Home > Academic theses (ETDs) > Bachelor's theses > Methods for estimating aboveground biomass of tropical forest and their applications within the SAFE project in Borneo (Sabah, Malaysia)
Original title:
Methods for estimating aboveground biomass of tropical forest and their applications within the SAFE project in Borneo (Sabah, Malaysia)
Authors:
Volánek, Jiří Document type: Bachelor's theses
Year:
2014
Language:
eng Abstract:
Traditional non-destructive practices of aboveground biomass (AGB) estimation of tropical forest are reviewed in this thesis. Suitable published allometric methods are explained and applied to data collected in-situ on 24 SAFE Project plots in Borneo with particular attention being paid to small stem diameter trees (< 10 cm diameter at breast height). The AGB of logged-over secondary plots is estimated through the use of eight different allometric equations including pantropic, site-specific and small stem diameter suitable models. Resulting values of AGB estimation are reviewed and the performance of chosen allometric models compared to assigned plot quality score. Results show that the difference in AGB estimation is sizeable and considerably varies amongst and within plots. Also, that certain pantropic models may overestimate the AGB of the SAFE Project census plots. The error created by omitting trees with DBH < 10 cm, as established census protocols do, is far from insignificant and can produce underestimations in the range of 2.25 to 40.76%.
Keywords:
aboveground biomass; allometric equation; secondary forest