002-6145-6031], Mubareka, S.[0000-0001-9504-4409], Schadauer, K. [0009-0007-9292-7004], Talarczyk, Andrzej [0000-0001-9073-4136], Westerlund, Bertil [0000-0002-1073-8434], Gschwantner, Thomas, Riedel, Thomas, Henning, Lea, Adame, P., Adolt, Radim, Aguirre, Ana, Alberdi, Iciar, Avitabile, V., Cañellas, Isabel, Di Cosmo, Lucio, Fischer, Christoph, Freudenschuss, A., Gasparini, P., Henttonen, Helena M., Korhonen, Kari T., Kucera, Milos, Marin, Gheorghe, Maslo, Jan, Mionskowski, Marcin, Morneau, François, Mubareka, S., Neagu, Stefan, Nilsson, Mats, Pesty, B., Schadauer, K., Sroga, Radosław, Talarczyk, Andrzej, Westerlund, Bertil, European Commission, Gschwantner, Thomas [0000-0001-9043-6884], Adame, P. [0000-0002-0559-8713], Aguirre, Ana [0000-0001-7723-2078], Alberdi, Iciar [0000-0003-1338-8465], Avitabile, V. [0000-0003-3646-052X], Cañellas, Isabel [0000-0002-9716-7776], Di Cosmo, Lucio [0000-0002-0611-1292], Freudenschuss, A. [0000-0002-6080-2051], Gasparini, P. [0000-0001-8801-0980], Korhonen, Kari T. [0000-0002-6198-853X], Marin, Gheorghe [0000-0003-2720-3038], Maslo, Jan [0009-0001-2188-1105], Mionskowski, Marcin [0000-0002-9222-521X], Morneau, François [0000-0002-6145-6031], Mubareka, S.[0000-0001-9504-4409], Schadauer, K. [0009-0007-9292-7004], Talarczyk, Andrzej [0000-0001-9073-4136], Westerlund, Bertil [0000-0002-1073-8434], Gschwantner, Thomas, Riedel, Thomas, Henning, Lea, Adame, P., Adolt, Radim, Aguirre, Ana, Alberdi, Iciar, Avitabile, V., Cañellas, Isabel, Di Cosmo, Lucio, Fischer, Christoph, Freudenschuss, A., Gasparini, P., Henttonen, Helena M., Korhonen, Kari T., Kucera, Milos, Marin, Gheorghe, Maslo, Jan, Mionskowski, Marcin, Morneau, François, Mubareka, S., Neagu, Stefan, Nilsson, Mats, Pesty, B., Schadauer, K., Sroga, Radosław, Talarczyk, Andrzej, and Westerlund, Bertil
- Abstract
Consistent knowledge about the increment in European forests gained amplified importance in European policies and decision processes related to forest-based bioeconomy, carbon sequestration, sustainable forest management and environmental changes. Until now, large-area increment information from European countries was lacking international comparability. In this study we present a harmonisation framework in accordance with the principles and the approach established for the harmonisation of National Forest Inventories (NFIs) in Europe. 11 European NFIs, representing a broad range of increment measurement and estimation methods, developed unified reference definitions and methods that were subsequently implemented to provide harmonised increment estimates by NUTS regions (Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics of the European Union), main forest types and tree species groups, and to rate the impact of harmonisation measures. The main emphasis was on gross annual increment (GAI), however, also annual natural losses (ANL) and net annual increment (NAI) were estimated. The data from the latest available NFI cycles were processed. The participating countries represent a forest area of about 130 million ha, and 82% of the European Unions’ (EU) forest area, respectively. The increments were estimated in terms of volume (m³ year−1, m³ ha−1 year−1) and above-ground biomass (t year−1, t ha−1 year−1). The harmonised GAI volume estimates deviate in a range of +12.3% to −26.5% from the estimates according to the national definitions and estimation methods. Within the study area, the harmonised estimates show a considerable range over the NUTS regions for GAI, from 0.6 to 12.3 m³ ha−1 year−1, and 0.8–6.4 t ha−1 year−1, of volume and above-ground biomass, respectively. The largest increment estimates are found in Central Europe and gradually decrease towards the North, South, West and East. In most countries coniferous forests show larger increment estimates per hectare
- Published
- 2024