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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.

NFI4
number of deadwood stems
deadwood: mechanical strength of wood (3 classes) · deadwood: number of fungi species (3 classes)
regional demarcation: economic region
unit: 1000 n
evaluation area: accessible forest without shrub forest NFI1-NFI5
grid: 1.4 km grid, subgrids 1-5
state 2009/17
		economic region
		Western Jura		Eastern Jura		Western Plateau		Central Plateau		Eastern Plateau		Western Pre-Alps		Central Pre-Alps		Eastern Pre-Alps		Northwestern Alps		Central Alps		Northeastern Alps		Southwestern Alps		Southeastern Alps		Southern Alps		Switzerland
deadwood: mechanical strength of wood (3 classes)	deadwood: number of fungi species (3 classes)	1000 n	±%	1000 n	±%	1000 n	±%	1000 n	±%	1000 n	±%	1000 n	±%	1000 n	±%	1000 n	±%	1000 n	±%	1000 n	±%	1000 n	±%	1000 n	±%	1000 n	±%	1000 n	±%	1000 n	±%
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	0	0	0	0
	0	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	1	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	2 or more	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	0	0	0	0
fresh/firm wood	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	0	2232	11	693	20	533	27	621	21	792	18	1345	19	2781	18	1820	21	1654	17	691	26	632	24	3510	13	3317	11	4536	11	25158	4
	1	471	20	69	54	79	41	111	38	137	32	272	30	268	24	399	26	322	39	111	44	66	43	373	22	304	23	1016	18	3999	8
	2 or more	28	75	7	100	7	100	8	100	0	.	6	100	24	79	14	100	14	71	7	100	15	100	85	84	26	77	134	38	375	26
	total	2731	10	769	21	618	25	740	19	929	16	1624	18	3072	17	2234	20	1990	17	810	24	714	22	3968	13	3647	11	5686	10	29532	4
rotten wood	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	0	1214	13	115	38	269	28	327	26	456	21	575	22	1128	18	528	23	1184	20	338	28	443	31	1482	15	1144	15	1590	15	10793	5
	1	281	27	50	53	118	33	65	47	137	34	201	32	455	23	190	33	266	32	57	88	47	50	263	30	257	26	349	27	2737	9
	2 or more	88	52	17	100	31	71	17	100	40	58	68	74	105	59	27	75	7	100	0	.	0	.	54	69	26	77	32	71	512	22
	total	1583	13	182	34	417	22	409	22	634	20	844	20	1689	16	744	19	1458	20	395	29	490	29	1800	14	1426	15	1972	14	14043	5
mouldering/mull wood	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	0	725	19	210	31	327	31	315	25	380	23	476	29	748	18	485	25	872	24	204	38	429	29	1162	16	1031	16	683	21	8045	6
	1	174	37	0	.	47	54	103	37	171	33	116	36	119	33	126	33	71	38	28	50	32	63	134	34	236	29	272	33	1629	11
	2 or more	9	100	0	.	17	100	46	49	51	58	0	.	9	100	15	100	0	.	0	.	0	.	18	100	18	100	19	100	203	27
	total	909	18	210	31	391	30	464	22	601	20	592	26	875	17	626	21	942	23	232	36	461	29	1315	15	1285	16	974	18	9877	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	0	0	0	0
	0	4172	9	1018	18	1129	20	1262	17	1629	13	2396	17	4656	13	2833	16	3710	14	1233	21	1505	19	6155	11	5492	10	6809	9	43997	3
	1	926	16	119	49	243	24	279	25	445	19	590	23	842	16	715	21	659	25	196	38	145	31	771	17	797	17	1637	14	8365	6
	2 or more	126	41	24	77	55	69	71	41	91	41	74	68	138	64	56	51	21	75	7	100	15	100	157	52	69	69	185	35	1090	16
	total	5224	8	1161	19	1427	18	1612	15	2165	12	3059	16	5636	13	3604	15	4390	14	1437	20	1665	18	7083	11	6359	10	8631	8	53452	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. 1196141. Birmensdorf, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL

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