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FOREST SERVICE MANUAL
Denver, Colorado
FSH 2409.26d - SILVICULTURE EXAMINATION AND PRESCRIPTION
HANDBOOK
Region 2 Amendment No. 90-1
Effective April 20, 1990
POSTING NOTICE. Amendments to this title are numbered consecutively. Check
the last transmittal received for this title to see that the above amendment number
is in sequence. If not, order intervening amendments at once on form 1100-6. Do
not post this amendment until the missing one(s) is received and posted. Post this
amendment at end of chapter by document name not page number. After posting
retain this transmittal until the next amendment to this title is received. Place it at
the front of the title.
Page Code
Entire Handbook
Superseded New
(Number of Sheets)
213
42
Digest:
Replaces Zero Code through 91. Updates handbook to match the Total Resource
Information System Handbook and keep up with changes in Stand Examination
and upcoming GIS. Much of the technical materials have been taken out of the
handbook and put into user guides (i.e. printouts and growth and yield
simulations).
GARY E. CARGILL
Regional Forester
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FSH 2409.26d - SILVICULTURE EXAMINATION AND PRESCRIPTION
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Contents
ZERO CODE
CHAPTER
l0
TIMBER SUBSYSTEM OF RESOURCE INFORMATION SYSTEM (RIS)
20
SURVEY DESIGN
30
DATA COLLECTION
40
DATA PROCESSING, ACCESS AND RETRIEVAL, SYSTEM
MANAGEMENT
50
[RESERVED]
60
[RESERVED]
70
[RESERVED]
80
SILVICULTURAL PRESCRIPTIONS
90
APPENDIX
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FSH 2409.26d - SILVICULTURE EXAMINATION AND PRESCRIPTION
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ZERO CODE
Contents
01
AUTHORITY
02
OBJECTIVES
03
POLICY
04
RESPONSIBILITY
06
PRIORITIES
07
TIMBER MANAGEMENT INVENTORY FOR INTEGRATED
RESOURCE PLANNING
08
LIMITATIONS
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FSH 2409.26d - SILVICULTURE EXAMINATION AND PRESCRIPTION
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ZERO CODE
01 - AUTHORITY. Basic authority for collection of stand and tree data and the
preparation of silvicultural prescriptions are contained in FSM 2410 and FSM 2478.
Authority for storing and maintaining stand data is contained in FSM 2490.
02 - OBJECTIVES. The objective of Stand Examination is to provide natural
resource information and site specific tree inventory data for forested lands at the
intensity required for management decisions.
This handbook outlines procedures for collecting and analyzing site and tree data
for both Stand Examination and Forest Inventory. Stand Examination is an
intensive inventory designed to gather information specific to individual sites.
Forest Inventory is an extensive Forest-wide inventory designed to gather
information about the entire Forest at a specific point in time. Current Stand
Examination information may also be summarized to produce Forest Inventory
data.
Stand Examination/Forest Inventory data collected will be of sufficient quality and
intensity to:
1. Prepare silvicultural prescriptions.
2. Provide input and monitoring of silvicultural treatments for Forest Land
and Resource Management Plans (Forest Plans).
3. Provide documentation of the decisions made in the Forest Plans, NEPA
documents, and public requests.
4. Prioritize stands for silvicultural treatment activities.
5. Provide stocking level and regeneration survey information.
6. Maintain a permanent Forest Inventory (Forest-wide).
7. Provide detailed tree data which will be of sufficient accuracy to be used for
Forest Inventory samples.
8. Provide information for growth and yield models in project planning and
develop relationships between the stand variables.
9. Provide acreage and volume information for calculation of the allowable sale
quantity (ASQ).
There may be other objectives, or combinations of the above, for which Stand
Examination data is collected. The level of Stand Examination data needed may
vary with the objective. For example, the tree data needed to accurately prescribe
site-specific silvicultural treatments will be greater than the tree data needed to
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prepare a Forest Plan. The amount of data collected should be designed to
accurately meet the stated objectives while being flexible enough to collect the data
needed.
03 - POLICY. The procedures provided in this Handbook will be used by all
organizational levels of Region 2 for Stand Examination and Prescriptions.
04 - RESPONSIBILITY. The Director of Timber Management for the Region is
responsible for the design, testing, implementation, and maintenance of the
computer programs and data bases which are used to input, process, store, and
produce various silvicultural reports. The Director is also responsible for providing
technical assistance to Forests in the collection and analysis of silvicultural
information and the preparation of silvicultural prescriptions.
Forest Supervisors are responsible for gathering, inspection, processing, and storage
of the data in accordance to the standards and guidelines set forth in this handbook.
06 - PRIORITIES. Continuous Forest Inventories are essential for planning
purposes. Region 2 has reinventoried each Forest on approximately 10-year
intervals in the past. Reinventories necessitated photo sampling the entire Forest
and selecting new ground samples. With the change from extensive Forest
Inventory procedures to more intensive Stand Examination procedures, Forests are
now striving to maintain continuous, flexible, and dynamic District Data Bases
which will provide the area control and stratification for all future Forest
Inventories. To attain this goal, it is essential to establish the following priority
jobs:
1. Complete photointerpretation, site delineation, and stand identification of
entire Forests.
2. Update Master site overlay when there is vegetative manipulation in order
to reflect current conditions and enter proposed treatments as planned work.
3. Conduct regeneration surveys and store results in the District Data Bases.
4. Surveys will be accomplished on areas identified by timber sale action plans.
5. Complete ground surveys for forested land with priority given to
management objectives as stated in the Forest Plan.
6. Reinventory harvested sites and other sites where treatments, natural
occurrences, land use changes, or land exchanges have resulted in major changes in
site character.
7. Reinventory sites where existing data does not accurately represent the
present ground condition.
By accomplishing the above, all sites where major changes have occurred will be
promptly updated.
07 - TIMBER MANAGEMENT INVENTORY FOR INTEGRATED RESOURCE
PLANNING. The primary objective is to determine the current site condition. The
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secondary objective of the inventory is to collect detailed tree data in order to obtain
the objectives stated above.
08 - LIMITATIONS. Tree data collected using these survey methods is not intended
to be used for timber cruising. Stand examination methods will not produce volume
estimates reliable enough to replace cruising. The inventory methods discussed in
this handbook are geared to describing site conditions for planning, prescriptions,
and monitoring.
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CHAPTER l0 - TIMBER SUBSYSTEM OF RESOURCE INFORMATION SYSTEM
(RIS)
Contents
l0
INTRODUCTION
ll
LINK TO RIS
l2
12.1
12.2
SURVEY DESIGN
Survey Methods
Forest Inventory
l3
DATA COLLECTION
l4
PROCESSING DATA
15
DATA PRESENTATION
16
16.1
16.2
16.3
SYSTEM MANAGEMENT
Stand Support System
Extensive Data Base
Extensive Support System
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CHAPTER l0 - TIMBER SUBSYSTEM OF RESOURCE INFORMATION SYSTEM
(RIS)
l0 - INTRODUCTION. Forest Inventory and Stand Examination will be based
directly on the RIS Master Site Subsystem. The information obtained in Forest
Inventory and Stand Examination will provide field data for the tree resources of
forested sites delineated on Master Site Maps. The summary of this information
will be loaded into card 5 of the RIS data base.
ll - LINK TO RIS. Locations provide stable geographic and file location, and a
means of acreage accountability. Locations have no significance as a resource unit.
Boundaries are located by following natural physiographic or permanent man-made
features that are identifiable on the ground.
Location identities are numerical and are a total of 6 digits. Location numbers
must be unique within Districts and proclaimed National Forests.
The word location in RIS is synonymous with the old word compartment and the
identity numbers are the same for most Ranger Districts (may be different for
National Grasslands). Refer to the Total Resource Information Handbook (RIS) R-2
FSH 6609-2l, Chapters 10 and 20, for further information. All of the standards and
guidelines in the RIS Handbook will be followed in the survey, processing, storage,
and maintenance of the raw tree data collected in Forest Inventory and Stand
Examination.
l2 - SURVEY DESIGN OVERVIEW. The purpose of this section is to give a
summary of survey design. The explanation will deal only in generalities and
specific details are covered in Stand Examination User Guide.
Tree inventories are used to provide systematically collected data which describes
in words or numbers what exists on the ground. The data needed to describe the
site condition may range considerably. Terms such as "forested" and "nonforested"
are enough in certain situations. In other situations, detailed individual tree data
may be required, such as species, diameter, height, and age to describe the trees on
a site.
Collecting tree data is costly. Therefore, how much information is needed must be
defined to adequately describe the site prior to survey. If enough data can be
collected from aerial photography, then photointerpretation method of data
collection should be used. A simple walk-thru site visit may be adequate to collect
further information about the site. More information can be collected about a site
by taking plots and measuring trees. If data is collected for a site, that data should
be collected and coded in a systematic and standardized fashion so that others may
be able to picture the site conditions in a similar way at a later date.
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Individual trees can generally be described with a few parameters. These
parameters include the following:
Species
Diameter
Height
Age
Crown Ratio
Damage Code
Live or Dead
Radial or Height Growth
Stands of trees can be described in a similar fashion using parameters which may
include the following:
Primary Species
Secondary Species
Average Diameter
Average Height
Average Age
Basal Area Per Acre
Trees Per Acre
Board Foot Volume Per Acre
Cubic Foot Volume Per Acre
Site Index
Growth and Mortality Rates
These parameters describe the site as a whole or average. Or, in other words, they
provide a single dimension view point.
If a more detailed view of a site is needed, a two-dimensional approach to data
presentation may be used. An example is expanding parameters such as trees per
acre, basal area, or volumes by diameter class. The data now shows groups of trees
as being big and little, tall and short, numerous or few. A mental picture of the
forest is defined.
Many forest stands have complex structures which will require more data to form
the correct picture of the stand. Not only do trees in a forested area vary in size,
they come in different species and condition. In this situation, a detailed threedimensional view of the site is in order to understand it and prescribe management
regimes. The data collection system required to provide a three-dimensional view of
the forest stand will be much more intensive than that required for a one-dimension
approach. A three-dimensional view point will require individual trees be measured
and the data for each tree be recorded. If only data for a two-dimensional view is
needed, then tree data may be collected and recorded for a group of trees, such as by
species or by diameter class. The individual tree data is grouped or compressed. If
one-dimensional data is needed, then all that will be recorded at each plot would be
the summary or average of the needed parameters. Such data is quick to collect
and record.
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12.1 - Survey Method. There are four survey methods or approaches that will be
used in stand examination in this Region. These survey methods are similar or the
same as those used in the past. For convenience, the former survey types or uses
are presented below.
Current
Survey Method
P = Photo Interpretation
W = Walk-Thru
C = Compressed
I = Intensive
Former
Survey Types
1 = Photo Interpretation
2 = Walk-Thru
3 = Standard, extensive
4 = Standard, intensive
5 = Quick Plot
It should be noted that the current approach is not overly different from the past,
only organized in a more systematic fashion. Each survey method refers to a way of
collecting and recording data. What stand parameters are collected depends on the
intended use of that data. When a stand examination is planned, certain items
must be defined; what data is desired, how many plots or trees need to be sampled,
and how that collected data is to be presented.
How many plots to take within a forest site depends on how costly the data
collection will be, the variability of the trees, the purpose of the survey, and the
accuracy desired. The survey methods defined above do not imply intensity of
sampling or accuracy of data collected. Sample validity is a combination of survey
method, survey area, number of sampling points and standard error of the estimate.
This approach to stand examination is intended to be flexible. Survey methods and
sampling intensities may be varied, trees may be grouped, and the different data
may be displayed with several different options. Tree data collected in past years is
still useable in the revised system. If that old tree data still represents the stand,
then continue to save and use it!
Detailed instructions for selecting method of survey and sampling intensity are
included in Chapter 20 of this Handbook and the "Stand Examination User Guide."
12.2 - Forest Inventory. The scope of Forest Inventory survey is forest-wide, instead
of specific sites. Forest Inventory methods use many of the instructions in this
Handbook. However, to obtain better information about Forest Inventory, refer to
the "Forest Inventory User Guide."
l3 - DATA COLLECTION. All data collected will be in compliance with Chapter 30
of this Handbook, "Standard Specifications for Stand Examination," Total Resource
Information Handbook (RIS) FSH 6609.21 and the "Stand Examination User
Guide."
l4 - PROCESSING DATA. All stand data submitted on the R2-24l0-7b is processed
by the R2STAND program. Field data is edited and expanded to a per-acre basis.
Detailed stand, stocking, and volume tables are produced. In addition, edited
summary data is stored for updating the District Data Bases. The site is assumed
to already be stored from photointerpretation or map data. All data will be
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processed according to Chapter 40 of this Handbook and the "Stand Examination
User Guide."
15 - DATA PRESENTATION. A summary printout page corresponding to
description data should be produced for insertion in Site Folders. There are several
choices in how the data can be presented to achieve this. The entire summary of
data can be presented or just one page which shows the data in a particular format
may be desired. See the "Stand Examination User Guide" for further information.
16 - SYSTEM MANAGEMENT. Storage of site data will be accomplished by an
interrelated system of maps, file folders, and computer data bases. This system is
one of the most misunderstood portions of Stand Examination. However, it is one of
the most important. Each of the different parts of the system are tied together and
they must all be managed correctly.
16.1 - Stand Support System. Stand Support System contains the "raw" tree data
from Forest Inventory and Stand Examination surveys. This data may be
reprocessed for individual site printouts or grouped for combined printouts. This
data will also be the basis for selecting tree data samples for the (Forest-wide)
Forest Inventory. Storage procedures for Stand Support System data assume that
location numbers are unique within the administrative Forest. The Support System
is a portion of the Timber Resource subsystem of RIS, R-2 FSH 6609.2l. The system
will be managed by the District in direction with the "Stand Examination Users
Guide."
l6.2 - Extensive Data Base. The Extensive Data Base created at the time of the
Forest Inventory will provide the necessary stratification for detailed tree data
sample selection. The Extensive Data Base will be derived by Forests from District
RIS Data Bases and is therefore an "application" of an existing system. This data
base will remain static until a new Forest Inventory is processed.
16.3 - Extensive Support System. For a Forest-wide Inventory, ground samples for
tree data will be obtained by selecting stands with a probability of selection
proportional to stand area from the Extensive Data Base. Selected ground samples
shall be retained in detail on the Extensive Support System and retained until the
next Forest Inventory. The Extensive Support System is generated by a computer
program.
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CHAPTER 20 - SURVEY DESIGN
Contents
20
INTRODUCTION
21
SURVEY DESIGN FOR FIELD DATA COLLECTION
22
22.1
22.2
22.3
SITE MAPPING
Mapping and Photograph Delineation
Site Area Determination
Field Photo Scale
23
OFFICE PREPARATIONS PRIOR TO DATA COLLECTION
24
24.1
24.2
24.3
SELECTION OF SURVEY INTENSITY
Determination of Sampling Intensity
Determination of Basal Area Factor
Determination of Fixed Plot Size
25
DIRECTION FOR SAMPLE POINT LOCATION AND RECOVERY
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CHAPTER 20 - SURVEY DESIGN
20 -INTRODUCTION. This chapter is intended to provide direction and guidance
in planning resource inventory.
21 - SURVEY DESIGN FOR FIELD DATA COLLECTION. Survey design is the
most important aspect of Stand Examination other than the field collection.
21.1 - Determination of Inventory Data Needs. Before selecting an inventory
method and sampling intensity, the information needed must first be defined. The
following questions must be asked:
What stand descriptors do I want?
How much reliability do I really need?
How much variability or how complex is the stand structure?
How much am I willing to pay for data collection?
Are there other users who may want to use the information?
How do I want the data presented following processing?
How soon do I need this information?
Before data collection is prescribed, a check should be made to see whether or not
there is data already collected and available. If the existing data is useable and
valid, then it would be a waste to collect new data. Past Stand Examination data
may be found on the Stand Support System or in the Location Folders. If valid,
data could be reprocessed into the format desired. Reprocessing is cheaper than
collecting new field data.
Data that is valid, no matter how old, should be retained on the Stand Support
System. Data which no longer is valid or needed should be deleted.
The "Stand Examination User Guide" will cover design thoroughly.
22 - SITE MAPPING.
22.1 - Mapping and Photograph Delineation. Site boundaries are not determined
solely through aerial photointerpretation (PI). If District orthophoto based index
maps are complete, site boundaries should be transferred directly to stereo pairs of
photos for field inventory. If there is an obvious discrepancy between the index map
and field photos, it should be resolved and corrected. Any change in a site boundary
must be accounted for in the District Data Base.
All site delineations must be according to the instructions of Sections 22 and 24 of
the Total Resource Information Handbook, FSH 6609.21. Sites must be accounted
for in the RIS Data Base before data is processed. Data to be collected and
maintained will use the RIS location and site designation for identification.
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22.2 - Site Area Determination. A list of site acres by site number may be obtained
from the District RIS Data Base. Areas are determined by measuring individual
site acreages and balancing the areas to add up to previously determined net and
gross acre totals for the location. Site acreages should be checked prior to
inventory.
22.3 - Field Photo Scale. Determine the photo scale for the effective area on each
photograph and record that scale and elevation on the back of the photo.
23 - OFFICE PREPARATION PRIOR TO DATA COLLECTION. Before a Stand
Examination project can commence, a number of items need to be taken care of in
the office. These preparations include determination of which locations and sites
require survey, the kind of information needed about each site, the survey method,
the sampling intensity, preparation of aerial photographs, and preparation of maps.
This prework is required whether the survey is to be taken by contract crews or
force account crews.
One of the first items to check before planning out the survey is that the sites are
properly delineated. If sites include areas which are significantly different than
other parts of the same site, then that site should be redeliniated. The RIS
database should be checked to see if it is up to date and correct. In particular, the
acreage of the site and photointerpretation should be checked for accuracy. The site
mapping and acreage items are covered in Section 22.
A list of inventory sites with the selected survey method and sampling intensity is a
useful tool. The list is incorporated into service contracts to direct the contractor to
do specific surveys in specific places. The same direction goes for force account
crews. The list can be used as a checklist for the surveyor to ensure all the required
ground has been covered. The same list is useful for editing and processing the
collected data at the end of the field project. A single list serves as a tracking device
throughout the project.
As a minimum, the list should include the Administrative Forest Codes, District
Codes, Location and Site Numbers, Site Acres, Survey Method, Plot Types, Number
of Plots Needed, Basal Area Factor, and Fixed Plot Size. Exhibit 1 displays a
suggested format for a list of inventory sites.
24 - SELECTION OF SURVEY INTENSITY. Survey intensity is a function of how
many plots are taken and the size of those plots. The term "acres per plot" is
commonly used to state the frequency and spacing of inventory plots.
24.1 - Determination of Sampling Intensity. The minimum number plots allowed is
3 per site. However, it is recommended that at least five plots or more per site be
used on stands up to 59 acres to insure statistical accuracy is maintained. For all
other stands larger than 59 acres, the recommended number of sampling points will
be one point per 10 acres up to a maximum guideline of 20 points per stand.
Example: stands of 59 acres will require five sample points, 60 acres will require
six sample points. In most surveys it is not really worth the added effort to collect
data on more than twenty plots per site.
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When sampling intensity is determined by size of the area, the resulting standard
errors of volume estimates and basal areas may be high because of the small
number of points required, particularly in small stands. They often exceed 20
percent and frequently range up to 50 percent, which is unacceptable where good
estimates of basal area and volume per acre are needed. If highly reliable volume
or basal area data for a stand or grouping of stands is desired, estimate variation
within the stands sampled, and determine the minimum acceptable standard error.
These two factors can be used to determine the number of field sampling points that
will be needed to meet the desired level of accuracy.
n = CV2/E2
Where: n - number of sampling points needed
CV - coefficient of variation
E - standard error
When high intensity is not needed using C and I methods, the minimum number of
sample points required is three or one point per twenty acres, whichever is higher.
24.2 - Determination of Basal Area Factor. On an average, each variable plot
should have 4 to 7 trees. Five trees is recommended. Excessive trees slows down
productivity.
24.3 - Determination of Fixed Plot Size (FPS). The radius of fixed plots should be
varied to suit the purpose of the survey and the survey intensity. The 1/300-acre
plot is a commonly used size in general C and I-type surveys. Regeneration surveys
and TSI inspection plots commonly will use 1/100 or 1/50-acre plots. Further
guidance in determining fixed-plot sizes may be found in general requirements for
measuring and recording on the tree record sheet of the "Standard Specifications for
Stand Examination".
25 - DIRECTION FOR SAMPLE POINT LOCATION RECORDING. The position of
sample plots will be recorded on aerial photographs, header sheets, or on grid maps
of the site. The purpose of recording the plot locations is so the tree data can be tied
to a specific piece of ground. So as to be relocated for inspection and further data
management.
Header sheets, traverse forms, mapping grids, and the raw data (electronic tapes,
diskettes, or hard copy) will be archived in the Site Folders. Storage of data will
continue until that data is no longer valid. If data is to be replaced, check and see
whether a comparison between the old data and new data is desired. If so, continue
to save the old data.
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CHAPTER 30 - DATA COLLECTION
Contents
30
INTRODUCTION
31
31.1
31.2
31.3
31.4
31.5
ADMINISTRATION
Responsibilities
Training
Inspections
Standards
Regional Office Service
32
32.1
FIELD PROCEDURES
Modifications To Field Procedures
33
33.1
33.2
FIELD DATA COLLECTION
Qualifications
Responsibilities
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CHAPTER 30 - DATA COLLECTION
30 - INTRODUCTION. The latest edition of "Standard Specifications for Stand
Examination," shall be used for all data collection, both force account or contract
work. Refer to the "Standard Specifications for Stand Examination" for exhibits of
field inventory and field check forms. These forms are listed below.
R2-2410-7a
R2-2410-7b
R2-2410-8
31 - ADMINISTRATION.
31.1 - Responsibilities. The Forest Supervisor is responsible for supervision,
inspection, and quality of inventories. To assure quality, training must be provided,
inspection procedures must be adhered to, specified accuracy standards must be
met, and the site record keeping system must be kept current.
31.2 - Training. Lack of adequate training lowers the quality and quantity of data
that can be collected. Inadequate training also compounds the cost of editing errors
and processing the data. Formal office and field training should be provided at the
beginning of each field session. The recommended training is as follows:
1. Photointerpretation
2. Forest orientation
3. Use and care of field equipment
4. Review of RIS Data Base
5. Handbook procedures
6. Use of stand inventory data.
7. Safety
8. Record keeping
9. Species identification
10. Plant associations
11. Data collection procedures
12. Silvicultural management alternatives
13. Estimation of damage, disease and defect casual agents.
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14. Database management
Assistance and reference materials are available through the Regional Office.
Several slide/tape programs are available for employees and contractors to review.
These slide/tape programs include Forest Insect and Disease, Plant Identification
for certain forest types, and Silviculture of several Rocky Mountain Forest Types.
The "Standard Specifications for Stand Examination", in itself, provides good
guidance and instructions.
31.3 - Inspections. The Forest Supervisor is responsible for inspections of all
collected data. Documentation of the quality checks shall be maintained for a
minimum of 1 year after the field season or contract release. Inspections will be
made of data collected by Force Account Crews and Contractors. Further
instructions for inspecting survey data are found in the "Standard Specifications for
Stand Examination."
31.4 - Standards. It is the Forest Supervisor's responsibility to meet accuracy
standards specified in this Handbook. Sufficient inspection rates and timely
response to the crews are necessary to assure quality inventory collection. A
standardized inspection worksheet will be used. (Form R2-2410-17 is suggested.
See section E.02 - Inspection and Acceptance in the "Standard Specifications for
Stand Examination.") Collected tree data and header items will be weighted by
overall importance to the survey. At the end of the inspection the errors will be
summed. If the percent error of inspected tree or header sheet items is greater than
15 percent, the data represented by that inspection will be rejected and returned to
the crew for resurvey. Substandard data must be corrected and quality checked
through reinspections where needed. Sample points must not be measured or
inspected when there is more than 3 inches of snow cover on the ground.
31.5 - Regional Office Service. The TFPCFM Staff is available to assist the Forests
in structuring training sessions and supplying reference materials. The Forests'
staffs will be assisted, where necessary, to insure sufficient quality of the inventory
data collected. Personnel should be available from the Forests for joint field
visitations. The main emphasis will be to assure that levels of surveys used and
data collected are adequate and consistent with this Handbook's criteria.
32 - FIELD PROCEDURES. The latest edition of "Standard Specifications for
Stand Examination" shall be used for all force account or contract work.
32.1 - Modifications to Field Procedures. All modifications to the standard
procedures must be approved by TFPCFM.
33 - FIELD DATA COLLECTION. The quality control methods outlined in this
section pertain to the field phase of data collection.
33.1 - Qualifications. Qualified resource personnel are essential since success of the
field inventory depends to a great extent on crew expertise and professionalism.
Inventory crews must meet the following standards:
1. Each crew must have a crew leader who has successfully completed
undergraduate or technical courses in mensuration, silviculture, tree identification,
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photogrammetry, or 3 months prior experience conducting timber inventories,
timber cruises, or equivalent.
2. Other crew members must have successfully completed undergraduate
courses in mensuration, tree identification, and silviculture.
3. Each crew member must be able to interpret aerial photography.
4. Inspectors should have served as a crew member for one season and have
attended a Stand Examination Inspector's Workshop to qualify for inspecting field
inventory plots.
5. All inspectors and crew leaders must be thoroughly familiar with pertinent
sections of this Handbook.
33.2 - Responsibilities. It is the responsibility of the field crews to perform a field
edit at each point and at the completion of the stand. This will improve quality
without appreciatively decreasing productivity.
It is the Forest Supervisor's responsibility to assure that sufficient checks are made
for accuracy and crew efficiency. Inspections of field data collection must be
documented.
Inspection of field data collection is directed toward obtaining accurate data in the
most efficient manner. The inspection procedure consists of hot checks, field edits,
office edits, cold checks and machine edits. Completion of these steps improves the
chance for quality data.
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FSH 2409.26d - SILVICULTURE EXAMINATION AND PRESCRIPTION
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CHAPTER 40 - DATA PROCESSING, ACCESS AND RETRIEVAL, AND SYSTEM
MANAGEMENT
Contents
40
INTRODUCTION
41
41.1
DATA PROCESSING
Data Processing Responsibility
42
42.1
DATA STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL
Support System For Forest Inventories
43
43.1
43.2
43.3
43.4
43.5
SYSTEM MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE
Stand Record keeping
Orthophoto Base Maps
Field Photos
Location Folders
Computer Data Base
44
44.1
44.2
44.3
44.4
STAND EXAM MAINTENANCE
Support System Maintenance
Support System Linkage to RIS
Cross Check
Maintenance Responsibility
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CHAPTER 40 - DATA PROCESSING
40 - INTRODUCTION. Stand Examination data collected by Photo Interpretation
or Walk-Thru Surveys is not processed and is entered directly into the RIS system.
Data collected with a Compressed or Intensive method will be calculated in the
R2STAND program, stored on the Support System and loaded into the RIS data
base in a separate step or steps. The tree data collected will be expanded to per
acre summaries of basal areas, numbers of trees, volumes, and other computed
data.
There are 5 steps necessary in order to complete the processing of tree data:
1. Key Entry
2. Editing
3. Produce Stand Printout
4. Load Stand Summary Data into the RIS Data Base
5. Load Tree Data into the Stand Support System
41 - DATA PROCESSING. In order to complete the processing of collected tree
data, two programs are used; the data entry program and the processing and
loading program. The data entry program is a user friendly menu driven entry
screen program that enters the data in the correct format for the processing
program to compute the data. The processing program is somewhat menu driven
allowing for different options to be selected so as to achieve certain results. The
processing program will generate a RIS data file that will use the RIS entry system
to load. The program will process fixed or variable plot sampling designs including
remeasurement. In all cases, the program guides the user through the necessary
steps required to process tree data.
TFP&CFM maintains a user guide for Tree Data processing entitled "Stand
Examination User Guide." The user guide provides much more information and
specific information on the subject.
41.1 - Data Processing Responsibility. The processing of Stand Examination data is
the responsibility of the Forest Supervisor. The system is designed so that data
may be processed at the Forest or District level. It is TFPCFM's responsibility to
maintain the programs for processing Tree Data.
42 - DATA STORAGE & RETRIEVAL. Once Tree Data is edited and initially
processed the clean data is stored on a District Stand Support System in the same
format as it is entered on the form. This is essentially clean, but unprocessed data
that must be reprocessed in order to obtain meaningful per acre summary data.
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The program will process any data previously stored on the Stand Support System
without the need to re-edit the information.
Some of the uses of the Stand Support System data are as follows:
1. Recover lost stand printouts
2. Recompute RIS summary information or new information
3. Compute combined stand printouts (stratum averages) for Forest Planning
4. Provide Tree Data for Timber Cruises (when applicable)
5. Provide tree data to be reprocessed for other resource outputs
6. Provide "combined stand analysis" for input to timber sale EIS (i.e., in-place
inventory summary)
7. Provide input to National Timber Assessment (RPA)
8. Provide input data for Growth and Yield programs (i.e., build Forest Plan
Yield Tables)
9. More detailed stand structure information than what is stored in RIS, such
as species composition by diameter classes
42.1 - Support System for Forest Inventories. Supplementary samples to the Stand
Examination Data may be gathered for the Forest Inventory for growth and
mortality purposes and a statistical representation of the Forest. This data is
stored on the Support System and is in the unprocessed R2-2410-7b format. Forest
Inventory Support System is not by Districts, but by Forests. Forest Inventory
samples stored on the Support System have the same format and codes but may
represent different sampling designs. Permanent plot samples for accurate growth
and mortality are saved and must have a unique identification scheme. Therefore,
the naming convention for the unique 10 digit identifiers for permanent samples is
as follows:
Digits
Code
1-2
3-4
YY (Year of Survey)
FF (Proclaimed Forest
Number)
SS (Survery type)
5-6
01 - 1/5 acre fixed plot remeasurement
02 - 5 point cluster remeasurement
03 - 10 plot cluster Inventory Sample
04 - Permanent Stand Inventory Sample
05 - 5 point cluster newly established
7 - 10
Sample Number
Example: Pike National Forest Stand Inventory Sample ID
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8008040301 - 1980 Inventory (80)
Pike National Forest (08)
Stand Inventory Sample (04)
Permanent Sample number 301 (0301)
When temporary stand samples are used for the Inventory, the Location and Site
(Compartment/Stand) 10-digit identifiers are used exactly as in RIS. These samples
are only kept on the Extensive Support System tapes until the next selection of
inventory samples since they cannot be remeasured.
43 - SYSTEM MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE. The purpose of this section
is to document how to manage and maintain the entire Stand Examination system.
Stand Examination has a direct link to RIS and much of the information comes
directly from the RIS Handbook FSH 6609.21 and the "Stand Examination User
Guide."
43.1 - Stand Record Keeping. It is the responsibility of the Forest and District
personnel to maintain accurate and current records of all inventory processes. This
includes District Data Base Index maps, field photo mosaic maps, field photos,
location folders, data bases, and current inspection documentation (refer to FSM
2490.6, R-2 Supplement and FSH 6609.21 Chapters 10 and 20).
43.2 - Orthophoto Base Maps. Site maps are normally created from overlays on
orthophotos and must contain complete stand boundaries along with current
ownership boundaries (land status records). These overlays should include
complete and unique numerical identities for each site, along with a map key and
scale.
43.3 - Field Photos. District offices should have most recent stand examination field
photos on file in location folders to be used as the bases for their Mastersite
Overlays. When there is new delineation in the location, the new set of photos will
be placed in the folder after the sites have been changed on the overlay and in the
Data Base.
43.4 - Location Folders. Location folders must contain examination forms, stand
description summaries, stand diagnosis, and planned/accomplished stand treatment
records.
Acreages should total within .5 percent of the Land Status Report to maintain
reliability. Stand printouts may be retained on microfiche or in a separate filing
system.
43.5 - Computer Data Base. The District Data Base must be consistent with the
Mastersite Overlay and location folder information.
Necessary subsystems to develop present and future stand tables will be
maintained by TFPCFM.
44 - STAND EXAM MAINTENANCE. All maintenance of Stand Examination data
will be according to the "Stand Examination User Guide."
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44.1 - Support System Maintenance. Maintenance of the data is a District
responsibility. For more information see "Stand Examination User Guide."
This program will allow individual stands to be retrieved for reprocessing and new
stands to be stored. There is a maximum limit of 5000 stands per Ranger District
allowed by the system. Any stand loaded with the same unique identity will replace
the previous stand.
44.2 - Support System Linkage to RIS. The Stand Support System is linked to the
Resource Information System (RIS). Most of the Stand Examination Summary
information in RIS is computed from basic tree data stored in the Stand Support
System. Each stand on the Support System is uniquely identified by the same 10
digit location/site number that is stored in RIS. For every site surveyed with a C or
I method survey and stored in the RIS system, there exists tree data on the Support
System for obtaining additional information. Data is not stored for P or W method
surveys.
This linkage is very powerful as demonstrated by the following example:
A list of stands is generated from RIS based on all sites that are lodgepole
sawtimber on less than 40% slope and have tree data (type C or I method surveys).
This same list is used to extract the Tree Data from the Support System.
A combined stand printout is generated resulting in the per acre average for
lodgepole sawtimber on less than 40% slope with the same amount of information
that is displayed on an individual stand printout.
This printout has sufficient information to simulate lodgepole pine sawtimber into
the future using a growth and yield program and represents an average acre of
lodgepole pine for Forest Planning.
44.3 - Cross Check. As more data is collected, it becomes likely that stands will be
re-surveyed and the new survey may or may not be at the same survey method.
Since stand conditions change, stocking or volume information in the data base may
be corrected. As RIS is reorganized, it is easy for Stand Examination data to
become separated from corresponding site information in RIS. These situations
make it imperative that RIS and the Support System be updated consistently.
It is the responsibility of the District Ranger to ensure that the Support System and
RIS match. This is an important item that is overlooked much of the time.
Collected data much match the site because when there is a need to re-compute the
data, the data must represent the site on the ground. For more information see the
"Stand Examination User Guide."
44.4 - Maintenance Responsibility. The Forest Supervisor has the responsibility for
maintaining the Stand Support System and insuring that valuable data is not lost.
This data will be the primary source of information for Timber input to the Forest
Plans. In many cases, tree data that is 10 to 20 years old is just as valuable as fresh
data and will still provide useable information. It is the Forest Supervisor's
responsibility to see that Stand Support System is maintained consistent with the
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RIS system and that lists of stands stored are verified after each update. It is
TFPCFM's responsibility to maintain the system of storing and retrieving the data.
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FSH 2409.26d - SILVICULTURE EXAMINATION AND PRESCRIPTION
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CHAPTER 90 - APPENDIX
Contents
90
INTRODUCTION
91
GLOSSARY
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CHAPTER 90 - APPENDIX
90 - INTRODUCTION. This chapter provides a glossary of the definitions of terms
used in stand examination in Region 2 and other information pertinent to inventory
data collection and interpretation.
91 - GLOSSARY. The definitions used in this Handbook have been taken from the
Forest Survey Handbook, FSH 4809.11 and Forest Service Manual 2410. Terms not
defined conform to "Terminology of Forest Science, Technology Practice and
Product," Society of American foresters (SAF), 1971 edition, or are referenced.
Acceptable Trees. Growing-stock trees that meet specified standards of size
and quality, but not qualifying as desirable trees.
Allowable Cut. The volume of timber that would be cut on commercial forest
land during a given period under specified management plans aimed at sustained
production of timber products. This term is used in timber management plans
previous to 1977.
Allowable Sale Quantity. The quantity of timber that may be sold from the
area of land covered by the Forest Plan for a time period specified by the plan
(usually 10 years). This applies only to lands determined suited for timber
production and to the utilization standards specified in the Forest Plan (Chargeable
Volume).
Available Forest Land. Forest land which has not been legislatively withdrawn
from timber production.
Chargeable Volume. All volume included in the growth and yield projections
for the selected management prescriptions used to arrive at the allowable sale
quantity, based on Regional utilization standards. Consistent with the definition of
timber production, planned production of fuelwood is not included in the allowable
sale quantity and therefore is nonchargeable.
Commercial Forest Land. (Pre-1980 terminology) Forest land which is capable
of producing 20 cf/ac/yr. This term is no longer used.
Cull. Portions of a tree that are unusable for industrial wood products because
of rot, form or other defect.
Culmination of Mean Annual Increment. The age at which the average annual
growth is greatest for a stand of trees. Mean annual increment is expressed in
cubic feet measure and is based on expected growth according to the management
intensities and utilization standards assumed. Culmination of mean annual
increment (CMAI) includes regeneration harvest yields and any additional yields
from planned intermediate harvests.
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Desirable Trees. Growing-stock trees of timber species (a) having no serious
defects in quality limiting present or prospective use for timber products, (b) of
relatively high vigor, and (c) containing no pathogens that may result in death or
serious deterioration before rotation age.
Forest Land. Land at least 10% stocked with forest trees of any size, or
formerly forested lands not currently developed for non-forest uses. These lands
must be a minimum of 1 acre in area. Roadside, streamside and shelterbelt strips
of timber must have a crown width of at least 120 feet to qualify as forest land, and
unimproved roads, trails, streams, and clearings within forest areas are classified
as forest land if they are less than 120 feet wide. Forest land is divided into 2
categories; timberland and woodland.
Forest Tree. Woody plants having a well developed stem and usually more
than 12 feet high at maturity.
Forest Cover Types. A classification of forest land based upon the species
groups forming a plurality of live-tree stocking.
Gross Growth. Annual increase in net volume of trees in the absence of cutting
and mortality.
Growing-Stock Trees. Live trees of commercial species qualifying as desirable
or acceptable trees. Growing stock are live trees of timber species with less than 2/3
defect due to roughness or rot.
Long-Term Sustained Yield Capacity. The highest uniform wood yields from
lands being managed for timber production (Suited) that may be sustained under a
specified intensity of management consistent with multiple use objectives.
Marginal. (Pre-1980 terminology) A component of forest land suitable for
regulated timber production but not currently available because of constraints from
associated resource needs, high development costs and low product values, or
absence of market for the species or product available.
Mortality. Number or volume of live trees dying from natural causes during a
specified period, which were growing stock at the time of death.
Net Annual Growth. The increase in growing stock volume of a specified tree
size class for a specific year (Ingrowth + Accretion - Mortality).
Net Volume. Gross volume less deductions for rot, sweep, or other defect
affecting use for timber products.
Nonforest Land. Land that has never supported forests and lands formerly
forested where use for timber management is precluded by development for other
uses.
Nonstockable. Areas of forest land not capable of supporting tree seedlings
because of the presence of rock, water, etc.
Poletimber Size Trees. For inventory and stand size class determination
purposes, defined as trees 5.0 inches through 8.9 inches DBH.
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Potential Yield. (Pre-1980 terminology) The maximum harvest that can be
planned on a Forest from the regulated forest land to achieve the perpetual
sustained yield harvesting level with intensive forestry practices considering the
productivity of the land, conventional logging technology, standard silviculture
treatments, and inter-relationships with other resource uses and environment.
Rotation. The period of years between establishment of a stand of timber and
the time when it is considered ready for cutting and regeneration.
Rotten Trees. Live trees of timber species (generally considered capable of
producing industrial wood products) that are classified as cull primarily because of
rot.
Rough Trees. Live trees of timber species that do not meet Regional
specifications for freedom from defect primarily because of roughness or poor form.
All live trees of nontimber species.
Roundwood Products. Logs, bolts, or other round sections cut from trees for
industrial or consumer uses; includes sawlogs, veneer logs and bolts, cooperage logs
and bolts, pulpwood, fuelwood, piling, poles, posts, hewn ties, mine timbers, and
various other round, split, or hewn products.
Salvable Dead Trees. Standing or down dead trees with 50 percent of cubic
volume sound.
Saplings. For inventory and stand-size class determination purposes, defined
as trees 1.0 inch through 4.9 inches DBH.
Saw Log Portion. That part of the bole of sawtimber trees between the stump
and sawlog top.
Silvicultural System. There are two systems; even-aged and uneven-aged.
These systems use a combination of interrelated actions whereby forests are tended,
harvested and replaced.
Special. (Pre-1980 terminology) That component of the regulated forest land
suitable and available for timber production which is recognized in the Multiple Use
Plan as needing specially designed silvicultural treatment of the timber resource to
achieve landscape or other key resource objectives.
Stand. A plant community, particularly of trees, possessing sufficient
uniformity in regard to forest cover type, age class, risk class, vigor, stand-size
class, stocking class, slope, aspect, and habitat type as to be distinguishable from
adjacent communities and thus form a silvicultural or management unit.
Stand-Size Class. A classification of forest land based on the size-class of
growing stock trees on the area. Tree size class is not the same as merchantability
standards (which vary by Region and Forest) but is consistent Nation-wide for
inventory purposes.
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Sawtimber Stands. Forest stands at least 10 percent stocked with growing
stock trees 5.0 inches DBH and larger, and with the stocking of trees 9.0 inches
DBH and larger at least equal to the stocking of trees 5.0 - 8.9 inches DBH.
Poletimber Stands. Forest stands at least 10 percent stocked with growing
stock trees 5.0 inches DBH and larger, and with the stocking of trees 5.0 - 8.9 inches
DBH exceeding the stocking of trees 9.0 inches DBH and larger.
Seedling-Sapling Stands. Forest stands at least 10 percent stocked with
growing stock trees (all sizes) and the stand-size class is not poletimber or
sawtimber.
Nonstocked. Forest stands less than 10 percent stocked with growing stock
trees of all sizes.
Suppression. A reduction in the physiological processes of assimilation,
digestion, transpiration, photosynthesis, and accumulation to such an extent as to
lower the development of the expected tree size-tree age ratio.
Suited Forest Land. Lands designated by the Forest Plan to be managed for
timber production on a regulated basis.
Timberland. Forest land that is producing, or is capable of producing crops of
industrial wood. This includes both available and reserved forest land.
The primary criterion for assigning lands to this category, is the fact that the
species of trees involved are currently utilized or are likely to be utilized within the
next 10 years. These lands may or may not produce more than 20 cubic feet of wood
per acre per year.
Timber Production. The growing, tending, harvesting and regeneration of
regulated crops of industrial wood. Industrial wood includes logs, bolts or other
round sections cut from trees for industrial or consumer use, except fuelwood.
Timber Sale Program Quantity. The volume of timber planned for sale during
the first decade of the Forest Plan. It includes the allowable sale quantity
(chargeable volume) and any additional material (nonchargeable volume) planned
for sale.
Tree Size Class. A classification of trees based on diameter at breast height
including sawtimber trees, poletimber trees, saplings, and seedlings.
Unregulated. (Pre-1980 terminology) Forest land that is capable and available
but not organized for timber production under sustained yield principles; where
timber harvest is permissible but not a goal of management, such as Experimental
Forests, Ranger Stations, and isolated tracts so completely remote from
manufacturing centers that organizing periodic harvest is impractical.
Water
Census Water. Streams, sloughs, estuaries, and canals more than 660 feet
wide, and lakes, reservoirs, and ponds more than 40 acres in size.
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Non-Census Water. Streams, sloughs, estuaries, and canals more than 120 feet
and less than 660 feet in width, or lakes, reservoirs, and ponds 1 to 40 acres in size.
Woodland. Forest land NOT capable of producing crops of industrial wood.
This may be the result of adverse site conditions such as sterile soils, dry climate,
poor drainage, high elevation, rockiness, etc. Trees on woodland sites are usually of
poor form, small size, or inferior quality and as a consequence are not used for
industrial products. These sites generally contain tree species that are not
currently utilized for industrial wood production.
The primary criterion for assigning lands to this category, is the fact that the
species of trees involved are not currently utilized nor likely to be utilized within
the next 10 years. These lands may or may not produce more than 20 cubic feet of
wood per acre per year.