Training Materials
Courses and materials for field teams.
Training Materials
Basic equipment for an NFI field team. Field methods follow the Field Manual for Biophysical Forest Resources Assessment in Kenya (IC-FRA, 2016).
| Tool | Number | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Measurement tools | ||
| Compass (360°) | 1 | In degrees, Water proof model |
| GPS receiver (precision ca. 5 m)+ extra batteries + charger + downloading cables | 1 | - |
| Measuring tape, 30 m | 2 | Metric, 1 cm units (fibreglass) |
| Measuring tape, 50 m | 2 | Metric, 1 cm units (fibreglass) |
| Calliper for big trees | 1 | Metric, 1 cm units |
| Calliper for small trees (<30 cm) | 1 | Metric, 1 cm units |
| Diameter tape | 1 | mm scale |
| 1.3 m stick | 1 | For measuring tree’s breast height level |
| Tree height and land slope measuring equipment | 1 | Laser Ace, Haglöf Vertex hypsometer, TruPulse or Suunto hypsometer with 15m, 20m and % scales to measure both tree height, in meters; and slopes, in percent. |
| Spherical densiometer | 1 | Canopy coverage measuring equipment. Convex model."∩" |
| Coloured flagging ribbon | Several rolls | For marking |
| Waterproof bags | As necessary | To protect measurement instruments and forms in case of rain |
| Digital camera, extra memory card, extra batteries, and charger | 1 | For photographs of sample plot |
| Machete / Bush-knife | As necessary | For bush clearing |
| Pocket knife | 1 | For general use |
| Colour spray | 1 | For marking of fixed points on PSPs |
| Plastic sticks | As necessary | For marking of fixed points on PSPs |
| 40 cm long metallic pin | As necessary | For marking of plot centre points on PSPs |
| Spade | 1 | For digging soil pit |
| Munsell colour book | 1 | For soil colour characterization |
| Soil volumetric corer, 10 cm | 1 | For taking soil samples |
| Soil auger | 1 | For inspecting soil depth and taking indicative soil samples below top 30 cm |
| Plastic bags 3L | As necessary | For storing composite soil samples |
| Plastic bags 80 L | As necessary | For collecting litter or woody debris |
| Kitchen electronic scale | 1 | For weighing composite soil samples |
| Spring scale | 1 | For weighing litter or debris composite samples |
| Clothing | ||
| Boots and waterproof outfits | For permanent team members | - |
| Helmet | For permanent team members | Optional, for area where there is risk for branches to fall |
| Rain coats | As necessary | Optional |
| Documents, papers, recording tool | ||
| Field forms | As necessary | Also plastic ones for rainy days |
| Code check list with slope correction table | As necessary | - |
| Needs to be laminated Field manual | As necessary | - |
| Flora and species check list | As necessary | - |
| Topographic maps, field maps and printed aerial photo/satellite image | As necessary | - |
| PDA | 1 | To enter data in the sample plot |
| Laptop PC | 1 | To enter/transfer field data into/from PDA |
| Pencils and markers | As necessary | - |
| Supporting board / writing tablet | 1 | To take notes |
| Hand calculator | 1 | - |
| Clipboard | 2 | To take notes |
| A4/A3 size flipchart | 1 | For photo identification |
| Newspapers | As necessary | For collection of samples (plants/ leaves) |
| Other equipment (camping, security, communication…) | ||
| Mobile phone | At least 1 | |
| Radio phones | 1+1 | One for the field team, one for the driver |
| Chain saw | 1 | When necessary |
| Field car | 2 | - |
| First aid kit | 1 | With phone numbers of nearest hospitals / emergency centres |
| Flashlight and batteries | As necessary | - |
| Camping equipment and cooking utensils | 1 | - |
| Rucksack | As necessary | - |
| Water and food | As necessary | - |
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) 6), Tools for data collection.