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Step 2: Inventory
Inventory begins by grouping trees and other vegetation
into "stands". The stand groupings include soil characteristics,
terrain, wildlife habitat as well as the type of forest. There may be
300 different stand types over the half million acres of a management
unit.
Forester operating a global positioning unit (GPS)
The groups or stands are sampled. This "cruise"
by the forestry team is intensive. Every tree in the sample is evaluated
for qualities such as diameter, species, height, age, quality and volume
of wood. Statistical sampling techniques are used. The results from
the sample are then applied to all the like groups in that area. (The
actual sample may only be one percent of the total trees in the inventory.)
Forester measuring tree for inventory update
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