Preselection of the inventory

All areas classified as shrub forest according to the NFI forest definition.

Area with clearly visible traces on the forest floor from timber harvesting vehicles such as tractors, forwarders and harvesters.

All areas designated as forest according to the NFI forest definition. The forest definition includes shrub forest. The target variable "forest area" is also used when classifying the total area as forest or non-forest.

Forest area classified according to its functions (including "no special forest function"), as determined in the interview survey with the local forest services. A forest area can fulfil several forest functions at the same time, and can thus contribute to the forest area of several forest functions.

Forest area subject to the natural hazard processes rockfall, avalanche, hillslope debris flow/landslide and channel processes within the protection forest designated by the cantons according to the harmonised criteria of SilvaProtect-CH as of 2022. Since a protection forest can provide protection against various natural hazard processes at the same time, it can contribute to the forest area of several dfiferent processes. No natural hazard processes are shown for Canton Aargau because the protection forest there had not yet been designated in the reference year (2022).

Area of forest with recreational uses such as walking, hiking, jogging, cycling, biking, skiing and snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, horse-riding, camping, other activities, or no activities. Since different recreational activities may take place in a forest at the same time, this forest may contribute to the area of several recreation types.

Forest area in which specific measures for the conservation or promotion of biodiversity have been implemented since the last inventory. Only measures that have been explicitly subsidised as 'biodiversity' measures are taken into account. Since several biodiversity measures may be implemented in a forest area at the same time, this area may contribute to the total area of several different biodiversity measures.

Forest area closest to young forest plants with a particular type of damage. Young forest plants are trees and shrubs ≥10 cm in height and ≤11.9 cm in diameter at breast height (dbh). However, depending on the inventory, only trees ( NFI3, NFI5) or only trees and selected shrub species (NFI4) were recorded as the nearest young forest plant. Since a young forest plant may have several different types of damage, it can contribute to areas with several different damage types at the same time.

Ratio of the different damage events (e.g. wind, insects) which led to damage gaps. The ratio is determined on the basis of those damage gaps that account for at least 10% of the interpretation area (50 × 50 m) and on which, according to the information provided by the local forest services, only one damage event occurred. The target value thus allows comparisons of inventories from NFI3 onwards.

Sum of the stem cross-sectional areas at a height of 1.3 m (level for measuring diameter at breast height [dbh]) of living trees and shrubs (standing and lying) with a dbh ≥12 cm.

Sum of the stem cross-sectional areas at a height of 1.3 m (level for measuring diameter at breast height [dbh]) of all dead trees and shrubs (standing and lying) with a dbh ≥12 cm.

Sum of the stem cross-sectional areas at a height of 1.3 m (level for measuring diameter at breast height [dbh]) of all living and dead trees and shrubs (standing and lying) with a dbh ≥12 cm. The total basal area corresponds to the sum of the basal area and the deadwood basal area.

Dry weight (mass) of standing and lying deadwood, determined with the help of the species- and decomposition-dependent wood densities of the following components: 1) stemwood, merchantable branchwood, branch brushwood and roots of standing and lying dead trees and shrubs with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥12 cm without stem breakage; 2) stemwood of the still standing stump, branch brushwood and roots of standing dead trees and shrubs ≥12 cm dbh with stem breakage and 3) LIS-deadwood, i.e. the lying deadwood with a diameter ≥7 cm (merchantable wood without merchantable wood pieces in heaps of branches), which cannot be assigned to a tree or shrub ≥12 cm dbh.

Dry weight (mass) of the so-called LIS deadwood, i.e. lying deadwood with a diameter ≥7 cm (merchantable wood; excluding merchantable wood pieces in heaps of branches), which cannot be assigned to a tree or shrub with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥12 cm. The mass is determined with the help of species- and decomposition-dependent wood densities.

Dry weight (mass) of living trees and shrubs with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥12 cm. The tree parts considered are: the roots, stemwood, branchwood and needles/leaves.

Dry weight (mass) of the aboveground parts of living trees and shrubs with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥12 cm. The tree parts included are: stemwood, branchwood and needles/leaves.

Dry weight (mass) of lying dead trees and shrubs with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥12 cm. This mass is determined with the help of species- and decomposition-dependent wood densities from the tree parts: roots, stemwood and, depending on the degree of decomposition, also the merchantable branchwood.

Dry weight (mass) of standing dead trees and shrubs with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥12 cm. This mass is determined with the help of species- and decomposition-dependent wood densities from the tree parts roots, stemwood and, depending on the degree of decomposition, also the merchantable branchwood.

Dry weight (mass) of the stumps ≥7 cm in diameter, i.e. the aboveground, woody parts of trees or shrubs below the felling cut or (in the case of natural decay) below the break surface. The maximum height of a stump is 1.3 m; if it is >1.3 m, it is treated as a snag. The mass is determined on the basis of species- and decomposition-dependent wood densities.

Dry weight (mass) of branches <7 cm with bark from living trees and shrubs with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥12 cm.

Dry weight (mass) of branches with a diameter ≥7 cm from living trees and shrubs with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥12 cm.

Dry weight (mass) of the needles and leaves of the living trees and shrubs with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥12 cm.

Dry weight (mass) of the belowground part (roots) of living trees and shrubs with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥12 cm. The dimensions of the roots are determined according to Zell and Wutzler.

Dry weight (mass) of the stemwood with bark of the living trees and shrubs with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥12 cm.

Number of microhabitats on standing living trees and shrubs ≥12 cm in diameter at breast height (dbh). Microhabitats are defined as: fungal fruiting bodies; areas on the stem where moss, lichen or ivy covers more than 10%; woodpecker breeding cavity; shallow tree cavity; wide crack; bark pocket; fresh break; dendrotelm; canker or burr; buttress-root concavity; deep tree cavity; area of exposed bare wood larger than a hand; stag-headedness; resin flow; insect damage (foot of trunk /trunk/stem); >20% dead branches.

Number of standing living trees and shrubs ≥12 cm in diameter at breast height (dbh) on which a microhabitat was found. Since various microhabitats at a time may be found on the same tree, the tree may contribute to the number of stems (standing-living) of several different microhabitats. Microhabitats are defined as: fungal fruiting bodies; areas on the stem where moss, lichen or ivy covers more than 10%; woodpecker breeding cavity; shallow tree cavity; wide crack; bark pocket; fresh break; dendrotelm; canker or burr; buttress-root concavity; deep tree cavity; area of exposed bare wood larger than a hand; stag-headedness; resin flow; insect damage (foot of trunk /trunk/stem); >20% dead branches.

Length of the forest edge calculated on the basis of the forest boundary lines determined in the aerial photo.

Proportion of the forest edge with a certain characteristic (e.g. structural diversity, diversity of woody species or forest edge structure) in the total forest edge. The forest edge is the border or transition area between the vegetation form of forest and other elements of the landscape.

Proportion of sample plots that meet the forest definition of NFI, i.e. are covered by "forest without shrub forest" or "shrub forest".

Number of forest sample plots (Plots).

Number of stems of dead trees and shrubs (standing and lying) with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥12 cm.

Number of stems of living trees and shrubs (standing and lying) with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥12 cm.

Number of living conifers and conifers ≥10 cm in height and ≤11.9 cm in diameter at breast height (dbh).

Number of stems of conifers and broadleaves 10 to 129 cm in height on which browsing on the shoot from the previous year was detected. Since a different method was used for assessing browsing traces in NFI2, the browsing intensity was overestimated in comparison with in the inventories from NFI4 on. Thus, only increases in browsing intensity can be clearly determined in comparisons with NFI2. For a reliable estimate, at least 30 individuals per estimated value (table cell) should have been assessed for browsing. Therefore, the corresponding tables with the target variable "Number of trees assessed for browsing (no extrapolation)" should also be consulted.

Actual number of conifers and broadleaves assessed for browsing during the field survey (no extrapolation).

Measure of the density of a stocking calculated from the number of stems per hectare (in NFI trees and shrubs with a diameter at breast height [dbh] ≥12 cm) and the mean diameter. With a callipering threshold of 0 cm, the SDI is largely independent of the site quality, tree species composition and stand age.

Number of stems of all living and dead trees and shrubs (standing and lying) with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥12 cm. The total number of stems is the sum of the number of stems and the number of deadwood stems.

Number of living and dead trees and shrubs (standing and lying) ≥12 cm diameter at breast heigth (dbh) with damage. Only the two most important forms of damage to a tree are recorded. Since a tree may be damaged in different ways, it may contribute more than once to the total number of stems with the two most important forms of damage.

Volume of lying deadwood ≥7 cm in diameter (merchantable wood) without merchantable wood pieces in heaps of branches.

Volume of lying deadwood ≥7 cm in diameter (merchantable wood), including merchantable pieces of wood in piles of branches.

Volume of stumps ≥7 cm in diameter, i.e. the aboveground, woody parts of trees or shrubs below the felling cut or (in the case of natural decay) below the break surface. The maximum height of a stump is 1.3 m; if it is >1.3 m, it is treated as a snag.

Stemwood volume of living trees and shrubs (standing and lying) with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥12 cm with bark.

Stemwood volume of all living and dead trees and shrubs (standing and lying) with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥12 cm with bark. The total wood volume is the sum of the growing stock and deadwood volumes.

Wood volume of the stem without bark or stump ≥7 cm in diameter (limit for merchantable wood) of all trees and shrubs with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥12 cm, based on the stem-form functions according to Kaufmann (2001). The definition of the assortments is based on the 2010 edition of the Swiss trading customs for raw timber (HG 2010).

Volume of stemwood of all dead trees and shrubs (standing and lying) with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥12 cm with bark.

Measure for the ecological assessment of forest stands, derived from the number of woody species with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥12 cm and the occurrence of woody species of special ecological significance (willows, birches, alders, native poplars, oaks, chestnut, cherry, wild fruit and Sorbus species) in the upper layer.

Number of tree and shrub species with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥12 cm within the 200 m² circle on the sample plot.

Number of species of trees and shrubs that occur within the 200 m² circle on the sample plot with at least one living individual ≥40 cm high.