Local Volume Equations and Tables for two Forest Management Units in Bhutan: An Attempt to Provide FMU Specific Estimate of Timber Volume for Sustainable Forest Management

• Published in: Bhutan Journal of Natural Resources and Development Vol. 7; no. 2; pp. 62 - 74
• Main Authors: Phuntsho, Younten, Tshering, Lha, Wangdi, Dorji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 31.12.2020
• ISSN: 2409-2797; 2409-5273
• DOI: 10.17102/cnr.2020.53

This study developed tree species specific local volume equations and tables for Lingmethang and Rongmanchu Forest Management Units. The field work was conducted between December, 2019 and January 2020. Data was collected for five species (Schima sp., Ltihocarpus sp., Acrocarpus fraxinifolius, Pinus roxburghii and Castanopsis tribuloides) for Lingmethang FMU and six species (Beilschmedia sp., Persea sp., Quercus sp., Alnus nepalensis, Schima wallichii and Cinnamomum sp.) of trees for Rongmanchu FMU. The height and diameter over bark were measured for every sample trees. Using the height and diameter, volumes for each sample tree was calculated and then the models generated were fitted with a minimum of 32 trees per species, which were destructively felled for the purpose. The models were run in R version 3.4.4. A total of 16 models were fitted and tested for each species. The selected models performed well with small deviation for individual trees.