Survey parameters and methods
A detailed description of the survey parameters and methods can be found in the “Guidelines and Documentation for the Forest Condition Survey in Germany” (ThünenWorkingPaper 84, German language). You can download the latest version, 84.2 (as of June 2020), here.
The document is updated in accordance with changes to the ICP Mauals ICP Manuals (Visual Assessment of Crown Condition and Damaging Agents) and the ICP Forest - Online Documentation, as well as decisions made by the Federal States Working Group/AG-Krone.
The illustrated book “Forest Trees—Image Series for Assessing Crown Thinning in Forest Trees” (ISBN-Nr. 978-3-931691-50-9, German language) is a standard reference for assessing crown thinning in common major tree species.
Overview of the most important parameter groups:
| Parameter | Reporting period |
|---|---|
Point information | |
| Location information for the point (coordinates, grid (EU point), elevation, exposition, slope, humus type, water availability) | one-time |
| Main tree species | every 5 years and upon change |
| Forest type | |
| Stand age | |
| Canopy closure percentage/canpoy cover | |
Tree information |
|
| Tree information (assignment of tree number, tree species, and age) | one-time |
| Assessment area | annually |
| Visibility | |
| Sociological status (Kraft's class) | |
| Crown thinning | |
| Fruiting | |
| Harvesting/mortality | |
| Damage assessment according to Roskams -> Yellowing/Insects/Fungi and others (Affected part of the tree, symptom, cause, scientific name of the cause if known, extent) |