Field Data Collection
Field teams, mobile collection, plot and tree measurements.
Plot Measurements
Plots are circular and grouped in clusters: six plots 250 m apart in a rectangle (Montane & WRB, Dryland) or four plots 150 m apart in a square (Mangroves & coastal, Plantation).
| Stratum | Plot number in a cluster | Plot size (radius meter) | Total plots area in a cluster(m2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montane forests and western rain forests and bamboo | 6 | 15 | 4,239 |
| Coastal and mangrove forests | 4 | 15 | 2,826 |
| Dryland forests | 6 | 20 | 7,536 |
| Plantation forest land | 4 | 15 | 2,826 |
| Measuring item | Size or location from the plot centre | Condition recorded |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubs | Within 15m radius | - |
| Tree regeneration | Two circular (1.5 m radius subplots) locating 10 meters from the sample plot centre. | Height ≥10cm, DBH ≤2 cm |
| Tree | Within 2m radius | DBH ≥2 cm |
| Tree | Within 5m radius | DBH ≥5 cm |
| Tree | Within 10m radius | DBH ≥10 cm |
| Tree | Within 20m radius (Dryland Forests Stratum) | DBH ≥20 cm |
| Tree | Within 15m radius (other than Dryland Forests Stratum) | |
| Dead wood | Within 15m radius | Diameter ≥10 cm |
| Stumps | Within 15m radius | Diameter ≥10 cm |
| Bamboo | Within 10m radius | All bamboo shoots ≥1.3m |
| Climbers | Within 2m radius | DBH ≥2 cm |
| Climbers | Within 5m radius | DBH ≥5 cm |
| Part of the field form | Contents |
|---|---|
| 1a Time Study | Cluster number Date Type of measurement Start time/ End time by Stages; GPS Receiver model GPS unit ID Starting position Remarks |
| b Fixed Points | Type of object Distance/direction from plot centre; Description |
| 2 Sample Plot Form | Walk between sample plots Start time / End time Permanent plot (Yes or No) Group leader Start time / End time Accessibility code Assessment method County name and code; District name and code Division name GPS coordination Distance/direction from plot centre Slope (%) Slope orient Count of soil pits Photo(Direction and distance) |
| Stand description | Stand Share Owner Land use class/Past land use class Time of change FRA land use /cover Past FRA land use Time of change; Management proposal Canopy coverage Plantation forest, planting year Vegetation Undergrowth Damage/Severity Human impact |
| Surrounding the sample plot | Erosion Grazing Water catch; Non-wood forest product and service Biodiversity observed |
| 3a Shrubs | Shrub coverage; Mean shrub height |
| b Regeneration | Regeneration subplot code Species code / name; Health Count of samplings and seedling |
| 4 Tree form | Stand Sample Species code / name Direction and distance DBH Quality; Health Origin(NP/C) Bole height Total height Stump diameter / height |
| 5a Dead wood | Stand Species code / name Diameter; Length Number of stems Decay |
| b Stumps | Stand Species code / name Diameter Height; Number of stumps Years ago Reason |
| 6 Bamboo | Stand Species code / name; Number of stems Average diameter / height |
| 7 Climber | Stand Species code / name; Diameter Height |
| 8 Litter, debris and soil | Sampling locations Amount of litter total / subsample Amount of debris total / subsample Type / thickness of organic layer Effective soil depth Soil stoniness; Munsell colour Soil texture Soil composites layer Number of volumetric subsamples Total volume of alternative corer |
| 9 Crew contact details | Name Title; Mobile phone E-mail |
Source: Ministry of Environment and Forestry, National Forest Monitoring System in the Republic of Kenya, Version 1 (Draft), February 2021. Chapter 5.2.1 (2), points 4 and 5.