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Estimates and standard error of the estimates

The results published in the NFI tables are estimates for variables in the Swiss forest (population parameters) whose true values are not known and must therefore be extrapolated (estimated) from the NFI sample data.

The extrapolations carry uncertainties. However, the accuracy of the extrapolations can be reliably estimated from the NFI sample, which is designed to be a random sample. To this end, all NFI tables include a second figure in addition to the estimate itself, namely the standard error of the estimate.

In most tables the percent standard error is reported (±%), but the absolute standard error (±) is also reported occasionally, especially for estimated percentages. The relationship between absolute and percent standard error is as follows:

percent standard error = absolute standard error / estimate × 100

absolute standard error = percent standard error × estimate / 100

Information on the forest road network is based on a full survey of all forest roads. In this case, there is no need to specify a standard error because there is no uncertainty caused by sampling.

Confidence interval of the estimate

With the estimate and the standard error of the estimate, the limits of the so-called confidence interval of the estimate can be calculated as:

lower limit = estimate – tQ × absolute standard error

upper limit = estimate + tQ × absolute standard error

If the simple standard error is used for the calculation (tQ = 1), then the 68% confidence interval is formed. In this case, the true value of the population parameter has a 68% probability of lying within this confidence interval of the estimate. If the double standard error is used (tQ = 2), then there is a 95% probability that the true value lies within this 95% confidence interval.

Significance of the estimate

The confidence interval can be used to statistically test whether the estimated population parameter is larger or smaller than a specific reference or target value, or whether two estimated population parameters truly differ (in the real population). For practical applications, proceed as follows: if a reference value lies outside the confidence interval, the estimated population value can be interpreted as being significantly different from it; if it lies within the confidence interval, the difference between the estimated population parameter and the reference value can be interpreted as random or not significant. When two population parameters are compared, they can be interpreted as differing significantly if their confidence intervals do not overlap.

Dealing with missing values

When calculating a results table, data are not always available for all combinations of characteristics^* of the classification variables and regional demarcation applied. In most cases, this indicates that the attribute estimated with the respective target variable does not occur or occurs only very rarely. Usually, the value 0 is used (imputed). However, as this value is not based on direct measurements, the associated standard error is represented with a full stop [.]. If the imputed value of 0 is referred to in the calculation, e.g. in the case of percentages or certain change estimates, no value can be entered. In this case, the estimated value and standard error are both represented with a full stop [.].

For example, no Arolla pines have been found and measured in the Swiss Plateau to date (growing stock of Arolla pines by production region). The values can be assumed to be missing because Arolla pine does not occur in the Swiss Plateau and therefore the growing stock there must be 0.

^* e.g. ‘Arolla pine’ characteristic of the classification variable ‘tree species’ and ‘Swiss plateau’ characteristic of the ‘regional demarcation’

Changes

There are two types of changes in the NFI:

The first type involves specific target variables relating to components of change, such as increment, fellings, mortality and losses. These target variables are only available for two consecutive inventory cycles, e.g. NFI3–NFI4. In the evaluation of components of change, the classification variable characteristic of the second inventory cycle is assigned to the first inventory cycle. These evaluations therefore do not take into account potential changes in a classification variable characteristic from the earlier to the later inventory (e.g. from private to public ownership).

With the second type of change, the difference in target variables, such as number of stems, growing stock or forest area, is used to assess the change between two inventory cycles. Target variables are generally used to represent states, such as that in NFI4, but can also indicate the net change between any two inventory cycles, e.g. NFI1–NFI4. In evaluations of change using these target variables, the change in a classification variable characteristic is considered in the analysis. Consequently, one can detect, for example, that the forest area without shrub forest increased between the two inventory cycles. This only has an effect on classification variables whose characteristic (class) can actually change, e.g. the affiliation with a forest area or the tree condition.

NFI2–NFI3
bolewood harvested
ownership (2 categories) · conifers and broadleaves
regional demarcation: canton
unit: 1000 m³/yr
evaluation area: accessible forest without shrub forest NFI2/NFI3
grid: 1.4-km grid
change 1993/95–2004/06
		canton
		AG		AI		AR		BE		BL/BS		FR		GE		GL		GR		JU		LU		NE		NW		OW		SG		SH		SO		SZ		TG		TI		UR		VD		VS		ZG		ZH		Switzerland
ownership (2 categories)	conifers and broadleaves	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%	1000 m³/yr	±%
n/a	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	conifers	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	broadleaves	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	indeterminable	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	total	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
public	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	conifers	263	17	3	73	16	42	474	11	33	50	224	18	1	81	21	49	244	12	98	20	94	28	73	20	8	55	82	29	135	26	27	30	136	24	78	31	86	35	23	44	33	38	255	14	107	20	36	36	192	18	2670	4
	broadleaves	160	15	0	0	6	53	163	15	91	28	39	34	4	63	3	62	7	41	80	27	10	62	25	26	6	66	9	68	18	38	26	31	97	19	12	41	36	30	12	30	2	53	102	15	2	49	6	41	84	20	952	6
	indeterminable	0	0	0	.	0	0	0	0	0	.	0	0	0	.	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.	0	.	0	0	0	0	0	.	0	0	0	.	0	0	0	0	0	.	0	0	0	0	0	.	0	.	0	0
	total	423	13	3	73	23	40	637	10	124	25	262	17	5	59	24	44	251	12	179	17	104	27	98	18	14	49	90	28	153	24	53	24	233	17	90	29	122	27	35	31	35	37	357	12	108	19	42	34	276	15	3622	4
private	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	conifers	50	43	3	54	36	47	610	10	8	59	108	25	0	0	0	100	36	37	37	36	232	18	73	29	6	69	9	50	134	27	1	90	11	64	32	43	97	31	1	100	3	57	79	34	27	47	8	100	150	20	1716	6
	broadleaves	32	37	1	96	5	57	55	20	6	82	18	30	1	100	7	75	7	58	15	45	32	39	5	44	10	81	4	74	22	35	0	0	7	44	5	52	27	33	18	38	3	69	32	32	4	48	1	71	48	31	354	9
	indeterminable	0	.	0	.	0	0	0	0	0	.	0	0	0	.	0	.	0	0	0	.	0	0	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	0	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.	0	.	0	0
	total	82	33	4	61	41	46	665	10	13	64	126	23	1	100	8	73	42	36	53	30	264	17	77	28	15	76	13	53	157	25	1	90	18	50	37	39	124	27	19	41	6	55	111	27	30	42	10	87	198	18	2069	6
total	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	conifers	313	16	6	47	53	35	1085	7	41	42	332	15	1	81	21	48	279	12	136	18	326	15	146	18	14	43	91	27	269	19	28	29	146	23	111	26	183	23	24	43	36	36	334	13	133	18	44	35	341	13	4381	3
	broadleaves	191	14	1	96	11	39	216	12	97	26	56	25	6	54	11	55	14	35	96	23	42	33	29	23	16	56	12	52	41	26	26	31	105	18	16	33	63	22	30	26	5	46	134	13	5	36	8	36	133	17	1307	5
	indeterminable	0	0	0	.	0	0	0	0	0	.	0	0	0	.	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.	0	.	0	0	0	0	0	.	0	0	0	.	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.	0	.	0	0
	total	504	12	7	47	63	33	1301	7	137	23	388	14	6	52	32	38	293	12	231	15	368	14	175	16	30	46	103	25	309	17	54	23	251	16	127	24	246	19	54	25	41	33	467	11	139	18	52	32	474	11	5688	3

Table citation

Abegg, M.; Ahles, P.; Allgaier Leuch, B.; Cioldi, F.; Didion, M.; Düggelin, C.; Fischer, C.; Herold, A.; Meile, R.; Rohner, B.; Rösler, E.; Speich, S.; Temperli, C.; Traub, B.,
2023: Swiss national forest inventory - Result table No. 1352635. Birmensdorf, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL

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