Dataset linking to the paper "Exploring characteristics of national forest inventories for integration with global space-based forest biomass data"

The dataset links to the study titled “Exploring characteristics of national forest inventories for integration with global space-based forest biomass data”. This study is published in the journal “Science of the Total Environment” and the publication can be found at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157788.  The dataset contains four csv files that were used to produce the results and other figures in the paper. The description of the individual data files contained in the dataset is given below.

NFI availability and characteristics data: The data file “NFI_availability_characteristics.csv” contains data on the total number of NFIs, the NFI extent, and the year of the most recent NFI  in countries with NFI as reported in FRA 2020 country reports. The respective data variables in the data file are termed as Number_of_NFI, Latest_NFI_extent_FRA2020, and Latest_NFI_year_FRA2020 (NFI years generally refer to the years of data collection). In addition, the data file contains data on the region and tropical domain per country. The tropical and subtropical countries were considered tropical in the analysis and interpretation of the results. These data were used to produce Figure 2 of the study. ArcMap 10.7.1 was used for this purpose. 

National biomass intercomparison data: The data file “national_biomass_intercomparison.csv” contains national forest AGB data for the year 2018 from FRA 2020 and CCI Biomass product that were used in the national biomass intercomparison analysis. The total (tons) and average space-based AGB (tons/ha) are extracted directly from the CCI Biomass Map 2018 for each country included in the study. The processing is done in Python and R environments. The spatial resolution of the map is 100 m. The average FRA AGB data in tons per ha was compiled from FRA 2020 country reports. The total FRA AGB data (tons) was estimated by multiplying each country's average FRA AGB data with FRA forest area data (in ha).

The data unit for total AGB was converted from tons to gigaton (Gt) in intercomparison analysis. The total CCI Map AGB estimates used in the analysis are termed as CCI_MAP_AGB_Gt in the data file and the average as CCI_Map_AGB_tons.ha. Similarly, the total FRA AGB data are termed as FRA_AGB_Gt and the average as FRA_AGB_ton.ha. The NFI availability and temporality were also used in intercomparison analysis and this data is termed as Latest_NFI_year_FRA2020 in the data file. The data were used to produce Figure 3 of the study in the R environment.

NFI plot design characteristics: The data file named “NFI_plot_design_characteristics.csv” contains data on variables that were used in the analysis of NFI plot designs in 46 tropical countries.  This data file mainly contains the data that was used to produce Figure 4 and Figure 6 in the R environment. The value “uniform” in the sampling_stratification variable means no stratification was used in the sampling design. The variable name “psu” stands for primary sampling unit (both cluster and single plots), “psu_distance_km” for the distance between primary sampling units in km, “cluster_plotdis_m”  for the distance between plots in meter in the cluster, “plotsize_ha” for plot (single and cluster plots ) size in ha, “plotshape” for plot shapes (single and cluster plots), “ILUA” for Integrated Land Use Assessment.  The data were compiled from the latest NFI design manuals and NFI reports.

NFI years: The data file “NFI_years_tropical_countries_data.csv” contains data on NFI years of the latest NFI in 46 tropical countries that were used to produce Figure 1 using ArcMap 10.7.1. The years generally refer to the last years of data collection. Data were compiled from the latest country NFI design manual or NFI report. This included both ongoing and completed NFI.