The Spanish National Forest Inventory: history, development, challenges and perspectives

• Main Authors: Iciar Alberdi, Isabel Cañellas, Roberto Vallejo Bombín
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Embrapa Florestas 2017-09-01
• Series: Pesquisa Florestal Brasileira
• Subjects: Monitoring; Biodiversity; Forest assessment
• Online Access: https://pfb.cnpf.embrapa.br/pfb/index.php/pfb/article/view/1337

It is important to have a statistically robust forest information data base which can be updated and can provide long-term information. National Forest Inventories (NFI) provide one of the best large-scale sources of information, and therefore are a cornerstone of forest policies. The scopes of NFIs, which are the primary source of data for national and large-area assessments, has been broadened to include new variables to meet increasing information requirements. This paper describes the history, methodology and guidance of Spanish NFI and international requirements. The current objectives are determined by analysing future perspectives and possible direction of future assessments. These objectives include harmonization of NFI, open data source and to broaden the number of field variables monitored (multi-objective inventory) in order to effectively fulfil information requirements.