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A novel forest state assessment methodology to support conservation and forest management planning

Standovár, Tibor and Szmorad, Ferenc and Kovács, Bence and Kelemen, K. and Plattner, M. (2016) A novel forest state assessment methodology to support conservation and forest management planning. COMMUNITY ECOLOGY, 17 (2). pp. 167-177. ISSN 1585-8553

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Abstract

A new forest state assessment methodology to complement existing conservation and forestry data has been developed. The aim is to provide tools for strategic planning including spatial distribution of conservation priorities. The method is point-based using a dense systematic sampling grid and provides more detailed information than vegetation maps or forest subcompartment descriptions, but requires less effort than forest inventories. Indicators include canopy composition and structure, deadwood, herbs, microhabitats, disturbances, shrubs and regeneration. The results can inform managers about the structural and compositional diversity of forest stands in the form of thematic maps and can provide the basis for analysis of habitat suitability for forest-dwelling organisms. A smartphone application has been developed to enable electronic data collection. PostGIS and Python scripts were used in the data flow. In this paper, we outline the development of the assessment protocol, and present the sampling design and the variables recorded. The main advantages of the survey methodology are also shown by case-studies based on data collected during the first field season in 2014. The protocol has been designed for low mountain forests in Hungary, but it can be modified to fit other forest types.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: Q Science / természettudomány > QA Mathematics / matematika > QA75 Electronic computers. Computer science / számítástechnika, számítógéptudomány
Q Science / természettudomány > QH Natural history / természetrajz > QH540 Ecology / ökológia
S Agriculture / mezőgazdaság > SD Forestry / erdőgazdaság
SWORD Depositor: MTMT SWORD
Depositing User: MTMT SWORD
Date Deposited: 05 Jan 2017 13:01
Last Modified: 05 Jan 2017 13:01
URI: http://real.mtak.hu/id/eprint/44658

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