VARIABILITY OF FOREST MENSURATION INDICES IN CLIMAX TROPICAL FORESTS (AT THE EXAMPLE OF LAOS)

Abstract

Mean volumes and their variability were calculated for the principal forest vegetation formations widely represented in Laos (evergreen, semi-deciduous and pine tropical forests). For calculations data of the ground study of 2000 sample plots were used. The values of the calculated indices vary within wide ranges, the variability of volumes being maximal in deciduous and semi-deciduous formations. Within the forest vegetation formation the most stable is the ratio of the exploitable to the total volume. This index can be used for the estimate of the total volume of the trunk timber in the mensuration of tropical forests.