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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.

NFI5
number of stems
altitudinal vegetation belts (NaiS; 6 classes) · conifers and broadleaves
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 2018/26
		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
altitudinal vegetation belts (NaiS; 6 classes)	conifers and broadleaves	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	.
	conifers	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	.
	indeterminable	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	.
upper subalpine	n/a	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	.	3340	23	5741	19	1123	39	10203	13
	broadleaves	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	17	100	37	100	16	100	70	62
	indeterminable	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	.	3357	23	5777	19	1139	39	10273	13
subalpine	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	conifers	0	.	0	.	137	100	0	.	0	.	650	43	4294	31	300	91	3527	23	1286	43	1186	49	9917	14	13924	12	5347	18	40569	7
	broadleaves	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	37	72	59	79	22	100	255	61	17	100	35	100	518	40	72	50	167	56	1182	24
	indeterminable	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	total	0	.	0	.	137	100	0	.	0	.	688	43	4353	31	322	92	3783	23	1303	43	1221	49	10435	14	13995	12	5513	18	41751	7
high-montane	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	conifers	529	77	0	.	209	77	0	.	0	.	3964	28	4235	22	1897	35	6015	17	3059	28	1304	37	16031	12	19140	10	8229	14	64613	5
	broadleaves	84	71	0	.	31	71	0	.	0	.	325	48	311	49	61	61	916	35	191	59	104	53	3683	20	4008	26	2305	29	12020	12
	indeterminable	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	0	0	.	0	.	0	0
	total	613	67	0	.	240	75	0	.	0	.	4289	27	4546	21	1958	34	6931	17	3251	28	1409	36	19714	11	23149	10	10535	13	76634	5
lower and upper montane	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	conifers	25777	6	1117	25	2379	23	6545	19	5723	16	6618	14	18191	9	12621	10	3721	17	2839	23	3139	20	1702	30	2768	25	3092	36	96232	4
	broadleaves	21802	7	3164	20	2243	23	2835	21	5505	14	4609	18	11298	11	9684	12	5825	16	2533	25	4148	19	2849	26	1869	24	15309	12	93674	4
	indeterminable	0	0	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	0	0	.	0	0	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	0	0	.	0	0
	total	47579	5	4282	19	4622	19	9380	16	11227	12	11226	13	29489	8	22306	9	9546	14	5372	21	7287	16	4551	23	4637	19	18402	13	189906	3
submontane	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	conifers	3143	20	3195	20	3328	24	9992	12	9628	12	0	.	1779	32	695	63	505	48	469	55	68	100	0	.	594	47	0	.	33394	6
	broadleaves	7497	15	7580	13	6081	17	9138	11	13482	8	170	100	1956	30	1670	33	1553	33	927	43	348	83	912	47	640	45	0	.	51952	5
	indeterminable	0	0	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	0	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	0
	total	10640	13	10775	12	9409	15	19129	9	23110	7	170	100	3735	24	2365	36	2058	33	1396	45	415	86	912	47	1233	36	0	.	85347	4
hyperinsubric and colline	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	conifers	0	.	0	.	145	71	0	.	79	74	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	1549	39	6	100	403	53	2182	30
	broadleaves	169	73	0	.	604	51	0	.	239	65	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	1803	28	83	100	23901	9	26799	8
	indeterminable	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	total	169	73	0	.	749	49	0	.	318	65	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	3353	26	89	100	24304	9	28982	8
total	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	conifers	29449	5	4313	16	6198	16	16537	10	15430	9	11232	13	28498	8	15513	10	13768	10	7654	16	5697	17	32539	8	42173	6	18194	10	247194	2
	broadleaves	29552	6	10744	11	8959	13	11973	9	19225	7	5141	17	13625	10	11437	11	8549	13	3668	21	4636	18	9782	12	6708	17	41699	6	185698	2
	indeterminable	0	0	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	0	0	.	0	0	0	.	0	0	0	.	0	.	0	0	0	0	0	.	0	0
	total	59000	4	15057	10	15157	11	28510	8	34655	6	16373	11	42123	6	26950	8	22317	9	11322	15	10333	14	42322	7	48881	6	59893	5	432892	2

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. 1238623. Birmensdorf, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL

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