Analysis of Difference in Growing Stock Volume Estimates by the Changes of Cluster Plot Design and Volume Equation

摘要

Korea National Forest Inventory System has been adopting different cluster plot design and new equations to estimate growing stock volumes since 2006. These changes have resulted in volume estimations which show some difference from previous ones. This study is to find out the source of such difference. For this, relevant data was collected from 80 plots of 20 cluster samples according to the cluster plot design applied to 4th and 5th National Forest Inventory. Then growing stock volumes were estimated by using current and previous individual tree volume equations respectively. An investigation was made to detect whether such difference in volume estimates was originated from the changes in cluster plot design or from using different volume equations. T-test results showed that the difference from changes in cluster plot design was negligible. Instead, changes in volume equations had statistically significant effects in volume estimation. Since the volume estimation by the 5th National Forest Inventory would bring overestimation by applying different volume equations, all the volume estimations made prior to 2006 would require necessary modifications for international reporting.