Field Guide for Forest Biomass and Carbon Estimation

Français / Español / Portugués

This field guide provides an introduction to the basic tools and techniques used in obtaining ground-based estimates of aboveground forest biomass and carbon.  It was written for a general audience, emphasizing fundamental skills and real-world examples.  A modular approach was taken such that additional topics (chapters) could be added as desired.  Specifically, Version 1.0 of this field guide:
• Explains the basics of GPS and GPS navigation
• Describes how to establish sample plots used in obtaining forest measurements
• Explains how to take tree diameter measurements used in forest biomass estimation
• Demonstrates how to compute estimates of forest carbon storage from sample plot data
• Serves as a reference for both field and office use
• Incorporates graphical illustrations for multi-lingual users
• Is not a substitute for formal instruction and hands-on training