Quality

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[−] Forest inventory

[+] Introduction to forest inventory

[+] Forest mensuration

[+] Introduction to sampling

[+] Plot design

[+] Sampling design

[+] Estimation issues

[+] Planning issues

[+] UNFCCC Implications for Forest Monitoring

[+] Forest Inventory Examples

  Forest Inventory Glossary

Stem and wood quality are attributes that are observed on a categorical scale, that is, in classes. Not all types of quality characteristics of interest are observable at the standing tree, such as wood discolorations and hollow stems etc. Therefore, quality classes are usually defined in terms of visible damages. There are no general definitions of quality, but this depends also very much on the local timber market.

Therefore, a clear definition and description of the different quality classes is imperative, which also includes graphical representations of different types of stem damages to be accounted for. The following are some criteria that are commonly used to define quality classes:

• Stem dimension (diameter, length);
• Damages (damages due to harvesting operations, to wildlife, to pests or to natural disasters);
• Branchiness (where some times a distinction is made between dead and living branches);
• Non-desired trunk-characteristics (twisted growth, bumpiness etc.).