, 2011). In view of creating a robust model, this research has taken

into account much of the variation associated with these issues. For all sites, the sensor configuration was similar; however, the acquisition date and time did not coincide for most of them, topography differed, and, given the different stand ages, stem densities and fertilization regimes included in the dataset, target objects also varied. Laser technology has been successfully used in the past to estimate selleckchem forest height, volume and biomass to the stand and plot levels. Lately, attempts to estimate leaf area index have broadened the potential of this tool. The results from this research

complement these efforts. A robust model with a unique set of variables was developed that explained 83% of the GSK1349572 purchase variation of LAI in loblolly pine plantations. The model was constructed from and tested through cross validation on multiple research studies across a wide range of site conditions and silvicultural regimes, giving foresters managing for different purposes (i.e., sawtimber, pulp, etc.) the opportunity to use it as a robust application in decision making. This research was possible thanks to the support from the Forest Productivity Cooperative, and the help in field data collection provided by Rupesh Shrestha, Jessica Walker, Jose Zerpa, Nilam Kayastha, Asim Banskota, Dan Evans, Omar Carrero, Lee Allen, and the personnel from the Virginia Department of Forestry. “
“Although signatory countries are obliged to report greenhouse gas emissions and removals according

to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its supplementary Kyoto Protocol (KP; United Nations, 1998), Löwe et al. (2000) have identified Demeclocycline a lack of consistency in national reporting of changes in forest and other woody biomass stocks. In addition, calculation methods for converting forest data to carbon dioxide (CO2) – the most important greenhouse gas – differ between countries. The accuracy of estimates of standing volume and volume of growth is often unknown, and the quality of data is sometimes poor. However, in recent years many countries have improved their National Forest Inventories (NFIs), which are typically used to provide data for UNFCCC/KP-reporting (Tomppo et al., 2010). Normally, these NFIs have a sample-based design with sample plots inventoried in the field. Thus in general, area-based estimators are used to estimate changes in carbon pools.