Methodology proposing for estimating the canopy structure in the IFN/BR using hemispherical photographs
Despite its central role in ecological processes, biogeochemical cycles and climate, canopy structure estimates are not included in the Brazilian National Forest Inventory (IFN/BR) measurements. Here, we propose a simple and cost-effective methodology to incorporate these estimations using hemispher...
| Autores: | , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2025 |
| País: | Brasil |
| Institución: | Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa) |
| Repositorio: | Pesquisa Florestal Brasileira (Online) |
| Idioma: | portugués |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/2302 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://pfb.sede.embrapa.br/pfb/article/view/2302 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Forest inventories Forest canopy Hemispherical photography Inventário florestal Dossel florestal Fotografia hemisférica |
| Sumario: | Despite its central role in ecological processes, biogeochemical cycles and climate, canopy structure estimates are not included in the Brazilian National Forest Inventory (IFN/BR) measurements. Here, we propose a simple and cost-effective methodology to incorporate these estimations using hemispherical photographs. We applied this methodology on 363 sample units (SU) in Santa Catarina State during the second cycle of measurements of the FlorestaSC Program and computed the necessary time for the operations on 10 of those SU. To demonstrate the potential of the method we compared the canopy structure of the forest types occurring in SC. On average, 3% of the time necessary to complete the measurement of a subsample unit is used to take hemispherical photographs. Of all SU, we successfully characterize the canopy of 244 SU. We found that all variables of the canopy structure differ between forest formations, mainly between Araucaria Forest and Evergreen Rain Forest. The IFN/BR represents a great opportunity to implement canopy structure estimation nationwide with little operational investment. In turn, these estimates add a new dimension for our understanding of the Brazilian forest ecology and functioning, and their relationship with climate. |
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