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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
total number of stems
tree condition · 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
tree condition	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	.
standing dead	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	conifers	2424	12	417	30	313	27	562	20	811	21	852	22	2359	17	2057	16	1207	19	700	23	449	31	2628	15	2635	13	1160	18	18573	5
	broadleaves	1422	17	552	27	515	29	224	30	417	30	233	34	745	24	771	23	598	30	266	41	477	29	661	22	596	23	5553	12	13030	7
	indeterminable	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	total	3846	10	969	21	828	22	786	17	1229	17	1085	20	3104	14	2828	13	1805	16	965	20	926	24	3289	13	3231	12	6713	10	31603	4
standing living	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	conifers	29449	5	4296	16	6198	16	16537	10	15419	9	11202	13	28383	8	15500	10	13751	10	7619	16	5680	17	32204	8	41754	6	18174	10	246166	2
	broadleaves	29490	6	10636	11	8959	13	11973	9	19088	7	5119	17	13459	10	11280	11	8508	13	3668	21	4491	18	9528	13	6691	17	40940	6	183831	2
	indeterminable	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	total	58939	4	14932	10	15157	11	28510	8	34508	6	16321	11	41842	6	26780	8	22259	9	11288	15	10171	14	41733	7	48445	6	59114	5	429997	2
lying dead	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	conifers	1671	14	279	31	264	33	521	23	436	19	1655	20	2201	14	1290	26	2178	20	443	29	597	24	4288	12	4319	13	1266	19	21408	5
	broadleaves	1866	14	759	23	564	25	395	25	1012	18	494	30	1057	18	1007	21	606	24	178	48	776	37	981	21	656	25	3649	12	14000	6
	indeterminable	54	74	0	.	0	.	0	.	17	100	0	.	17	100	0	.	15	100	0	.	0	.	18	100	15	100	0	.	137	40
	total	3591	10	1038	19	827	20	916	19	1465	14	2149	18	3275	12	2297	18	2799	16	621	25	1373	24	5288	11	4990	12	4915	10	35545	4
lying living	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	conifers	0	.	17	100	0	.	0	.	10	100	30	71	115	67	13	71	18	100	35	100	17	100	335	37	419	41	19	100	1028	23
	broadleaves	62	53	108	46	0	.	0	.	137	35	22	100	166	36	157	37	41	61	0	.	144	38	254	47	17	100	759	25	1867	14
	indeterminable	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	total	62	53	125	42	0	.	0	.	147	34	52	59	281	36	170	37	58	52	35	100	162	39	589	29	436	39	779	24	2895	12
total	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	conifers	33544	5	5009	15	6775	16	17620	10	16678	9	13739	13	33058	8	18860	9	17154	10	8797	16	6743	17	39455	8	49127	6	20619	9	287176	2
	broadleaves	32840	6	12055	11	10038	13	12592	9	20654	7	5867	16	15427	9	13215	11	9753	13	4112	21	5889	17	11425	12	7961	16	50901	6	212728	2
	indeterminable	54	74	0	.	0	.	0	.	17	100	0	.	17	100	0	.	15	100	0	.	0	.	18	100	15	100	0	.	137	40
	total	66437	4	17064	10	16813	11	30212	7	37348	6	19606	11	48502	6	32075	8	26922	9	12909	14	12631	14	50898	7	57103	6	71520	5	500040	1

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. 1359227. Birmensdorf, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL

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