Optimal sampling strategy for timber inventory planning in commercial plantations of Tectona grandis L.f.

Abstract

The state of Quintana Roo occupies the second national place in timber production of broadleaf species, of which Bursera simaruba and Metopium brownei are relevant, from the value of their wood and wide distribution. The functions that estimate the stem and commercial volume, in addition to the taper and the volume ratio are important in the elaboration of a forest management program. The aim of this study was to fit a nonlinear function that estimates trade volume for two species in central and southern Quintana Roo. A commercial volume model with random effects was fitted at the tree level, using the mensuration data from 188 and 133 trees for each species, respectively, and all the diameter categories found in these forest ecosystems were covered. The best combinations of inclusion of the random effects were chosen according to the maximum likelihood. The proposed equations have an average bias when estimating the commercial volume for the two species of 0.0045 m3 and an explanation greater than 90 % of the sample variability. The resulting equations may be used in the timber estimation of the sustainable forest management programs of tropical forests at the central and southern territories of the state.