Forest Mensuration and Inventory

Forest Mensuration and Inventory is the specialized field within forestry focused on the systematic measurement of trees, stands, and entire forests to quantify their characteristics. This discipline involves developing and applying techniques to measure key attributes such as tree diameter, height, form, age, and volume, which are then compiled through carefully designed sampling procedures, or inventories, to estimate critical information for a larger forest area. The resulting data on timber volume, biomass, growth rates, and species composition is fundamental for sustainable forest management, enabling informed decision-making in areas like harvest planning, economic valuation, carbon accounting, and ecological monitoring.

  1. Introduction to Forest Mensuration
    1. Definition and Scope
      1. Definition of Forest Mensuration
        1. Scope within Forestry and Natural Resources
          1. Relationship to Other Forestry Disciplines
            1. Silviculture
              1. Forest Management
                1. Forest Economics
                  1. Forest Ecology
                2. Importance in Forest Management
                  1. Role in Sustainable Forest Management
                    1. Applications in Timber Harvest Planning
                      1. Support for Ecological and Conservation Goals
                        1. Economic and Policy Implications
                        2. Historical Development of Mensuration
                          1. Early Measurement Techniques
                            1. Evolution of Instruments and Methods
                              1. Key Historical Figures and Milestones
                                1. Development of Modern Standards
                                2. Units of Measurement
                                  1. Imperial System
                                    1. Linear Measurements
                                      1. Area Measurements
                                        1. Volume Measurements
                                          1. Board Foot System
                                          2. Metric System
                                            1. Linear Measurements
                                              1. Area Measurements
                                                1. Volume Measurements
                                                  1. Cubic Meter System
                                                  2. Forestry-Specific Units
                                                    1. Board Foot
                                                      1. Cord
                                                        1. Stere
                                                          1. Cunit
                                                          2. Unit Conversions
                                                            1. Imperial to Metric
                                                              1. Volume Unit Conversions
                                                                1. Area Unit Conversions
                                                              2. Concepts of Accuracy, Precision, and Bias
                                                                1. Definitions and Distinctions
                                                                  1. Sources of Measurement Error
                                                                    1. Systematic Errors
                                                                      1. Random Errors
                                                                        1. Human Errors
                                                                          1. Instrument Errors
                                                                          2. Methods to Minimize Error
                                                                            1. Calibration and Standardization
                                                                              1. Quality Control Procedures