Determination of stumpage value and logging costs in coniferous forest stands by means of aerial photo‐interpretation

Abstract

One model for determination of stumpage value per cubic metre and two different models for determination of logging costs per cubic metre of final fellings were developed by using attributes derived by aerial photo‐interpretation. Input variables of the models were stand mean height, crown closure, site quality, tree species composition, slope, and skidding distance, and average number of trees per cubic metre and average tariff number derived from a stratified field sample plot inventory. Intensive field measurements of 119 mature coniferous stands were used to test the models. Aerial photographs at the approximate scale of 1 : 15 000 were used for photo‐interpretation. The bias of the estimated stumpage value was in the range ‐3.3% to 5.2%. The standard deviation was 2.3–10.8%. For the estimated logging costs the bias was in the range ‐10.5% to 2.9%. The standard deviation was 4.2–11.7%.