Forest Survey

a complex of tasks that involves the division of a forest into homogeneous areas and the description of the areas. The tasks performed include a survey of the boundaries of the forest area, the division of the area into compartments and the survey of the compartment grid, the establishment of valuation plots within the compartments, and the compilation of a valuation description, charts, and maps of the stands. The valuation description gives the area and industrial characteristics of each section of the stands, including the origin, composition, shape, age, density, volume, and marketability index (the commercial evaluation) of the stands, as well as the average height and diameter of the trees, the type of forest, and the presence of seedling growth and brushwood. In describing unreforested cutting areas, vacant lands and clearings, the possibility of reforestation is determined. The forest survey is preceded by topographic work, which is done mainly by aerial photography.