%0 Review article
%T Common tree definitions for national forest inventories in Europe
%A Gschwantner, Thomas
%A Schadauer, Klemens
%A Vidal, Claude
%A Lanz, Adrian
%A Tomppo, Erkki
%A di Cosmo, Lucio
%A Robert, Nicolas
%A Englert Duursma, Daisy
%A Lawrence, Mark
%D 2009
%J Silva Fennica
%V 43
%N 2
%R doi:10.14214/sf.463
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/463
%X At the international level, various definitions have been established  for the compilation and publication of forest resources assessment  results over the last decade. These international definitions frequently  rely on terms that are not precisely specified for inventory purposes  and do not completely cover the requirements arising from the  application of National Forest Inventory (NFI) data. Also, with respect  to conventional topics such as forest area and growing stock estimation,  several terms and expressions referring to individual trees are not, or  are only vaguely, defined until now. Since the individual tree is the  basic element of any forest resources assessment, the clarification of  tree-related terms is an important part of COST Action E43 to harmonise  common reporting of National Forest Inventories. Based on a review of  existing definitions and on the requirements for harmonised reporting,  common tree-related definitions are established. One objective of this  study is to refine and enhance the applicability of available tree and  shrub definitions, in particular with regard to the distinction between  trees and shrubs. The study also focuses on the parts or “elements” of  trees and on the distinction between these elements as they are of  particular importance in growing stock and biomass definitions.  Furthermore, several definitions for tree characteristics such as  “living” and “standing”, as well as tree variables such as height,  length, diameter at breast height, and crown projection area are  adjusted with respect to NFI purposes. A concluding discussion reflects  upon the reviewed, refined and newly established definitions. The  definitions presented in this paper provide a firm basis for a common  set of harmonised reference definitions developed by COST Action E43 and  contribute to the precise and consistent use of terms.