Size of sampling unit and sampling intensity for commercial species from the Amazonian Forest

Abstract

The objective of this research was to define the minimum necessary intensity of sampling to attend to the current legal demand of IBAMA that limits in 10% the sampling error for the variables: abundance, basal area and volume of adult trees, of commercial species in forest management plans. The selection of the sampling size unit was based on the stability of the Coefficient of Variation, with the minimum acceptable sampling error, with the smaller number of sampling units and regarding the practical applicability of the methodology in the field. The resultant sampling intensities of 11% with plot of 1 ha, and with 13%, for 2 ha plots, suggest that IBAMA could adopted less onerous alternatives. The non-obligation of a diagnostic inventory was proposed on private areas, given the fact that logging permits issued by this governmental agency are based upon the forest census (100% inventory). To the public forests, however, it was proposed the establishment of a standard sampling system with pre-established and reduced costs or greater sampling error.