Small Area Estimation for Total Basal Cover in the State of Maharashtra in India

Abstract

This chapter describes small area estimation (SAE) approach to produce the small area estimates of the total basal cover (m2/ha) for trees, shrubs and herbs for the state of Maharashtra in India. All seven forest types are defined as small areas. The analysis uses the data of survey conducted by Tropical Forest Research Institute, Jabalpur, India during the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education’s revisiting of forestry types of India in the year 2011–12. The nested quadrats of 10 m × 10 m, 3 m × 3 m and 1 m × 1 m size for tree, shrub and herb layers respectively are the sampling units. The auxiliary data, percentage of forest cover at small area level is available from India’s State of Forest Report 2009 (FSI 2009). The results show that forest type-wise estimates of total basal cover for trees, shrubs and herbs generated by SAE approach are reliable as compared to direct survey estimates. Such disaggregate level estimates are invaluable policy information for state forest department and local resource managers.