Abstract

ROLDAN-CORTES, María Angélica et al. Sampling estimators for an inventory of commercial eucalyptus forest plantations in southeastern Mexico. Rev. mex. de cienc. forestales [online]. 2014, vol.5, n.26, pp.38-57. ISSN 2007-1132.

This study is based on data from Eucalyptus urophylla plantations, property of Forestaciones Operativas de México S. A. de C. V., established in the municipalities of Agua Dulce and Las Choapas, in the state of Veracruz. A forest inventory seeks balance between the minimum implementation cost and the maximum confidence levels and statistical accuracy. This balance is critical, particularly in inventories of forest plantations on extensive lands. This study draws upon data from operative inventories to evaluate various estimators of classic samplings in commercial eucalyptus forest plantations in order to determine an optimal scheme that may take into account the maximum permissible sampling error and at the same time allow cost reduction. The results suggest that the estimator regarded as the best for this population was the total volume/age proportion (ratio), stratified by age classes. The total volume/baseline area ratio stratified by plots proved to be the most accurate. For the first case, within a 5 % sampling error threshold, it is possible to reduce the sample size by 84.7 %; in the second, it can be reduced by 89.9 %.

Keywords : Estimator; Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake; forest inventory; sampling method; forest plantation; stratified ratio.