A Study on the Accuracy and Precision of Estimation of the Number, Basal Area and Standing Trees Volume per Hectare Using of some Sampling Methods in Forests of NavAsalem

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the accuracy and precision estimation of the number, basal area and volume of the standing trees by methods of random and systematic random sampling in the forests of West Guilan. The cost or inventory time was determined using the criteria (E% × T). Inventory was carried out by complete sampling (census) in an area of hectares. The study area (section , district , Nav forests, Asalem) was divided into rectangular plots ( m× m) and each plot was measured separately. Measured characteristics were the kind of tree species, diameter at breast height and height. After inventory operation, the study area was stratified based on forest density. In each stratum, sampling was carried out by simple random sampling and systematic random sampling. The results showed that implementation of stratified sampling has reduced the sampling error and increased the sampling time for estimating the characteristics of abundance, basal area and standing volume of trees per ha in the study area. Amount of criterion (E% × T) in stratified sampling was less than sampling without stratification and between stratified samplings; stratified random systematic sampling had the lowest value. Therefore, among the studied methods, stratified random systematic sampling, due to high precision and minimum criteria of (E% × T), was a suitable method for evaluation of the number, Basal area and volume of standing trees in the study area.