Appendix 2. Terms and definitions

The terms and definitions used in FRA 2000 were based on the consensus agreement of the participants of the Expert Consultation on Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000 in 1996 (Kotka III) (Finnish Forest Research Institute 1996). In 1997, the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF) endorsed the findings of the consultation and, in particular, supported the single global definition of forest developed in the meeting (UN 1997). The following year, FAO released FRA Working Paper No. 1 (1998) which contained the terms and definitions advocated at Kotka III. Some of the definitions were clarified in 2000 in FRA Working Paper No. 33 (FAO 2000) and in the State of the World's Forests 2001 (FAO 2001) in such a way as to enhance their understanding, without changing their meaning.

DEFINITIONS OF FOREST AND RELATED LAND USE CLASSIFICATIONS AND FOREST CHANGE PROCESSES

Background

In 2000, the basic forest and forest change terms were revisited in light of the experiences gained

during FRA 2000. One driving factor behind this re-examination was the request for input to the Kyoto Protocol process and the elaborations on carbon sequestration in forests. A clear and complete outline of forest change processes was sought. Some of the original formulations for FRA 2000 were therefore modified for clarity and completeness, without changing the meaning of the definitions. The process of further refining forest terms and definitions will continue under the facilitation of FAO, with the clear objective of keeping the base FRA definitions used and ensuring that the time series of forest area data can be continued.

The following terms and definitions, illustrated below, represent the comprehension at the end of the FRA 2000 project.

Forest and related land use classifications

Forest

Forest includes natural forests and forest plantations. It is used to refer to land with a tree canopy cover of more than 10 percent and area of more than 0.5 ha. Forests are determined both by the presence of trees and the absence of other predominant land uses. The trees should be able to reach a minimum height of 5 m. Young stands that have not yet but are expected to reach a crown density of 10 percent and tree height of 5 m are included under forest, as are temporarily unstocked areas. The term includes forests used for purposes of production, protection, multiple-use or conservation (i.e. forest in national parks, nature reserves and other protected areas), as well as forest stands on agricultural lands (e.g. windbreaks and shelterbelts of trees with a width of more than 20 m), and rubberwood plantations and cork oak stands. The term specifically excludes stands of trees established primarily for agricultural production, for example fruit tree plantations. It also excludes trees planted in agroforestry systems.

Natural forest

A forest composed of indigenous trees and not classified as forest plantation.

Forest plantation

A forest established by planting or/and seeding in the process of afforestation or reforestation. It consists of introduced species or, in some cases, indigenous species.

Other wooded land

Land that has either a crown cover (or equivalent stocking level) of 5 to10 percent of trees able to reach a height of 5 m at maturity; or a crown cover (or equivalent stocking level) of more than 10 percent of trees not able to reach a height of 5 m at maturity; or with shrub or bush cover of more than 10 percent.

Forest change processes

Afforestation

Establishment of forest plantations on land that, until then, was not classified as forest. Implies a transformation from non-forest to forest.

Natural expansion of forest

Expansion of forests through natural succession on land that, until then, was under another land use (e.g. forest succession on land previously used for agriculture). Implies a transformation from non-forest to forest.

Reforestation

Establishment of forest plantations on temporarily unstocked lands that are considered as forest.

Natural regeneration on forest lands

Natural succession of forest on temporarily unstocked lands that are considered as forest.

Deforestation

The conversion of forest to another land use or the long-term reduction of the tree canopy cover below the minimum 10 percent threshold (see definition of forest and the following explanatory note). Explanatory note: Deforestation implies the long-term or permanent loss of forest cover and implies transformation into another land use. Such a loss can only be caused and maintained by a continued human-induced or natural perturbation. Deforestation includes areas of forest converted to agriculture, pasture, water reservoirs and urban areas. The term specifically excludes areas where the trees have been removed as a result of harvesting or logging, and where the forest is expected to regenerate naturally or with the aid of silvicultural measures. Unless logging is followed by the clearing of the remaining logged-over forest for the introduction of alternative land uses, or the maintenance of the clearings through continued disturbance, forests commonly regenerate, although often to a different, secondary condition. In areas of shifting agriculture, forest, forest fallow and agricultural lands appear in a dynamic pattern where deforestation and the return of forest occur frequently in small patches. To simplify reporting of such areas, the net change over a larger area is typically used. Deforestation also includes areas where, for example, the impact of disturbance, overutilization or changing environmental conditions affects the forest to an extent that it cannot sustain a tree cover above the 10 percent threshold.

Forest degradation

Changes within the forest which negatively affect the structure or function of the stand or site, and thereby lower the capacity to supply products and/or services.

Forest improvement

Changes within the forest which positively affect the structure or function of the stand or site, and thereby increase the capacity to supply products and/or services.

TERMS AND DEFINITIONS AS PRESENTED IN FRA WORKING PAPER NO. 1

Background

The terms and definitions below are taken directly from FRA Working Paper No. 1 (FAO 1998). They represent the formulations used at the beginning of the FRA 2000 process. Although no changes in definitions have occurred during FRA 2000, it is important to note that some slight adjustments and clarifications have been adopted. For example, the general classification of land was called "land cover classification" in 1998, whereas in this report the division into forest, other wooded land and other land is a "land use classification", in that "forest" is defined both by the presence of trees and by the absence of other land uses.

Land classifications

Land cover, general classification

Total area[59]

Total area (of country), including area under inland water bodies, but excluding offshore territorial waters.

Forest

Land with tree crown cover (or equivalent stocking level) of more than 10 percent and area of more than 0.5 ha. The trees should be able to reach a minimum height of 5 m at maturity in situ. May consist either of closed forest formations where trees of various storeys and undergrowth cover a high proportion of the ground; or open forest formations with a continuous vegetation cover in which tree crown cover exceeds 10 percent. Young natural stands and all plantations established for forestry purposes which have yet to reach a crown density of 10 percent or tree height of 5 m are included under forest, as are areas normally forming part of the forest area which are temporarily unstocked as a result of human intervention or natural causes but which are expected to revert to forest.
Includes: forest nurseries and seed orchards that constitute an integral part of the forest; forest roads, cleared tracts, firebreaks and other small open areas; forest in national parks, nature reserves and other protected areas such as those of specific scientific, historical, cultural or spiritual interest; windbreaks and shelterbelts of trees with an area of more than 0.5 ha and width of more than 20 m; plantations primarily used for forestry purposes, including rubberwood plantations and cork oak stands. Excludes: Land predominantly used for agricultural practices

Other wooded land

Land either with a crown cover (or equivalent stocking level) of 5-10 percent of trees able to reach a height of 5 m at maturity in situ; or a crown cover (or equivalent stocking level) of more than 10 percent of trees not able to reach a height of 5 m at maturity in situ (e.g. dwarf or stunted trees); or with shrub or bush cover of more than 10 percent.

Other land

Land not classified as forest or other wooded land as defined above. Includes agricultural land, meadows and pastures, built-on areas, barren land, etc.

Inland water

Area occupied by major rivers, lakes and reservoirs.

Forest classification

Plantation

Forest stands established by planting or/and seeding in the process of afforestation or reforestation. They are either:

of introduced species (all planted stands), or

intensively managed stands of indigenous species, which meet all the following criteria: one or two species at plantation, even age class, regular spacing.

See also afforestation and reforestation.
Note: Area statistics on forest plantations provided by countries should reflect the actual forest plantations resource, excluding replanting. Replanting is the re-establishment of planted trees, either because afforestation or reforestation failed, or tree crop was felled and regenerated. It is not an addition to the total plantation area.

Natural forest

Natural forests are forests composed of indigenous trees, not planted by humans. Or in other words forests excluding plantations. Natural forests are further classified using the following criteria:

forest formation (or type): closed/open,

degree of human disturbance or modification,

species composition.

Subdivisions of natural forests: forest formation

Closed forest

Formations where trees in the various storeys and the undergrowth cover a high proportion (> 40 percent) of the ground and do not have a continuous dense grass layer (cf. the following definition). They are either managed or unmanaged forests, primary or in advanced state of reconstitution and may have been logged-over one or more times, having kept their characteristics of forest stands, possibly with modified structure and composition. Typical examples of tropical closed forest formations include tropical rain forest and mangrove forest.

Open forest

Formations with discontinuous tree layer but with a coverage of at least 10 percent and less than 40 percent. Generally there is a continuous grass layer allowing grazing and spreading of fires. (Examples are various forms of cerrado, and chaco in Latin America, wooded savannahs and woodlands in Africa).

Subdivisions of natural forests: degree of human disturbance or modification

Natural forest undisturbed by humans

Forest which shows natural forest dynamics such as natural species composition, occurrence of dead wood, natural age structure and natural regeneration processes, the area of which is large enough to maintain its natural characteristics and where there has been no known human intervention or where the last significant human intervention was long enough ago to have allowed the natural species composition and processes to have become re-established.

Natural forest disturbed by humans

Includes:

logged over forests associated with various intensity of logging,

various forms of secondary forests, resulting from logging or abandoned cultivation.

Semi-natural forest

Managed forests modified by man through sylviculture and assisted regeneration.

Subdivisions of natural forests: forest composition by species groups

Broad-leaved forest

Forest with a predominance (more than 75 percent of tree crown cover) of trees of broad-leaved species.

Coniferous forest

Forest with a predominance (more than 75 percent of tree crown cover) of trees of coniferous species.

Bamboo/palm formations

Forest on which more than 75 percent of the crown cover consists of tree species other than coniferous or broad-leaved species (e.g. tree-form species of the bamboo, palm and fern families).

Mixed forest

Forest in which neither coniferous nor broad-leaved species nor palms nor bamboos account for more than 75 percent of the tree crown cover.

Subdivision of other wooded land

Shrubs

Refer to vegetation types where the dominant woody elements are shrubs i.e. woody perennial plants, generally of more than 0.5 m and less than 5 m in height on maturity and without a definite crown. The height limits for trees and shrubs should be interpreted with flexibility, particularly the minimum tree and maximum shrub height, which may vary between 5 and 7 m approximately.

Forest fallow system

Refers to all complexes of woody vegetation deriving from the clearing of natural forest for shifting agriculture. It consists of a mosaic of various reconstitution phases and includes patches of uncleared forests and agriculture fields, which cannot be realistically segregated and accounted for area-wise, especially from satellite imagery. Forest fallow system is an intermediate class between forest and non-forest land uses. Part of the area may have the appearance of a secondary forest. Even the part currently under cultivation sometimes has appearance of forest, due to presence of tree cover. Accurate separation between forest and forest fallow may not always be possible.

Protected areas - IUCN classification for nature protection

I - Strict nature reserve/ wilderness area

Protected area managed mainly for science or wilderness protection. These areas possess some outstanding ecosystems, features and/or species of flora and fauna of national scientific importance, or they are representative of particular natural areas. They often contain fragile ecosystems or life forms, areas of important biological or geological diversity, or areas of particular importance to the conservation of genetic resources. Public access is generally not permitted. Natural processes are allowed to take place in the absence of any direct human interference, tourism and recreation. Ecological processes may include natural acts that alter the ecological system or physiographic features, such as naturally occurring fires, natural succession, insect or disease outbreaks, storms, earthquakes and the like, but necessarily excluding man-induced disturbances.

II - National park

Protected area managed mainly for ecosystem protection and recreation. National parks are relatively large areas, which contain representative samples of major natural regions, features or scenery, where plant and animal species, geomorphological sites, and habitats are of special scientific, educational and recreational interest. The area is managed and developed so as to sustain recreation and educational activities on a controlled basis. The area and visitors' use are managed at a level which maintains the area in a natural or semi-natural state.

III - Natural monument

Protected area managed mainly for conservation of specific natural features. This category normally contains one or more natural features of outstanding national interest being protected because of their uniqueness or rarity. Size is not of great importance. The areas should be managed to remain relatively free of human disturbance, although they may have recreational and touristic value.

IV - Habitat/ species management area

Protected area managed mainly for conservation through management intervention. The areas covered may consist of nesting areas of colonial bird species, marshes or lakes, estuaries, forest or grassland habitats, or fish spawning or seagrass feeding beds for marine animals. The production of harvestable renewable resources may play a secondary role in the management of the area. The area may require habitat manipulation (mowing, sheep or cattle grazing, etc.).

V - Protected landscape/ seascape

Protected areas managed mainly for landscape/seascape conservation and recreation. The diversity of areas falling into this category is very large. They include those whose landscapes possess special aesthetic qualities which are a result of the interaction of man and land or water, traditional practices associated with agriculture, grazing and fishing being dominant; and those that are primarily natural areas, such as coastline, lake or river shores, hilly or mountainous terrains, managed intensively by humans for recreation and tourism.

VI - Managed resource protection area

Protected area managed for the sustainable use of natural ecosystems. Normally covers extensive and relatively isolated and uninhabited areas having difficult access, or regions that are relatively sparsely populated but are under considerable pressure for colonization or greater utilization.

Forest area available for wood supply

Forest available for wood supply

Forest where any legal, economic, or specific environmental restrictions do not have a significant impact on the supply of wood. Includes: Areas where, although there are no such restrictions, harvesting is not taking place, for example areas included in long-term utilization plans or intentions.

Forest not available for wood supply

Forest where legal, economic or specific environmental restrictions prevent any significant supply of wood. Includes:

Forest with legal restrictions or restrictions resulting from other political decisions, which totally exclude or severely limit wood supply, inter alia for reasons of environmental or biological diversity conservation, e.g. protection forest, national parks, nature reserves and other protected areas, such as those of special environmental, scientific, historical, cultural or spiritual interest;

Forest where physical productivity or wood quality is too low or harvesting and transport costs are too high to warrant wood harvesting, apart from occasional cuttings for autoconsumption.

Forest parameters

Volume and biomass

Growing stock

Stem volume of all living trees more than 10 cm diameter at breast height (or above buttresses if these are higher), over bark measured from stump to top of bole.
Excludes: all branches

Commercial growing stock

Part of the growing stock, that consists of species considered as actually or potentially commercial under current local and international market conditions, at the reported reference diameter (DBH).
Includes: species which are currently not utilized, but potentially commercial having appropriate technological properties.
Note: When most species are merchantable, i.e. in the temperate and boreal zone, the commercial growing stock, in a given area or for a country, can be close to the total growing stock. In the tropics however, where only a fraction of all species are merchantable, it may be much smaller.

Woody biomass

The mass of the woody part (stem, bark, branches, twigs) of trees, alive and dead, shrubs and bushes.
Includes: Above ground woody biomass, stumps and roots.
Excludes: foliage, flowers and seeds.

Above-ground woody biomass

The above ground mass of the woody part (stem, bark, branches, twigs) of trees, alive or dead, shrubs and bushes.
Excludes: stumps and roots, foliage, flowers and seeds.

Fellings and removals

Fellings

Average volume of all trees, living or dead, measured over bark to a minimum diameter of 10 cm (DBH), that are felled during a given period (e.g. annually), whether or not they are removed from the forest or other wooded land.
Includes: silvicultural and pre-commercial thinnings and cleanings of trees more than 10 cm (DBH) left in the forest, and natural losses of trees above 10 cm (DBH).

Removals

(Annual) removals that generate revenue for the owner of the forest or other wooded land or trees outside the forest. They refer to "volume actually commercialized" (VAC), i.e. volume under bark actually cut and removed from the forest. This volume may include wood for industrial purposes (e.g. sawlogs, veneer logs, etc.) and for local domestic use (e.g. rural uses for construction).
Includes: removals during the given reference period of trees felled during an earlier period and removal of trees killed or damaged by natural causes (natural losses), e.g. fire, wind, insects and diseases.
Excludes: removals for fuelwood.
Note: Removals as defined above refer to commercial removals, i.e. harvested timber, both for industrial and local domestic uses. In many developing countries, removals for fuelwood make up a considerable part of the total harvested wood. However, data on fuelwood removals are generally scarce and/or unreliable, and need to be reported separately when national or local data are available.

Non-wood forest products and forest services

Non-wood forest products

Products for human consumption: food, beverages, medicinal plants, and extracts (e.g. fruits, berries, nuts, honey, game meats, mushrooms, etc.).
Fodder and forage (grazing, range).
Other non-wood products (e.g. cork, resin, tannins, industrial extracts, wool and skins, hunting trophies, Christmas trees, decorative foliage, mosses and ferns, essential and cosmetic oils, etc.).

Forest services

Protection (against soil erosion by air or water, avalanches, mud and rock slides, flooding, air pollution, noise, etc.).
Social and economic values (e.g. hunting and fishing, other leisure activities, including recreation, sport and tourism).
Aesthetic, cultural, historical, spiritual and scientific values (including landscape and amenity).

Changes

Forest cover changes

Deforestation

Refers to change of land cover with depletion of tree crown cover to less than 10 percent. Changes within the forest class (e.g. from closed to open forest) which negatively affect the stand or site and, in particular, lower the production capacity, are termed forest degradation.

Forest degradation

Takes different forms, particularly in open forest formations, deriving mainly from human activities such as overgrazing, overexploitation (for fuelwood or timber), repeated fires, or due to attacks by insects, diseases, plant parasites or other natural sources such as cyclones. In most cases, degradation does not show as a decrease in the area of woody vegetation but rather as a gradual reduction of biomass, changes in species composition and soil degradation. Unsustainable logging practices can contribute to degradation if the extraction of mature trees is not accompanied with their regeneration or if the use of heavy machinery causes soil compaction or loss of productive forest area.

New plantations: afforestation

Artificial establishment of forest on lands which previously did not carry forest within living memory.

New plantations: reforestation

Artificial establishment of forest on lands which carried forest before.

Additional terms

Broad-leaved tree

All trees classified botanically as Angiospermae. They are sometimes referred to as "non-coniferous" or "hardwoods".

Coniferous tree

All trees classified botanically as Gymnospermae. They are sometimes referred to as "softwoods".

Endangered species

Species classified by an objective process (e.g. national "Red Book") as being in IUCN categories "critically endangered" and "endangered". A species is considered to be "critically endangered" when it is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future. It is considered "endangered" when it is not critically endangered but is still facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.

Endemic species

Species is endemic when found only in a certain strictly limited geographical region, i.e. restricted to a specified region or locality.

Indigenous tree species

Tree species which have evolved in the same area, region or biotope where the forest stand is growing and are adapted to the specific ecological conditions predominant at the time of the establishment of the stand. May also be termed native species or autochthonous species.

Introduced tree species

Tree species occurring outside their natural vegetation zone, area or region. May also be termed non-indigenous species.

Managed forest/other wooded land

Forest and other wooded land that is managed in accordance with a formal or an informal plan applied regularly over a sufficiently long period (five years or more).

Protection

The function of forest/other wooded land in providing protection of soil against erosion by water or wind, prevention of desertification, the reduction of risk of avalanches and rock or mud slides; and in conserving, protecting and regulating the quantity and quality of water supply, including the prevention of flooding. Includes: Protection against air and noise pollution.

Tree

A woody perennial with a single main stem, or in the case of coppice with several stems, having a more or less definite crown. Includes: bamboos, palms and other woody plants meeting the above criterion.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

FAO. 1998. FRA 2000: Terms and definitions. FRA Working Paper No. 1. Rome.
www.fao.org/forestry/fo/fra/index.jsp

FAO. 2000. On definitions of forest and forest change. FRA Working Paper No. 33. Rome.

Finnish Forest Research Institute. 1996. Expert consultation on Global Forest Resource Assessment 2000. Kotka III. Proceedings of FAO Expert Consultation on Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000 in cooperation with ECE and UNEP with the Support of the Government of Finland (KOTKA III). Kotka, Finland, 10-14 June 1996. Eds. Nyyssonen, A. & Ahti, A. Research Papers No. 620. Helsinki. Finland.

UN. 1997. Report of the Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Panel on Forests on its Fourth Session. New York, 11-27 February 1997. E/CN.17/1997/12. New York.

[59] The “Total land area” is defined as the total area, but excluding inland water.

Forest	Forest includes natural forests and forest plantations. It is used to refer to land with a tree canopy cover of more than 10 percent and area of more than 0.5 ha. Forests are determined both by the presence of trees and the absence of other predominant land uses. The trees should be able to reach a minimum height of 5 m. Young stands that have not yet but are expected to reach a crown density of 10 percent and tree height of 5 m are included under forest, as are temporarily unstocked areas. The term includes forests used for purposes of production, protection, multiple-use or conservation (i.e. forest in national parks, nature reserves and other protected areas), as well as forest stands on agricultural lands (e.g. windbreaks and shelterbelts of trees with a width of more than 20 m), and rubberwood plantations and cork oak stands. The term specifically excludes stands of trees established primarily for agricultural production, for example fruit tree plantations. It also excludes trees planted in agroforestry systems.
Natural forest	A forest composed of indigenous trees and not classified as forest plantation.
Forest plantation	A forest established by planting or/and seeding in the process of afforestation or reforestation. It consists of introduced species or, in some cases, indigenous species.
Other wooded land	Land that has either a crown cover (or equivalent stocking level) of 5 to10 percent of trees able to reach a height of 5 m at maturity; or a crown cover (or equivalent stocking level) of more than 10 percent of trees not able to reach a height of 5 m at maturity; or with shrub or bush cover of more than 10 percent.

Afforestation	Establishment of forest plantations on land that, until then, was not classified as forest. Implies a transformation from non-forest to forest.
Natural expansion of forest	Expansion of forests through natural succession on land that, until then, was under another land use (e.g. forest succession on land previously used for agriculture). Implies a transformation from non-forest to forest.
Reforestation	Establishment of forest plantations on temporarily unstocked lands that are considered as forest.
Natural regeneration on forest lands	Natural succession of forest on temporarily unstocked lands that are considered as forest.
Deforestation	The conversion of forest to another land use or the long-term reduction of the tree canopy cover below the minimum 10 percent threshold (see definition of forest and the following explanatory note). Explanatory note: Deforestation implies the long-term or permanent loss of forest cover and implies transformation into another land use. Such a loss can only be caused and maintained by a continued human-induced or natural perturbation. Deforestation includes areas of forest converted to agriculture, pasture, water reservoirs and urban areas. The term specifically excludes areas where the trees have been removed as a result of harvesting or logging, and where the forest is expected to regenerate naturally or with the aid of silvicultural measures. Unless logging is followed by the clearing of the remaining logged-over forest for the introduction of alternative land uses, or the maintenance of the clearings through continued disturbance, forests commonly regenerate, although often to a different, secondary condition. In areas of shifting agriculture, forest, forest fallow and agricultural lands appear in a dynamic pattern where deforestation and the return of forest occur frequently in small patches. To simplify reporting of such areas, the net change over a larger area is typically used. Deforestation also includes areas where, for example, the impact of disturbance, overutilization or changing environmental conditions affects the forest to an extent that it cannot sustain a tree cover above the 10 percent threshold.
Forest degradation	Changes within the forest which negatively affect the structure or function of the stand or site, and thereby lower the capacity to supply products and/or services.
Forest improvement	Changes within the forest which positively affect the structure or function of the stand or site, and thereby increase the capacity to supply products and/or services.

*Land cover, general classification*
Total area[59]	Total area (of country), including area under inland water bodies, but excluding offshore territorial waters.
Forest	Land with tree crown cover (or equivalent stocking level) of more than 10 percent and area of more than 0.5 ha. The trees should be able to reach a minimum height of 5 m at maturity in situ. May consist either of closed forest formations where trees of various storeys and undergrowth cover a high proportion of the ground; or open forest formations with a continuous vegetation cover in which tree crown cover exceeds 10 percent. Young natural stands and all plantations established for forestry purposes which have yet to reach a crown density of 10 percent or tree height of 5 m are included under forest, as are areas normally forming part of the forest area which are temporarily unstocked as a result of human intervention or natural causes but which are expected to revert to forest. Includes: forest nurseries and seed orchards that constitute an integral part of the forest; forest roads, cleared tracts, firebreaks and other small open areas; forest in national parks, nature reserves and other protected areas such as those of specific scientific, historical, cultural or spiritual interest; windbreaks and shelterbelts of trees with an area of more than 0.5 ha and width of more than 20 m; plantations primarily used for forestry purposes, including rubberwood plantations and cork oak stands. Excludes: Land predominantly used for agricultural practices
Other wooded land	Land either with a crown cover (or equivalent stocking level) of 5-10 percent of trees able to reach a height of 5 m at maturity in situ; or a crown cover (or equivalent stocking level) of more than 10 percent of trees not able to reach a height of 5 m at maturity in situ (e.g. dwarf or stunted trees); or with shrub or bush cover of more than 10 percent.
Other land	Land not classified as forest or other wooded land as defined above. Includes agricultural land, meadows and pastures, built-on areas, barren land, etc.
Inland water	Area occupied by major rivers, lakes and reservoirs.
*Forest classification*
Plantation	Forest stands established by planting or/and seeding in the process of afforestation or reforestation. They are either: of introduced species (all planted stands), or intensively managed stands of indigenous species, which meet all the following criteria: one or two species at plantation, even age class, regular spacing. See also afforestation and reforestation. Note: Area statistics on forest plantations provided by countries should reflect the actual forest plantations resource, excluding replanting. Replanting is the re-establishment of planted trees, either because afforestation or reforestation failed, or tree crop was felled and regenerated. It is not an addition to the total plantation area.
Natural forest	Natural forests are forests composed of indigenous trees, not planted by humans. Or in other words forests excluding plantations. Natural forests are further classified using the following criteria: forest formation (or type): closed/open, degree of human disturbance or modification, species composition.
*Subdivisions of natural forests: forest formation*
Closed forest	Formations where trees in the various storeys and the undergrowth cover a high proportion (> 40 percent) of the ground and do not have a continuous dense grass layer (cf. the following definition). They are either managed or unmanaged forests, primary or in advanced state of reconstitution and may have been logged-over one or more times, having kept their characteristics of forest stands, possibly with modified structure and composition. Typical examples of tropical closed forest formations include tropical rain forest and mangrove forest.
Open forest	Formations with discontinuous tree layer but with a coverage of at least 10 percent and less than 40 percent. Generally there is a continuous grass layer allowing grazing and spreading of fires. (Examples are various forms of cerrado, and chaco in Latin America, wooded savannahs and woodlands in Africa).
*Subdivisions of natural forests: degree of human disturbance or modification*
Natural forest undisturbed by humans	Forest which shows natural forest dynamics such as natural species composition, occurrence of dead wood, natural age structure and natural regeneration processes, the area of which is large enough to maintain its natural characteristics and where there has been no known human intervention or where the last significant human intervention was long enough ago to have allowed the natural species composition and processes to have become re-established.
Natural forest disturbed by humans	Includes: logged over forests associated with various intensity of logging, various forms of secondary forests, resulting from logging or abandoned cultivation.
Semi-natural forest	Managed forests modified by man through sylviculture and assisted regeneration.
*Subdivisions of natural forests: forest composition by species groups*
Broad-leaved forest	Forest with a predominance (more than 75 percent of tree crown cover) of trees of broad-leaved species.
Coniferous forest	Forest with a predominance (more than 75 percent of tree crown cover) of trees of coniferous species.
Bamboo/palm formations	Forest on which more than 75 percent of the crown cover consists of tree species other than coniferous or broad-leaved species (e.g. tree-form species of the bamboo, palm and fern families).
Mixed forest	Forest in which neither coniferous nor broad-leaved species nor palms nor bamboos account for more than 75 percent of the tree crown cover.
*Subdivision of other wooded land*
Shrubs	Refer to vegetation types where the dominant woody elements are shrubs i.e. woody perennial plants, generally of more than 0.5 m and less than 5 m in height on maturity and without a definite crown. The height limits for trees and shrubs should be interpreted with flexibility, particularly the minimum tree and maximum shrub height, which may vary between 5 and 7 m approximately.
Forest fallow system	Refers to all complexes of woody vegetation deriving from the clearing of natural forest for shifting agriculture. It consists of a mosaic of various reconstitution phases and includes patches of uncleared forests and agriculture fields, which cannot be realistically segregated and accounted for area-wise, especially from satellite imagery. Forest fallow system is an intermediate class between forest and non-forest land uses. Part of the area may have the appearance of a secondary forest. Even the part currently under cultivation sometimes has appearance of forest, due to presence of tree cover. Accurate separation between forest and forest fallow may not always be possible.
*Protected areas - IUCN classification for nature protection*
I - Strict nature reserve/ wilderness area	Protected area managed mainly for science or wilderness protection. These areas possess some outstanding ecosystems, features and/or species of flora and fauna of national scientific importance, or they are representative of particular natural areas. They often contain fragile ecosystems or life forms, areas of important biological or geological diversity, or areas of particular importance to the conservation of genetic resources. Public access is generally not permitted. Natural processes are allowed to take place in the absence of any direct human interference, tourism and recreation. Ecological processes may include natural acts that alter the ecological system or physiographic features, such as naturally occurring fires, natural succession, insect or disease outbreaks, storms, earthquakes and the like, but necessarily excluding man-induced disturbances.
II - National park	Protected area managed mainly for ecosystem protection and recreation. National parks are relatively large areas, which contain representative samples of major natural regions, features or scenery, where plant and animal species, geomorphological sites, and habitats are of special scientific, educational and recreational interest. The area is managed and developed so as to sustain recreation and educational activities on a controlled basis. The area and visitors' use are managed at a level which maintains the area in a natural or semi-natural state.
III - Natural monument	Protected area managed mainly for conservation of specific natural features. This category normally contains one or more natural features of outstanding national interest being protected because of their uniqueness or rarity. Size is not of great importance. The areas should be managed to remain relatively free of human disturbance, although they may have recreational and touristic value.
IV - Habitat/ species management area	Protected area managed mainly for conservation through management intervention. The areas covered may consist of nesting areas of colonial bird species, marshes or lakes, estuaries, forest or grassland habitats, or fish spawning or seagrass feeding beds for marine animals. The production of harvestable renewable resources may play a secondary role in the management of the area. The area may require habitat manipulation (mowing, sheep or cattle grazing, etc.).
V - Protected landscape/ seascape	Protected areas managed mainly for landscape/seascape conservation and recreation. The diversity of areas falling into this category is very large. They include those whose landscapes possess special aesthetic qualities which are a result of the interaction of man and land or water, traditional practices associated with agriculture, grazing and fishing being dominant; and those that are primarily natural areas, such as coastline, lake or river shores, hilly or mountainous terrains, managed intensively by humans for recreation and tourism.
VI - Managed resource protection area	Protected area managed for the sustainable use of natural ecosystems. Normally covers extensive and relatively isolated and uninhabited areas having difficult access, or regions that are relatively sparsely populated but are under considerable pressure for colonization or greater utilization.
*Forest area available for wood supply*
Forest available for wood supply	Forest where any legal, economic, or specific environmental restrictions do not have a significant impact on the supply of wood. Includes: Areas where, although there are no such restrictions, harvesting is not taking place, for example areas included in long-term utilization plans or intentions.
Forest not available for wood supply	Forest where legal, economic or specific environmental restrictions prevent any significant supply of wood. Includes: Forest with legal restrictions or restrictions resulting from other political decisions, which totally exclude or severely limit wood supply, inter alia for reasons of environmental or biological diversity conservation, e.g. protection forest, national parks, nature reserves and other protected areas, such as those of special environmental, scientific, historical, cultural or spiritual interest; Forest where physical productivity or wood quality is too low or harvesting and transport costs are too high to warrant wood harvesting, apart from occasional cuttings for autoconsumption.

*Volume and biomass*
Growing stock	Stem volume of all living trees more than 10 cm diameter at breast height (or above buttresses if these are higher), over bark measured from stump to top of bole. Excludes: all branches
Commercial growing stock	Part of the growing stock, that consists of species considered as actually or potentially commercial under current local and international market conditions, at the reported reference diameter (DBH). Includes: species which are currently not utilized, but potentially commercial having appropriate technological properties. Note: When most species are merchantable, i.e. in the temperate and boreal zone, the commercial growing stock, in a given area or for a country, can be close to the total growing stock. In the tropics however, where only a fraction of all species are merchantable, it may be much smaller.
Woody biomass	The mass of the woody part (stem, bark, branches, twigs) of trees, alive and dead, shrubs and bushes. Includes: Above ground woody biomass, stumps and roots. Excludes: foliage, flowers and seeds.
Above-ground woody biomass	The above ground mass of the woody part (stem, bark, branches, twigs) of trees, alive or dead, shrubs and bushes. Excludes: stumps and roots, foliage, flowers and seeds.
*Fellings and removals*
Fellings	Average volume of all trees, living or dead, measured over bark to a minimum diameter of 10 cm (DBH), that are felled during a given period (e.g. annually), whether or not they are removed from the forest or other wooded land. Includes: silvicultural and pre-commercial thinnings and cleanings of trees more than 10 cm (DBH) left in the forest, and natural losses of trees above 10 cm (DBH).
Removals	(Annual) removals that generate revenue for the owner of the forest or other wooded land or trees outside the forest. They refer to "volume actually commercialized" (VAC), i.e. volume under bark actually cut and removed from the forest. This volume may include wood for industrial purposes (e.g. sawlogs, veneer logs, etc.) and for local domestic use (e.g. rural uses for construction). Includes: removals during the given reference period of trees felled during an earlier period and removal of trees killed or damaged by natural causes (natural losses), e.g. fire, wind, insects and diseases. Excludes: removals for fuelwood. Note: Removals as defined above refer to commercial removals, i.e. harvested timber, both for industrial and local domestic uses. In many developing countries, removals for fuelwood make up a considerable part of the total harvested wood. However, data on fuelwood removals are generally scarce and/or unreliable, and need to be reported separately when national or local data are available.
*Non-wood forest products and forest services*
Non-wood forest products	Products for human consumption: food, beverages, medicinal plants, and extracts (e.g. fruits, berries, nuts, honey, game meats, mushrooms, etc.). Fodder and forage (grazing, range). Other non-wood products (e.g. cork, resin, tannins, industrial extracts, wool and skins, hunting trophies, Christmas trees, decorative foliage, mosses and ferns, essential and cosmetic oils, etc.).
Forest services	Protection (against soil erosion by air or water, avalanches, mud and rock slides, flooding, air pollution, noise, etc.). Social and economic values (e.g. hunting and fishing, other leisure activities, including recreation, sport and tourism). Aesthetic, cultural, historical, spiritual and scientific values (including landscape and amenity).

*Forest cover changes*
Deforestation	Refers to change of land cover with depletion of tree crown cover to less than 10 percent. Changes within the forest class (e.g. from closed to open forest) which negatively affect the stand or site and, in particular, lower the production capacity, are termed forest degradation.
Forest degradation	Takes different forms, particularly in open forest formations, deriving mainly from human activities such as overgrazing, overexploitation (for fuelwood or timber), repeated fires, or due to attacks by insects, diseases, plant parasites or other natural sources such as cyclones. In most cases, degradation does not show as a decrease in the area of woody vegetation but rather as a gradual reduction of biomass, changes in species composition and soil degradation. Unsustainable logging practices can contribute to degradation if the extraction of mature trees is not accompanied with their regeneration or if the use of heavy machinery causes soil compaction or loss of productive forest area.
New plantations: afforestation	Artificial establishment of forest on lands which previously did not carry forest within living memory.
New plantations: reforestation	Artificial establishment of forest on lands which carried forest before.

Broad-leaved tree	All trees classified botanically as Angiospermae. They are sometimes referred to as "non-coniferous" or "hardwoods".
Coniferous tree	All trees classified botanically as Gymnospermae. They are sometimes referred to as "softwoods".
Endangered species	Species classified by an objective process (e.g. national "Red Book") as being in IUCN categories "critically endangered" and "endangered". A species is considered to be "critically endangered" when it is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future. It is considered "endangered" when it is not critically endangered but is still facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
Endemic species	Species is endemic when found only in a certain strictly limited geographical region, i.e. restricted to a specified region or locality.
Indigenous tree species	Tree species which have evolved in the same area, region or biotope where the forest stand is growing and are adapted to the specific ecological conditions predominant at the time of the establishment of the stand. May also be termed native species or autochthonous species.
Introduced tree species	Tree species occurring outside their natural vegetation zone, area or region. May also be termed non-indigenous species.
Managed forest/other wooded land	Forest and other wooded land that is managed in accordance with a formal or an informal plan applied regularly over a sufficiently long period (five years or more).
Protection	The function of forest/other wooded land in providing protection of soil against erosion by water or wind, prevention of desertification, the reduction of risk of avalanches and rock or mud slides; and in conserving, protecting and regulating the quantity and quality of water supply, including the prevention of flooding. Includes: Protection against air and noise pollution.
Tree	A woody perennial with a single main stem, or in the case of coppice with several stems, having a more or less definite crown. Includes: bamboos, palms and other woody plants meeting the above criterion.