Could National Forest Inventory protocols be used in Urban Forest Inventories?

Skudnik M., Vochl S. & Mali B.

used in Urban Forest Inventories?

Milano, 17th June, 2014 EMoNFUr final conference

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSIONS

• Urban forests play a significant role in the modern urban environment.

• Because of their pronounced ecological and social functions, they not only maintain and increase the biodiversity of ecosystems but also significantly affect the quality of people’s living environment.

• The urban forests compared to other types of forest, have a strong emphasis on multidisciplinary approach.

• A classic forestry has not always been able to meet the specific requirements of urban settings.

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSIONS

Provisioning Services

Products obtained from ecosystems

Food (chestnut ...)Fresh waterWoodFiberBiochemicals

RegulatingServices

Benefits obtained from regulation of

ecosystem processes

Climate regulationDisease regulationWater regulationWater purificationPollination

CulturalServices

Nonmaterial benefits obtained from ecosystems

SpiritualRecreationEcotourismAestheticInspirational

ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

are benefits people obtain from ecosystems

Biochemicals

etc.

PollinationC sequestrationBiodiversity

etc.

InspirationalEducationalSense of place

etc.

Supporting ServicesServices necessary for the production of all other ecosystem services

- Soil formation - Nutrient cycling - Primary productionMillennium Ecosystem Assessment Board

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSIONS

INTRODUCTION METHODSMETHODS RESULTS CONCLUSIONS

SAMPLING DESIGN

• National Forest Monitoringsurvey which bases onsample grid 4 x 4 km overthe Slovenian country.

• Down-scaled to samplinggrid 500 x 500 m (250 x 250grid 500 x 500 m (250 x 250m)

INTRODUCTION METHODSMETHODS RESULTS CONCLUSIONS

SAMPLING DESIGN• In year 2013 permanent forest monitoring plots were established at urban forest Rožnik in

Ljubljana.• The total number of plots was 32 and are located on sampling grid 500 x 500 m (selected

on 250 x 250 m).

INTRODUCTION METHODSMETHODS RESULTS CONCLUSIONS

MEASURED OR ASSESED VARIABLES:

1. site characteristic (gps location,exposition, canopy closure,development phase, etc.),

2. standing live trees (dbh ≥ 10 cm)(species, status, position, dbh,(species, status, position, dbh,defoliation, damages etc.),

3. dead wood (type, species,volume etc.).

4. small trees (dbh < 10 cm &height > 1.3 m) (species, dbh,height, damage, origin)

INTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTSRESULTS CONCLUSIONS

Provisioning Services: Forest management (timber)

AverageGS: 411.5 m3/haBA: 40.7 m2/haTree nr: 547.6 /ha

INTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTSRESULTS CONCLUSIONS

Provisioning Services:Other non-wood products

Number of chestnut treesNumber of oak trees

INTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTSRESULTS CONCLUSIONS

Regulating Services: Deadwood

Regulating Services:Invasive tree species

Average – 23.9 m3/ha

deadwood type

average volume [m3/ha]

tree.standing 2.16tree.downed 13.54stump 2.38snag 1.64cwd 4.17sum 23.89

INTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTSRESULTS CONCLUSIONS

Regulating Services: Biodiversity

INTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTSRESULTS CONCLUSIONS

Regulating Services: Carbon sequestration

C pool mean[t/ha]

sd [t/ha] min [t/ha] max [t/ha]

Cbgb 22.49 7.80 9.79 43.04Cagb 111.89 37.36 48.12 206.73Cdwb 3.85 5.03 0.00 20.70Csum 138.23 44.28 57.91 250.43

INTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTSRESULTS CONCLUSIONS

Cultural Services: Recreation, Aesthetic,

Number of thick treesDevelopment phase structureHealthy trees - defoliation

INTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

• With the presented results we showed the possibility of using NFI protocols for assessing the state of urban forests.

• Numerous additional variables should be included, especially those important to assess the Regulating and Cultural ecosystem services.

• Different professionals should be included with their knowledge (horticulture + landscape architecture + urban planning + landscape ecology + social sciences + forestry)architecture + urban planning + landscape ecology + social sciences + forestry)

• Monitoring of urban forest should be divided on two levels:1. GIS analysis (relief, inclination, forest fragmentation, stand maps, forest functions)2. Field analysis - sampling (tree data, deadwood data, …)

• State and possibilities of natural resources (forest) + information on interests of different actors (NGOs, forest owners, citizens, municipality, public organizations etc.)

Acknowledgments:Acknowledgments:Work was financed by the Life project EMoNFUr and

municipality of Ljubljana

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!