Selection from the list of topics

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
volume of bolewood (HG 2010)
type of assortment · main tree species
regional demarcation: economic region
unit: 1000 m³
evaluation area: accessible forest without shrub forest
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
type of assortment	main tree species	1000 m³	±%	1000 m³	±%	1000 m³	±%	1000 m³	±%	1000 m³	±%	1000 m³	±%	1000 m³	±%	1000 m³	±%	1000 m³	±%	1000 m³	±%	1000 m³	±%	1000 m³	±%	1000 m³	±%	1000 m³	±%	1000 m³	±%
n/a	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	spruce	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
	fir	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
	pine	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
	larch	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
	Arolla pine	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	0	0	0	0	.	0	0
	other conifers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	0	0	.	0	0
	beech	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
	maple	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
	ash	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
	oak	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
	sweet chestnut	0	.	0	.	0	0	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	0	0	.	0	0	0	0
	other 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	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	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
coniferous wood	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	spruce	0	.	0	.	0	.	32	100	17	100	686	57	10	100	146	86	0	.	0	.	238	71	259	59	448	56	28	100	1864	29
	fir	0	.	0	.	0	.	46	100	0	.	163	82	18	100	42	100	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	269	55
	pine	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	10	100	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	14	100	65	68	0	.	89	53
	larch	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	10	100	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	78	80	53	100	0	.	141	59
	Arolla pine	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	28	94	0	.	28	94
	other conifers	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	4	77	0	.	4	77
	beech	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	maple	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	ash	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	oak	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	sweet chestnut	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	other 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	.	78	100	36	100	849	51	28	100	188	73	0	.	0	.	238	71	352	57	598	44	28	100	2395	25
coniferous shortwood	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	spruce	4022	14	1663	21	1541	29	5767	13	8045	10	8382	12	15208	9	14366	10	12198	11	5393	17	5381	17	11607	10	25714	7	10969	12	130256	3
	fir	2789	18	692	33	670	42	5410	14	3646	15	2389	23	8260	11	4818	14	2250	23	1698	27	912	31	743	34	1102	26	1749	24	37128	5
	pine	464	27	489	28	131	61	483	35	1162	19	0	.	445	47	42	71	97	47	318	43	39	80	1864	18	2241	17	220	43	7996	8
	larch	8	100	42	57	0	.	99	50	410	28	17	100	14	94	140	47	224	42	0	.	78	67	6920	11	5180	11	4931	10	18065	6
	Arolla pine	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	10	100	0	.	0	.	928	22	1423	18	8	92	2369	14
	other conifers	35	45	411	68	0	.	484	39	542	65	0	.	8	73	27	41	53	66	15	72	23	77	23	62	70	36	75	99	1766	28
	beech	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	maple	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	ash	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	oak	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	sweet chestnut	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	other 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	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	total	7320	11	3298	17	2342	25	12243	10	13806	9	10788	12	23936	7	19393	9	14832	10	7424	15	6433	15	22085	7	35729	5	17952	8	197580	2
coniferous mediumwood	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	spruce	673	34	240	57	146	83	426	41	683	43	529	56	1937	25	889	40	339	49	307	78	227	66	1860	25	438	44	212	61	8906	11
	fir	390	34	190	49	85	100	654	35	290	51	19	100	2295	22	189	47	155	47	91	100	161	76	616	43	123	65	23	100	5282	13
	pine	211	43	32	74	18	71	120	52	40	82	0	.	0	.	36	100	8	100	0	.	43	100	92	68	85	77	0	.	686	23
	larch	0	.	16	73	23	100	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	115	49	0	.	114	71	536	47	204	68	303	48	1312	26
	Arolla pine	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	2	100	7	100	0	.	10	81
	other conifers	6	100	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	41	98	0	.	0	.	0	.	1	100	0	.	0	.	0	.	48	85
	beech	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	maple	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	ash	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	oak	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	sweet chestnut	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	other 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	.	0	.	0	0
	total	1280	25	479	43	273	60	1201	30	1013	36	548	57	4273	20	1114	38	616	35	399	64	545	47	3107	22	857	39	538	42	16242	9
coniferous longwood	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	spruce	10322	9	445	56	2330	25	1057	40	1553	28	1030	34	121	60	1197	39	90	100	185	100	0	.	711	52	99	100	0	.	19139	7
	fir	10251	9	176	83	1253	28	762	35	693	36	532	42	71	73	662	45	0	.	295	100	0	.	104	91	0	.	0	.	14799	8
	pine	604	36	22	75	288	58	70	78	14	100	0	.	211	100	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	1210	29
	larch	45	73	12	100	207	40	0	.	12	100	4	100	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	16	75	12	100	0	.	307	30
	Arolla pine	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	other conifers	14	55	0	.	58	93	188	99	1	100	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	261	75
	beech	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	maple	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	ash	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	oak	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	sweet chestnut	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	other 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	.	0	.	0	.	0	0
	total	21237	7	654	54	4136	19	2078	29	2274	25	1566	31	403	67	1859	34	90	100	480	100	0	.	831	47	110	100	0	.	35717	6
broadleaf roundwood	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	spruce	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	fir	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	pine	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	larch	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	Arolla pine	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	other conifers	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	beech	13113	6	5748	12	3781	17	7134	11	9007	9	1551	24	7172	12	6198	12	2145	19	1576	24	1936	20	920	28	1259	27	5388	11	66928	3
	maple	2546	10	830	19	340	25	628	18	1991	14	528	22	1111	17	1558	15	922	19	380	26	700	22	417	25	348	30	422	24	12723	5
	ash	1390	19	751	22	1214	25	1253	25	2570	14	441	38	785	34	1333	20	522	29	368	37	440	33	417	28	281	45	792	25	12558	7
	oak	903	22	502	31	888	27	717	22	1591	24	47	65	83	48	72	55	61	52	85	58	2	100	202	34	108	71	883	20	6143	9
	sweet chestnut	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	4	100	0	.	0	.	148	54	20	84	4958	12	5129	11
	other broadleaves	999	21	502	25	878	29	695	19	1447	18	227	23	386	18	585	23	885	37	288	32	347	27	929	16	906	20	4215	10	13289	6
	indeterminable	8	50	11	100	0	.	0	.	6	87	1	100	2	71	2	77	36	57	0	.	0	.	1	100	31	64	20	78	118	29
	total	18960	5	8344	10	7100	13	10426	10	16612	7	2795	18	9540	11	9749	10	4576	14	2697	20	3424	16	3035	14	2952	16	16678	5	116888	2
total	n/a	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.
	spruce	15018	6	2348	18	4017	18	7282	12	10298	9	10627	11	17275	8	16598	9	12626	10	5886	16	5846	16	14437	9	26698	6	11209	12	160166	2
	fir	13431	7	1058	27	2008	23	6873	12	4630	13	3104	19	10644	9	5711	13	2405	21	2084	27	1072	29	1462	26	1224	24	1772	24	57477	4
	pine	1280	21	544	26	437	43	674	28	1226	18	0	.	656	45	77	60	104	44	318	43	82	65	1971	17	2392	16	220	43	9981	8
	larch	53	64	70	41	230	37	99	50	432	26	21	83	14	94	140	47	339	33	0	.	192	50	7551	11	5448	10	5234	10	19824	6
	Arolla pine	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	10	100	0	.	0	.	930	22	1458	18	8	92	2407	13
	other conifers	55	34	411	68	58	93	672	40	543	65	0	.	50	82	27	41	53	66	15	72	24	74	23	62	74	34	75	99	2079	26
	beech	13113	6	5748	12	3781	17	7134	11	9007	9	1551	24	7172	12	6198	12	2145	19	1576	24	1936	20	920	28	1259	27	5388	11	66928	3
	maple	2546	10	830	19	340	25	628	18	1991	14	528	22	1111	17	1558	15	922	19	380	26	700	22	417	25	348	30	422	24	12723	5
	ash	1390	19	751	22	1214	25	1253	25	2570	14	441	38	785	34	1333	20	522	29	368	37	440	33	417	28	281	45	792	25	12558	7
	oak	903	22	502	31	888	27	717	22	1591	24	47	65	83	48	72	55	61	52	85	58	2	100	202	34	108	71	883	20	6143	9
	sweet chestnut	0	.	0	.	0	0	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	4	100	0	.	0	.	148	54	20	84	4958	12	5129	11
	other broadleaves	999	21	502	25	878	29	695	19	1447	18	227	23	386	18	585	23	885	37	288	32	347	27	929	16	906	20	4215	10	13289	6
	indeterminable	8	50	11	100	0	0	0	0	6	87	1	100	2	71	2	77	36	57	0	0	0	0	1	100	31	64	20	78	118	29
	total	48797	3	12775	9	13850	11	26026	7	33741	5	16547	10	38180	6	32303	7	20113	8	10999	13	10641	12	29409	6	40247	5	35195	4	368822	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. 1261835. Birmensdorf, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL

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