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What Is a Forest Survey

A forest survey is a method used to map and evaluate the condition, structure, and productivity of a forest through systematic field measurements and statistical estimations.
The collected data serve as the foundation for sustainable forest management and conservation planning.

The most important parameters measured include:

  • Stand density and number of trees
  • Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) – trunk diameter measured at 1.3 m height
  • Tree height and height distribution
  • Basal area (sum of the cross-sectional areas of trees based on diameter)
  • Increment (annual wood volume growth)
  • Total volume (overall wood volume of the stand)
  • Species composition (which tree species are present and in what proportion)
  • Biomass and carbon stock estimation

Forest surveys are essential for every forestry organization — whether public or private — because economic decisions rely on this data.
Timber production, harvesting, reforestation, and long-term planning are all based on accurate forest inventory results.

Limitations​

❗ Time-consuming: field data collection and processing often take weeks or even months.

❗ Costly: surveys require significant labor and equipment, leading to high operational expenses.

❗ Accuracy limitations: sampling errors and statistical uncertainties can reduce the reliability of the results.