BRIEF ON NATIONAL FOREST INVENTORY NFI · 3MAR-SFM Working Paper 13/2007 Forests The flora of Bhutan is very rich because of the great range of altitudinal variation and zones. The

MAR-SFM Working Paper 13/ 2007

s Forestry Department

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

BRIEF ON NATIONAL FOREST INVENTORY

NFI

BHUTAN

Forest Resources Development Division

Rome, June 2007

MAR-SFM Working Paper 13/ 2007

Strengthening Monitoring, Assessment and Reporting (MAR) on

Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) FAO initiated activities to strengthen Monitoring, Assessment and Reporting on Sustainable Forest Management in January 2006 with the objective to facilitate development of harmonized forest related national monitoring, assessment and reporting (MAR) for contributing directly to the improvement of national sustainable forest management (SFM) regimes. It also aims to catalyze national discussions, analyses, policy actions and planning that promote national SFM regimes besides clarifying the contribution of forests to global environment and to human well-being. This initiative shares the ambition of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) about simple, harmonised, efficient and action oriented MAR systems both at international and national levels and thus provides a response to some of the key recommendations made by the CPF tack force on streamlining the reporting on forests with particular focus on national capacity building. The MAR recently updated goals include country capacity building for better, consistent and regularly updated information to facilitate implementation of non-legally binding instrument (NLBI) on SFM, adopted at UNFF 6 (2007) that aims to,

• Strengthen political commitment and action at all levels to implement effectively sustainable management of all types of forests and to achieve the shared four global objectives ((a) reverse the loss of forest cover worldwide, (b) enhance forest-based economic, social and environmental benefits, (c) increase significantly the area of protected forests worldwide, and (d) reverse the decline in official development assistance for SFM;

• Enhance the contribution of forests to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, in particular with respect to poverty eradication and environmental sustainability; and

• Provide a framework for national action and international cooperation. All countries can participate in this initiative, although the actual level and intensity of their involvement may vary among them. The initiative is organized under the Forest Resources Development Service (FOMR) of FAO Forestry Department. The contact persons are:

Peter Holmgren, Chief FOMR [email protected]

Kailash Govil, Senior Forestry Officer [email protected]

Monitoring Assessment and Reporting

Dan Altrell, Forestry Officer Dan [email protected]

Support to National Forest Assessments

DISCLAIMER

The MAR-SFM Working Paper Series is designed to reflect the activities and progress of the MAR on

SFM programme of FAO. Working Papers are not authoritative information sources – they do not reflect the

official position of FAO and should not be used for official purposes. Please refer to the FAO forestry website

(www.fao.org/forestry) for access to official information.

The MAR-SFM Working Paper Series provides an important forum for the rapid release of preliminary

findings needed for validation and to facilitate the final development of official quality-controlled publications.

Should users find any errors in the documents or have comments for improving their quality they should contact

[email protected] or [email protected].

iii

Brief Note on MAR-SFM Working Paper Series (AP) on NFI- Brief

The NFI – Brief for a country attempts to provide a bird’s eye view of the National Forest inventories

(NFI). However, some countries conduct forest inventories at sub-national and or field management

unit level. Therefore, this brief presents brief information on the forest inventories in a country at

national level, sub-national level and or field management level depending on the available

information.

It is useful to regularly update our understanding of elements and specifications of forest inventories

because the information generated by forest inventories is simply manifestation of its span, design and

methods to collect and analyse the primary information during its implementation. This is important

because the NFI provides information on the state and trends of forest resources, their goods and

services, and other related variables that support and many time define the policy and trade decisions,

science and field initiatives, national and international reporting, and direct and indirect contribution

of forests to society like poverty alleviation. Regular updates are necessary because countries do

change the set of elements, their specifications, designs and methods over period of time to address

new emerging demands and to take advantage of new technologies.

The purpose of developing the NFI-briefs is, therefore, to document (working paper) the current and

historical span of elements (variables or fields), their specifications, sampling designs and methods

used in NFI. The document may serve as data source as well as reference material.

These briefs have been initially developed on the basis of the country submission to FAO. The initial

draft of this report was sent to following national focal point for review and country validation before

its finalisation.

A. National Focal Point

B. Compilation and Supervision This report has been compiled by Mr. Marco Piazza under supervision of Dr. Kailash Govil, Senior

Forestry Officer, MAR.

Name Dr. Dhan Bahadur

Surname Dhital

Institute Forest Resources Development Division

Position Joint Director

Address Thimphu Bhutan

Telephone +975-2-325835

Fax +975-2-322560

E-mail [email protected]

E-mail 2 [email protected]

1MAR-SFM Working Paper 13/2007

Table of Contents

GENERAL INFORMATION ..................................................................................................................................... 2

LAND AREA AND LAND USES .............................................................................................................................. 2

FORESTS.............................................................................................................................................................. 3

BRIEF HISTORY OF FOREST INVENTORIES............................................................................................................ 4

Sampling Design for Phase I ......................................................................................................................... 5 Sampling Design for Phase II........................................................................................................................ 5

NATIONAL FOREST INVENTORY DESIGN ............................................................................................................. 9

Management Forest Inventory....................................................................................................................... 9 Sampling Design............................................................................................................................................ 9 Plot description ............................................................................................................................................10 Data Recording on Sample Plots..................................................................................................................11 Data Processing ...........................................................................................................................................13 Operational Level Forest Inventory .............................................................................................................13

CONTENT AND METHODOLOGY OF DATA COLLECTION IN NFI...........................................................................14

Geo-physical.................................................................................................................................................14 Bio-Physical .................................................................................................................................................14 Forest extent .................................................................................................................................................14 Forest characteristics (Naturalness) and forest type ...................................................................................15 Use (designated functions) of forests............................................................................................................15 Social Services..............................................................................................................................................15 Mapping of forest distribution......................................................................................................................16 Status of the forest and disturbances affecting forest health and vitality .....................................................16 Biodiversity...................................................................................................................................................16 Beneficiaries of forest goods and services....................................................................................................17 Economic value ............................................................................................................................................17 Policy, legal and institutions (PLI) framework ............................................................................................18

BIBLIOGRAPHIES AND REFERENCES FOR FURTHER READING..............................................................................19

List of Figures

Figure 1: Map of Bhutan

Figure 2. Country area and delineation of Inventory phases (1974-82)

Figure 3. Sampling used for Phase I inventory

Figure 4. Sampling Design used for Phase II III and IV

Figure 5. Size and shape of the sample plots

List of Tables

Table 1. Categorisation and projection of land use in Bhutan for 1990, 2000 and 2005

Table 2. Area of different forest types of Bhutan

Table 3. History of Assessments

Table 4: Specifications for the constituents concentric sub-plots of the sampling unit

Annexes: 1. Forest Management Inventory: Compass Sheet

2. Forest Management Inventory: Tally Sheet (2a and 2b)

3. Form - Stand and Stock Table –Number of trees per hectare

4. Form - Stand and Stock Table- Basal area per hectare

5. Form - Stand And Stock Table – Volume per hectare


General Information

The Kingdom of Bhutan is a landlocked Asian Nation located in the eastern Himalayan zone

of Asia between 88°45’ to 92° 08’ east longitude and between 26° 41’ to 28° 25’ north

latitude. It measures roughly 300 kilometres (E-W) by 150 kilometres (N-S). Bhutan is

bordered to the north by China (Tibet) and to the east, west and south by India. Its capital and

largest city is Thimphu.

Figure 2: Map of Bhutan

(Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bt.html)

Land Area and Land uses

The total geographical area of the country as per FAOSTAT is 47,000 square kilometres.

However as per the Land Cover figures of Bhutan, 1995 (National figures, Ministry of

Agriculture, Royal Government of Bhutan) the total area of the country is 40,077 square

kilometres1 and the following Table presents the categorisation and projection of land use in

Bhutan for 1990, 2000 and 2005 (FRA 2005).

Table 3. Categorisation and projection of land use in Bhutan for 1990, 2000 and 2005

Note: The total area of the country, as per Land Cover figures of Bhutan -1995 (National figures, Ministry of Agriculture, Royal Government

of Bhutan) is 4007 (000 ha). The country would like to maintain this for reporting. However to satisfy FRA 2005 guidelines, following

calibration has been done only for the purposes of FRA 2005.

1 The country would like to maintain this figure for reporting. However based on FRA 2005 guidelines,

following calibration has been done only for the purpose of FRA 2005.

Area (1000 hectares) FRA 2005 Categories

1990 2000 2005

Forest 3035 3141 3195

Other wooded land 566 609 611

Other land 1099 950 894

Inland water bodies 0 0 0

TOTAL 4700 4700 4700


Forests

The flora of Bhutan is very rich because of the great range of altitudinal variation and zones.

The total forest area of the country is estimated at 2.90 million ha (including scrub) and 2.6

million hectares if scrub forest is excluded (Table 2). The forest area figures shown in Table 1

above (FRA 2005) have been derived by proportionately stretching the following areas by a

factor of about 1.1.73 to match the total area of the country (see note below Table 1) which

have been reported to FRA 2005 below and to the FAOSTAT which is the global database for

land cover. The major forests types are broadleaved (34.3 percent) while the rest is conifer

( 26.5 percent). The details are given in Table 4.

Table 4. Area of different forest types of Bhutan

Source: Land Use Planninng Project (LUPP, 1995). Ministry of Agriculture, Thimpu, Bhutan

All the land in Bhutan which is not explicitly registered as private land has been declared to

be government reserved forests. The natural, ecological and climatic conditions of Bhutan

favour the forests as dominant form of land use. Due to both cultural and physical remoteness,

Bhutan has retained much of the natural vegetation, hence has a relatively intact natural forest

cover. Also due to a low population base, forest exploitation has been kept to a minimum, a

condition greatly in Bhutan’s favours for moving towards sustainable use of natural resources.

Bhutan ranks in the top ten percent of the world's countries with the greatest species diversity

(species richness per unit area). It has the highest percentage of land under Protected Area

system and the greatest proportion of forest cover compared to any Asian country. Many

ecologists believe that Bhutan represents the last best chance for the conservation of

biodiversity in the Eastern Himalayas, a region of critical importance. Bhutan has another

distinction among developing countries in that it has allocated 26.3 percent of its geographical

area to 4 National Parks, 3 Wildlife Sanctuaries and 1 strict Nature Reserve, even while it is

using loans to augment its financial resources for development.

Landuse category 1989(LUSS) (in 1000 ha.)

Fir 345.30

Mixed conifer 486.80

Blue pine 128.60

Chir pine 100.90

Conifer + broadleaf 135.80

Broadleaf 1374.90

Plantation 6.40

Sub Total 2578.7

Scrub 325.80

Pasture 156.40

Horticulture 5.80

Settlement 3.10

Others 598.50

Agriculture 308.80

Water spreads 30.40

Total 4007.50


The forests in Bhutan are generally managed under many variations of the following five

basic silvicultural systems: (a) selection-cum-improvement system for both broadleaved and

conifer forests, (b) seed tree system for chir pine and blue pine, (c) group selection system for

mixed conifer and spruce forests, (d) patch felling system and planting and (e) fir

management system. The forests vary significantly among Forest Management Units, leading

to the variations in the contents and depth of forest management plans.

Brief history of Forest Inventories

There have been three nation wide (or near-nation wide) landuse studies. The first was

conducted about 25 years ago with the support from the Government of India. This exercise

was carried between 1974 -1982 and covered roughly 70 percent of the country. Different

landuses including the forest types were identified from the examination of aerial photographs

that were taken, for the most part, in 1956-58. This Inventory was carried out in four phases,

viz; Phase I, II, III and IV. (see figure 2). In all the phases cluster sampling was used with

some modification in the subsequent phases.

Figure 2. Country area and delineation of Inventory phases (1974-82)

Source: FRDD, DOF.

In 1980 another national forest inventory was conducted with the financial and technical

support from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The report

titled “Report on remote sensing land use and vegetation mapping” was published in 1983.

The inventory was carried out through the analysis of three Landsat Images taken in 1977-78

which covered 97 percent of the country. Landuses and the vegetation type maps were

produced at a scale of 1:250,000.

Again in 1992 another national level inventory was conducted as part of the preparation of

Master Plan for Forestry Development of Bhutan with support from DANIDA. The report

was published in 1992. This study utilized panchromatic SPOT images for the identification

of landuses and vegetation types. The SPOT imageries were taken in 1989 at a scale of

1:50,000. They covered over 90 percent of the country.

A brief description of the design of the first national forest inventory is presented below:


Figure 3. Sampling used for Phase I inventory

Source: FRDD

Sampling Design for Phase I

The phase I of the Inventory was conducted in the north – western part of the country. The

sample blocks were systematically spaced 6 km x 6 km (grid km). Each sampling block

consisted of four sampling clusters with two sampling points at each cluster. The cluster

centres were located around the block centre in north, east, south and west direction at a

distance of one kilometre from the block centre. Each cluster had two sample points situated

at 100 meters from the cluster centre. The sample points were serially numbered from 1 to 8

in a clockwise direction starting from the western sample point of the northern cluster (see

figure 3 for details).

Sampling Design for Phase II

Two point single cluster sampling was adopted for this phase. This inventory was conducted

in in the southern, central and eastern part of the country. The design used was slight

modification from phase I sampling design. The clusters were spaced at 3 km x 3 km distance.

Each cluster had two sample points situated at 100 meters from the cluster centre, in north-

south direction. The cluster centres were marked on 1:50,000 grided map sheets with random

start and identified by serial numbers and grid reference of the map sheet. The details of the

sampling design is given in figure 4.

6 km

6 km

Block center

Block center

Block center

1 km

1km

1 2

3

4

5 6

7

8

Cluster center

Sample point Cluster center

100 m 100 m

FFiigguurree 11 FFiigguurree 22

FFiigguurree 33 PPhhaassee II


Figure 4. Sampling Design used for Phase II III and IV

3 KM

3KM Cluster centre

Cluster centre c.c.

c.c

100 m

100 m

Sample point

Sample point

North

Phase II, III and IV


Table 3. History of Assessments

Remote Sensing Publication

Year1

Title2 Institution

3

Ground Inv.

Year(s)4

Data Year(s)

5

Scale of Interpretation

6

Estimation Level

7

Country Coverage

(Full/Partial, %)8

Thematic cover**

1:250,000 National Full 1983 Forest Development in

Bhutan – RS Land Use

and Vegetation Mapping

Forest Dept. Thimpu, Bhutan

and FAO

1977,1978 3 Landsat Images

(1:250,000;

1:500,000; 1:100,000)

National Partial (93 %)

NF, PL, OWL, FAC, PA,

FO

1991 Plantation Records of

Bhutan,

Social Forestry and

Afforestation Sect. Dept.

For. Thimpu, Bhutan

Partial (Plantation

only)

PL (Age, Area, Location,

main species)

1992 Bhutan – Distribution of

landuse and Vegetation

types

Forest Dept. Thimpu,

Bhutan and DANIDA

1989 SPOT 1 Images

(1:50,000)

National Partial (77 out of

81 topo sheets for

Bhutan)

NF, PL, OWL, FAC, FO;

forest area classified into

2 crown cover classes:

60%>, <60%)

1996 National Re-afforestation

Strategy for Bhutan

Forest Services Div.,

Ministry of Agric.

Thimpu, Bhutan

1999 Partial (Plantation

only)

PL (Age, Area,)

1:100,000 District Full 1997 Atlas of Bhutan / Land

Use Planning Project

(LUPP)

Ministry of Agriculture,

Thimpu, Bhutan

1994

1:250,000 National Full

broad land cover classes;

NF, PL, OWL, FO

1:100,000 District

1:250,000 National

1999 GIS data with Forest

Dept.

Forest Dept. Thimpu,

Bhutan

1999

1:50,000 GIS cell National Full (81

toposheets)

NF, PL, OWL, PA,FO;

1999 GIS dataset of WWF

GIS cell, Bhutan

WWF, Thimpu, Bhutan 1994

(LUPP)

Partial: Protected

areas, 2 Nat. parks

NF, PL, OWL, PA, BD,

FO

1999 Field Inventory of

Different FMUs

Forest Resources Dev.

Section, of Forest Dept.

Thimpu, Bhutan

1980-

1999

FMU NF, PL, OWL, TV, CV,

FO, WSP

2000 Development of method

to link remote sensing

technology and GIS

Japan Forest Technical

Association and Dept. of

Forestry Services, Min. of

Agriculture, Bhutan

Landuse and forest

types

**Legend: NF=Natural Forest; PL=Plantations; OWL=Other Wooded land; FAC=Forest Area Change; TV=Total Volume; TB=Total Biomass; CV=Commercial Value; PA=Protected Areas;

BD=Biodiversity; FO=Forest Ownership; WSP=Wood Supply Potential; NWGS=Non-wood Goods and services; TOF=Trees outside of forest; FF=Forest Fires


Legend:

[1] Publication Year - Year in which the assessment was published

[2] Title - Title of the assessment

[3] Institution - Institution(s) responsible for the Assessment

[4] Ground Inventory Year(s) - Year or Interval of years during which the field inventory has been carried out

[5] Remote Sensing Data Year(s) - Year(s) of the Remote Sensing Images

[6] Remote Sensing Scale of Interpretation - Scale of Remote Sensing Images (e.g. 1:250,000)

[7] Estimation Level - Whether the Assessment was at National, Sub-national, District, Management Unit, etc. level

[8] Country Coverage (Full / Partial, %) - Amount of country area covered by the assessment (e.g. full, partial). If partial, indicated by % of total area


National Forest Inventory Design

In Bhutan forest inventories are conducted at three different levels, viz; (i) National

Forest Inventory (ii) Forest Management Inventory and (iii) Operational Inventory. The

designs, methodologies and the type data collected in each of these inventories are

described hereunder:

Management Forest Inventory

The management forest inventory, in Bhutan, is conducted at the Forest management

Unit (FMU) level which is basically a sub-national level or small forest area in coverage.

The Department of Forest conducts this inventory for preparing forest management plans

for Forest Management Units. Systematic sampling with random start is followed. In total

there are 18 FMUs covering a forest area of about 170,000 hectares. These FMUs are

distributed in 12 out of 20 districts (Dzongkhags). The forest management inventories are

repeated at an interval of 10 years covering the entire production area of a Forest

Management Unit.

Sampling Design

While designing the inventory, the following points are considered: (i) the objectives of

the inventory; (ii) the accuracy desired; (iii) the extent and nature of the area; (iv)

condition of the forests and; (v) costs. Based on the above-mentioned points, the forest

management inventories are designed with the following objectives:

(i) to provide a relatively accurate overview of the growing stock and

regeneration potential of the natural forest in the area, according to major

forest types;

(ii) To give an overview of the general site characteristics of the natural forest, in

terms of soils, non-tree vegetation and use by local people;

(iii) to provide an indication of timber quality in the different forest types;

(iv) to furnish essential data on tree height to enable the construction of local

volume tables for the main species;

Therefore, in order to capture the above mentioned information, the design and field

works are geared accordingly to collect the following information:

(i) species found in the area; (ii) stand types; (iii) volume per hectares; (iv) basal area per

hectares; (v) periodic annual increment per hectare, (vi) site condition of the area.

Because of the difficult terrain, the management inventories are designed aiming at

sampling error of ± 10 percent at confidence level of 95 percent. The numbers of sample

plots are calculated using the formula given below:


n = ( t2 * CV

2 )/SE%

2.

Where:

n = number of sample plots required,

t = t distribution ( at df = a, p= 0.05)

CV percent = Coefficient of variation (The average value of coefficient of

variation is taken to be 85 percent).

SE percent = Sampling error (SE percent was taken to be 10 percent).

Plot description

The sample plot laid out in the field for collecting the data is a combination of 3

overlapping circular sub-plots as shown in figure 5.

Figure 5. Size and shape of the sample plots

Source: FRDD

The outer circle has a radius of 12.62 metres, the middle circle has a radius of 5.64 metres

and the inner-most circle has a radius of 3.57 metres. The specifications for the

constituents concentric sub-plots of the sampling unit are given in Table 4.

Regeneration plot

Major plot

Minor plot


Table 4. Specifications for the constituents concentric sub-plots of the sampling unit

Sub-plot radius(m) area (m2 ) area (ha.) dbh of 'in' trees

Regeneration 3.57 40 0.004 0-9, taller than 1.30 m.

Minor 5.64 100 0.01 10-29 cm.

Major 12.62 500 0.05 30+ cm.

Source: FRDD

Data Recording on Sample Plots

At each sample plot the following data is recorded. The tally sheets used for recording the

data are given in annex 1, 2(a) and 2(b).

Plot identification

(i) Name of the inventory unit

(ii) Plot number

(iii) Any special observations

(iv) Altimeter reading

(v) Land use type

(vi) Canopy height

(vii) Canopy closure

(viii) Accessibility.

Site Characteristics

(i) Aspect

(ii) Stand condition

(iii) Non-tree vegetation

(iv) Sign of commercial wood extraction

(v) Sign of domestic wood extraction

(vi) Sign of grazing

(vii) Fire

(viii) Shifting cultivation etc. etc


Soil

(i) Stoniness cover

(ii) Depth litter + humus

(iii) Top soil colour

(iv) Top soil moisture

(v) Top soil texture

Wildlife

Wildlife observation is done only in the major plots for:

(i) Identification of the different species of animals; or

(ii) Recording the evidence of a particular species based on the signs.

Regeneration

The regeneration is recorded on the regeneration plots only. Recording is done for 1.30

metres height and up to 9cm. dbh. of the commercially valuable species.

Selection of Trees for Measurement

After recording general plot information, as described above, and field verification that

the plot is accessible and falling in the natural forest, the other data are collected from the

measurement of live trees having a dbh of 10 cm. and more.

Diameter measurement

Diameters at breast height (dbh) of all the sample trees are measured at 1.30 metres

height from the ground level using the diameter tapes.

Height measurement

Total tree height measurement is done only in the special plots. Every 4th

plot is

identified as the special plot. The heights of the trees are measured using the clinometers

and entered in the tally sheets.

Other Forest Characteristics

Other forest characteristics collected during inventory include: (i) Forest Zoning based on

functions, (ii) main forest function groups like Soil Conservation, Water and Watershed

Conservation, Social Functions, Nature Conservation, (iii) Road Buffer and (iv) Socio

Economic Data.


Data Processing

The data collected in the field are raw data and area processed through a number of steps

before they are ready as an inventory report. The compilation and processing are done

using the tailor-made <PLOT> data processing software developed especially for Forest

Resources Development Division, Department of Forests. The following steps are

followed while processing the inventory data.

1. Data entry in the <PLOT> Program

2. Manual data correction in the computer

3. Data validation in the <PLOT>

4. Preliminary stratification

5. Final stratification and calculation of the result

6. Preparation of local volume table

7. Printing of inventory result

Operational Level Forest Inventory

Besides the two levels of inventories described above, operational inventory is also

carried out in the compartment or sub-compartment of the Forest Management Units.

Each compartment or sub-compartment is inventoried once during the preparation of the

annual operational plan (OP) for the compartment or sub-compartment. The following

information are collected: (a) tree height (b) diameter of the tree and other site

information like (i) species found in the area; (ii) stand types; (iii) wildlife information

etc. Based on the information collected as mentioned above, the following tables are

prepared (i) number of trees per hectare (ii) basal area per hectare and (iii) volume per

hectare. The inventory results are tabulated as shown in annexure 3, 4 and 5.


Content and Methodology of data collection in NFI

Geo-physical

Bio-Physical

Forest extent

N SN MU Methodology

Geo-Coordinates X Field Survey/map (single trees are not geo

referenced)

Altitude X Field Survey / map

Topography X Field Survey / map

Orientation (or Aspect) X Field Survey / map

Slope X Field Survey / map

Soil X Field Survey (A pit of about 30 cm is dug near the

plot center)

Geological structure X Field Survey / map

Rainfall X Record

N SN MU Methodology

Number of trees X Field Survey Relascope of BAF 2 (Plot radius

factor = 0.3536) for dbh (ob) 1 cm. Trees that are

not inventoried consist of dead trees and trees

having less than 5 cm dbh are ignored. Permanent

sample plots are not maintained

Diameter of trees X Field Survey Height of trees X Field Survey Length of stem X Field Survey Stump height X Field Survey Age class X Field Survey (plantations only)

Branches

Twigs

Bark

Leaves

N SN MU Methodology

Forest land area X Map and Survey

Area of forest canopy/crown

cover X Survey

Area under forest management X Survey, Record

Area under formal forest

management plan X Record

Area under sustainable forest

management X Record

Forest area with certification Certification not done

Area under public owned forest Area under private owned

forest X Survey, Record, Consultation


Forest characteristics (Naturalness) and forest type

Use (designated functions) of forests

Social Services

N SN MU Methodology

Primary forest X Survey and Record

Modified natural forest

Semi-natural forest

Productive plantation X Survey and Record

Protective plantation X Survey and Record

Coniferous X Survey

Broadleaved X Survey

Mixed forest X Survey

Forest area by dominant

species (bamboo, mangroves,

rubber)

X Survey

Forest area by ecological zone

(tropical, subtropical,

temperate, boreal, polar)

X Survey

N SN MU Methodology

Area of forest under production X Survey, Plans

Area of forest for protection of

soil and water X Survey, Plans

Area of forest for conservation

of biodiversity X Survey, Records and Plans

Area of forest for social services X Survey

Area of forest for multiple

purpose X Survey, Plans

Forest area available for wood

supply X Survey

Forest area within protected

areas X Survey

N SN MU Methodology

Area of forest managed for

recreation

X Survey, Records, Map


tourism


Area of forest used for

education



conservation of

cultural/spiritual site



Mapping of forest distribution

Status of the forest and disturbances affecting forest health and vitality

Biodiversity

N SN MU Methodology

Distribution of forests X Remote Sensing Survey

Forest Characteristics X Survey, Records

Land use X Survey and Map

Administrative/political/legal

boundaries

X Survey, Records

Designated functions of forests X Survey, Records

Other wooded land X Survey, Records, Map

Other land with tree cover X Survey, Records, Map

Other land X Survey

N SN MU Methodology

Disturbance by insects X Survey, Estimation, Record

Disturbance by diseases X Survey, Estimation, Record

Disturbance by other biotic

agents

X Survey, Estimation, Record

Disturbance by fire Survey

Disturbance caused by other

abiotic factors

X Survey, Estimation, Record

N SN MU Methodology

Tree species X Survey

Shrub species X Survey Herbs species X Survey Endangered species X Survey

Critically endangered species X Survey, Record

Vulnerable species X Survey, Record

Native species X Survey

Endemic species X Survey, Record

Introduced species X Survey, Record


Beneficiaries of forest goods and services

Economic value

N SN MU Methodology

By locality of user (e.g.

indigenous/local/national)?

X Record

By good/service (e.g. timber,

fuelwood, NWFP,

bamboo/rattan, water, etc) used

by them

X Record

By economic class of the

beneficiaries (high, medium,

low income)

By level of dependency on forest

(as percentage of total

employment)

X Record

By physical accessibility to the

forest (distance from forest)

N SN MU Methodology

Removal of timber X Record, Economic Survey

Removal of fuelwood X Record, Economic Survey

Removal of other wood

products

X Record, Economic Survey (all types of NWFP

removed are recorded)

Removal of wood products

derived from forest under

sustainable management

X Record, Economic Survey

Removal of wood products

derived from forest plantations X Record, Economic Survey

Removal of non wood forest

products X Record, Economic Survey

Annual allowable cuts/yields X Economic Survey, Estimation

Social services X Record

Environmental services

Employment X Economic Survey, Estimation

Support to livelihood of

communities X Economic Survey, Estimation

Market price/cost of wood in

forest X Info not available

Market price/cost of non wood

forest products X Info not available

Estimate of value of social

services X Record

Estimate of value of

environmental services

Estimate of value of

employment X Record

Estimate of the contribution of

forest sector to national

economy

X Record


Policy, legal and institutions (PLI) framework

N SN MU Methodology

Forest policy X Reports, Documents

Forest legislation X Reports, Documents

Forest administration X Reports, Documents

Forest education and research X Reports, Documents

Annual outlay, expenditure,

investment in forestry sector

X Records, Survey


Bibliographies and References for further reading

FAO 2000. Forest Resources Assessment 2000. Country Report – Bhutan. FRA WP 14

http://www.fao.org/docrep/007/ad103e/ad103e00.htm

FAO 2005. Forest Resources Assessment 2005. Country Report - Bhutan WP145

http://www.fao.org/forestry/site/32245/en/

Dhital, D.B. 2000. Forest management planning in Bhutan. Presentation at FAO South Asian

Regional Workshop on Planning, Database and Networking for Sustainable Forest Management held

23-26 May in Thimphu Bhutan. FRA working paper 45.

http://www.fao.org/docrep/007/ad676e/ad676e15.htm#P1451_129564

Additional Information Sources

FAO/UNEP 1981 Tropical Forest Resources Assessment Project (in the framework of the Global

Environment Monitoring System - GEMS) Forest Resources of Tropical Asia. UN 32/6.1301-78-04

Technical Report 3. Report prepared by FAO/UNEP. Rome.

FAO/UNDP 1983. Forestry Devlopment in Bhutan. Report on Remote Sensing Land Use and

Vegetation Mapping by C.S. Negi. BHU/75/007/1983. Rome.

FAO 1994. Forest Resources Assessment 1990. Country briefs. Rome.

Land Use Planning Project (LUPP) 1994. The Land Use Mapping of Bhutan 1993 to 1994

Methodology Used and Experiences Gained Summary Report. Sustainable Land Use. Guidelines for

Bhutan Vol VII.3. Ministry of Agriculture, Thimphu, Bhutan.

Land Use Planning Project (LUPP) 1997. Atlas of Bhutan . 1:250,000 - Land cover & area

statistics of 20 Dzongkhags.

RGOB 1995. Land Cover Figures of Bhutan (National figures), Ministry of Agriculture, Royal

Government of Bhutan.

RGOB 1999. Japan Forest Technical Association and Department of Forestry Services, Ministry of

Agriculture, Royal Government of Bhutan.


Apr '94 FOREST MANAGEMENT INVENTORY: COMPASS SHEET 1/1

Line Identification

1. inventory unit .................................. 4. sheet number

2. from plot 5. crew leader ..................................

3. to plot 6. date / /

7. azimuth

Line Description

slope correction

dist (m) slope% dist (m) land use type tree canopy remarks

horiz up down slope code height (m) closure (%)

1 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

2 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

3 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

4 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

5 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

6 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

7 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

8 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

9 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

10 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

11 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

12 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

13 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

14 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

15 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

16 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

17 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

18 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

19 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

20 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

21 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

22 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

23 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

24 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

25 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

26 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

27 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

28 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

29 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

30 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

31 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

32 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

33 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

34 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

35 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

36 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

37 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

38 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

39 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

40 <5 <10 <20 <30 30+ <10 <40 40+ .........................

(sum)

8. Remarks: .................................................................................................…

Annexure 1


Apr '94 FOREST MANAGEMENT INVENTORY: TALLY SHEET 1/2

Plot Identification

1. inventory unit .................................. 6. date / /

2. plot number 7. altimeter

8. land use type

3. special? (Y) (N) 9. canopy height <5 <10 <20 <30 30+

4. sheet number 10. canopy closure <10 <40 40+

5. crew leader .............................… 11. accessible? (Y) (N) (if not, remark)

If plot not accessible, or LUT no natural forest/tall bamboo: stop recording here

Trees 10+ cm dbh

(dbh 30+ cm on major plot, r < 12.62 m; dbh 10-29 cm on minor plot, r < 5.64 m)

conifer

spe tot % log grades rad brk

species code dbh cial hgt P A B C I X inc thk

1 ...........................................

2 ...........................................

3 ...........................................

4 ...........................................

5 ...........................................

6 ...........................................

7 ...........................................

8 ...........................................

9 ...........................................

10 ...........................................

11 ...........................................

12 ...........................................

13 ...........................................

14 ...........................................

15 ...........................................

16 ...........................................

17 ...........................................

18 ...........................................

19 ...........................................

20 ...........................................

21 ...........................................

22 ...........................................

23 ...........................................

24 ...........................................

Regeneration < 10 cm dbh

(1.30 m height - 9 cm dbh of commercial species on regeneration plot, r < 3.57 m)

species code nr

1 ...........................................

2 ...........................................

3 ...........................................

4 ...........................................

5 ...........................................

6 ...........................................

7 ...........................................

8 ...........................................

Annexure 2(a)


FOREST MANAGEMENT INVENTORY: TALLY SHEET 2/2

Site

(observations on major plot)

aspect

12. azimuth, downhill 13. slope % down 14. slope % up

stand condition

15. common mistletoe (Y) (N) 17. bark beetle (Y) (N)

16. dwarf mistletoe (Y) (N) 18. dieback fir (Y) (N)

non-tree vegetation

19. understorey cover % none <2 <10 <40 40+

if so, main type moss grass herbs bamboo < 5m shrubs < 2m shrubs 2<5 m

20. bamboo cover % none <2 2+

if so, main type spreading clump

dbh (cm) <2 2<4 4+

21. cane cover % none <2 2+

if so, dbh (cm) <2 2+

22. Daphne cover % none <2 2+

signs of

23. commercial wood extraction (Y) (N) 26. fire (Y) (N)

24. domestic wood extraction (Y) (N) 27. abandoned shifting cultivation (Y) (N)

25. grazing (Y) (N) 28. cardamom cultivation (Y) (N)

soil

29. stoniness cover <70x70cm <4x4m <9x9m >=9x9m

30. depth litter+humus (cm) none <2 2<5 5+

31. topsoil moisture dry moist permanent-wet

32. topsoil colour dark reddish yellowish

33. topsoil texture sand l.sand s.loam loam clay

Wildlife

(observations on major plot)

species code evidence code

1 ........................................... ...........................................

2 ........................................... ...........................................

3 ........................................... ...........................................

4 ........................................... ...........................................

5 ........................................... ...........................................

34. general remarks

Annexure 2(b)


Stand and Stock Table –Number of trees per hectare Annexure 3

1. inventory area

2. stratum

3. nr. of sampling units

4. estimated parameter (report all values

to 2 decimals)

Dbh class (cm)

Species group 10-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-89 90-99 100-109 110-119 120+ total %

Persea

Castonopsis

Oak

Hard wood

total conifer

total broadleaf

total all species

%


Stand and Stock Table- Basal area per hectare Annexure 4

1. inventory area

2. stratum


4. estimated parameter (report all values to

2 decimals)

Dbh class (cm)


Persea

Castonopsis

Oak

Hard wood

total conifer

Persea spp.

Castanopsis

oak

Hard wood

total broadleaf

total all species

%


Stand And Stock Table – Volume per hectare Annexure 5

1. inventory area

2. stratum


4. estimated parameter (report all values to

2 decimals)

Dbh class (cm)


Persea

Castonopsis

Oak

Hard wood

total conifer

Persea spp.

Castanopsis

Oak

Hard wood

total broadleaf

total all species

%