NFI Results

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–NFI5
net increment
forest type (12 classes)
regional demarcation: canton
unit: 1000 m³/yr
evaluation area: accessible forest without shrub forest NFI1-NFI5
grid: 1.4 km grid, subgrids 1-5
change 2009/17–2018/26
	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
forest type (12 classes)	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	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	.
inaccessible forest	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	.
shrub forest	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	.
permanently unstocked forest area	14	65	3	100	0	.	53	49	-1	100	-6	224	0	.	0	.	11	70	-6	100	17	56	4	100	0	.	0	.	3	105	4	100	1	100	1	100	7	71	0	100	0	.	29	48	7	69	0	.	2	100	142	26
forest aisle, embankment	4	100	0	.	0	.	12	61	0	100	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	100	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	100	3	100	0	.	0	.	5	100	24	42
permanently open stand	0	.	0	.	-1	100	9	178	1	100	2	100	0	.	8	61	4	247	4	88	0	325	5	70	0	.	-2	100	10	71	0	.	4	100	8	79	0	.	-3	175	0	.	21	38	11	44	0	.	0	.	81	32
(nut) orchard, plantation	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	2	100	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	23	48	0	.	3	100	0	.	0	.	0	.	29	41
coppice forest	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	3	73	0	.	0	210	9	49	-1	131	3	100	0	.	5	100	0	.	3	100	7	81	0	.	0	.	4	100	48	47	0	.	1	107	-4	141	0	.	0	.	79	32
coppice with standards	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	100	0	.	0	.	0	100	0	.	0	.	0	.	-3	100	-3	125	0	.	0	.	18	90	0	.	2	100	0	.	0	.	2	100	14	118
selection type high forest	0	4440	0	.	0	.	142	20	0	.	10	93	0	.	5	100	88	28	1	100	49	33	48	33	0	100	7	69	11	56	0	.	6	79	8	89	4	71	12	65	6	78	12	81	42	34	6	90	4	73	459	11
non-uniform high forest	22	47	4	100	-3	301	159	20	7	81	26	51	0	.	13	120	104	25	33	57	88	33	68	31	1	207	27	46	108	32	-3	100	5	279	6	46	19	61	54	39	14	76	65	35	56	40	0	.	31	37	911	9
incomplete survey	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	.
uniform high forest	282	16	61	35	70	49	909	9	68	35	285	17	12	61	13	152	540	14	113	24	266	20	130	20	41	44	65	38	313	18	52	53	156	20	131	21	189	18	165	25	60	40	513	11	203	23	44	36	376	12	5050	4
total	322	14	67	32	67	53	1283	8	74	33	322	16	12	61	40	68	759	11	143	24	425	15	255	14	46	41	97	29	448	15	57	51	169	20	154	19	224	16	317	17	79	33	649	10	315	17	50	33	421	11	6794	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. 1403518. Birmensdorf, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL

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