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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
growing stock (stemwood)
forest type (12 classes)
regional demarcation: canton
unit: 1000 m³
evaluation area: accessible forest without shrub forest NFI1-NFI5
grid: 1.4 km grid, subgrids 1-5
state 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	±%	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	±%	1000 m³	±%	1000 m³	±%	1000 m³	±%	1000 m³	±%	1000 m³	±%	1000 m³	±%	1000 m³	±%	1000 m³	±%	1000 m³	±%	1000 m³	±%
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	206	72	31	100	0	.	827	44	157	100	339	55	0	.	0	.	144	49	283	100	855	56	156	100	0	.	0	.	532	73	154	100	79	100	25	100	193	73	5	100	0	.	785	48	700	85	0	.	147	100	5618	20
forest aisle, embankment	197	100	0	.	0	.	303	52	49	100	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	10	100	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	25	100	67	100	0	.	0	.	144	100	795	38
permanently open stand	0	.	0	.	0	0	676	41	16	100	121	100	0	.	271	59	1560	27	151	91	96	82	208	55	0	.	43	100	327	61	0	.	118	100	151	72	0	.	537	53	0	.	1221	30	1060	37	0	.	0	.	6556	13
(nut) orchard, plantation	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	73	100	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	1079	36	0	.	310	100	0	.	0	.	0	.	1462	34
coppice forest	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	160	75	0	.	25	100	730	39	214	99	138	100	0	.	42	100	0	.	246	100	458	73	0	.	0	.	152	100	4843	15	0	.	89	82	258	49	0	.	0	.	7353	13
coppice with standards	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	0	.	121	100	0	.	0	.	34	100	0	.	0	.	0	.	162	100	133	101	0	.	0	.	1637	25	0	.	149	100	0	.	0	.	98	100	2335	22
selection type high forest	121	85	0	.	0	.	5756	18	0	.	681	43	0	.	102	100	4813	17	79	100	1938	28	2008	28	200	100	241	63	409	55	0	.	370	51	293	66	149	71	539	43	162	79	1063	28	2942	20	251	73	132	73	22249	8
non-uniform high forest	785	34	291	100	200	71	8722	13	456	45	1271	38	0	.	1352	38	6484	15	2359	28	2966	25	2758	24	227	87	1731	32	4037	24	121	100	734	47	411	53	580	47	6651	23	1523	37	4587	21	6160	16	0	.	1451	32	55857	6
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	10626	12	3198	31	4550	25	47943	6	4632	19	13777	12	475	55	3677	24	37423	7	8877	14	12926	13	6198	18	2695	30	5133	22	17446	12	3849	20	8157	14	9382	15	7772	15	13053	10	5048	21	22461	9	19137	9	1293	36	15137	10	284864	2
total	11935	11	3520	29	4750	24	64227	5	5310	17	16349	11	475	55	5426	19	51347	5	11963	12	18918	10	11363	11	3164	27	7159	18	22996	10	4744	18	9590	12	10261	14	8847	14	28344	7	6758	18	30732	7	30257	7	1544	33	17110	9	387089	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. 1280057. Birmensdorf, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL

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