National Forest Inventory protocols could potentially be used for Urban Forest Inventories with some adjustments. A study applied NFI sampling methods at an urban forest in Ljubljana, measuring variables like tree species, size, health as well as deadwood, carbon storage, and recreational/aesthetic services. While these protocols provided initial information, fully assessing urban forest ecosystem services would require additional social and planning variables. Monitoring urban forests requires both field data collection and GIS analysis to understand forest structure and functions as well as stakeholder interests.

1. Could National Forest Inventory protocols be
used in Urban Forest Inventories?
Skudnik M., Vochl S. & Mali B.
used in Urban Forest Inventories?
Milano, 17th June, 2014 EMoNFUr final conference

2. INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSIONS
• Urban forests play a significant role in the modern urban environment.
• Because of their pronounced ecological and social functions, they not only maintain
and increase the biodiversity of ecosystems but also significantly affect the quality of
people’s living environment.
• The urban forests compared to other types of forest, have a strong emphasis on
multidisciplinary approach.
• A classic forestry has not always been able to meet the specific requirements of urban
settings.

3. INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSIONS
Provisioning
Services
Products obtained from
ecosystems
Food (chestnut ...)
Fresh water
Wood
Fiber
Biochemicals
Regulating
Services
Benefits obtained from
regulation of
ecosystem processes
Climate regulation
Disease regulation
Water regulation
Water purification
Pollination
Cultural
Services
Nonmaterial benefits
obtained from
ecosystems
Spiritual
Recreation
Ecotourism
Aesthetic
Inspirational
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
are benefits people
obtain from
ecosystems
Biochemicals
etc.
Pollination
C sequestration
Biodiversity
etc.
Inspirational
Educational
Sense of place
etc.
Supporting Services
Services necessary for the production of all other ecosystem services
- Soil formation - Nutrient cycling - Primary production
Millennium
Ecosystem
Assessment Board

4. INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSIONS

5. INTRODUCTION METHODSMETHODS RESULTS CONCLUSIONS
SAMPLING DESIGN
• National Forest Monitoring
survey which bases on
sample grid 4 x 4 km over
the Slovenian country.
• Down-scaled to sampling
grid 500 x 500 m (250 x 250grid 500 x 500 m (250 x 250
m)

6. INTRODUCTION METHODSMETHODS RESULTS CONCLUSIONS
SAMPLING DESIGN
• In year 2013 permanent forest monitoring plots were established at urban forest Rožnik in
Ljubljana.
• The total number of plots was 32 and are located on sampling grid 500 x 500 m (selected
on 250 x 250 m).

7. INTRODUCTION METHODSMETHODS RESULTS CONCLUSIONS
MEASURED OR ASSESED VARIABLES:
1. site characteristic (gps location,
exposition, canopy closure,
development phase, etc.),
2. standing live trees (dbh ≥ 10 cm)
(species, status, position, dbh,(species, status, position, dbh,
defoliation, damages etc.),
3. dead wood (type, species,
volume etc.).
4. small trees (dbh < 10 cm &
height > 1.3 m) (species, dbh,
height, damage, origin)

8. INTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTSRESULTS CONCLUSIONS
Provisioning Services: Forest management (timber)
Average
GS: 411.5 m3/ha
BA: 40.7 m2/ha
Tree nr: 547.6 /ha

9. INTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTSRESULTS CONCLUSIONS
Provisioning Services:
Other non-wood products
Number of chestnut trees
Number of oak trees

10. INTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTSRESULTS CONCLUSIONS
Regulating Services: Deadwood
Regulating Services:
Invasive tree species
Average – 23.9 m3/ha
deadwood
type
average volume
[m3
/ha]
tree.standing 2.16
tree.downed 13.54
stump 2.38
snag 1.64
cwd 4.17
sum 23.89

11. INTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTSRESULTS CONCLUSIONS
Regulating Services: Biodiversity

12. INTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTSRESULTS CONCLUSIONS
Regulating Services: Carbon sequestration
C pool mean
[t/ha]
sd [t/ha] min [t/ha] max [t/ha]
Cbgb 22.49 7.80 9.79 43.04
Cagb 111.89 37.36 48.12 206.73
Cdwb 3.85 5.03 0.00 20.70
Csum 138.23 44.28 57.91 250.43

13. INTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTSRESULTS CONCLUSIONS
Cultural Services: Recreation, Aesthetic,
Number of thick trees
Development phase structure
Healthy trees - defoliation

14. INTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS
• With the presented results we showed the possibility of using NFI protocols for assessing
the state of urban forests.
• Numerous additional variables should be included, especially those important to assess
the Regulating and Cultural ecosystem services.
• Different professionals should be included with their knowledge (horticulture + landscape
architecture + urban planning + landscape ecology + social sciences + forestry)architecture + urban planning + landscape ecology + social sciences + forestry)
• Monitoring of urban forest should be divided on two levels:
1. GIS analysis (relief, inclination, forest fragmentation, stand maps, forest functions)
2. Field analysis - sampling (tree data, deadwood data, …)
• State and possibilities of natural resources (forest) + information on interests of different
actors (NGOs, forest owners, citizens, municipality, public organizations etc.)

15. Acknowledgments:Acknowledgments:
Work was financed by the Life project EMoNFUr and
municipality of Ljubljana

16. Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!