SAMPLING METHODS TO ESTIMATE STEM LENGTH AND SURFACE-AREA OF TROPICALTREE SPECIES

Sampling strategies to provide unbiased estimates of individual tree c haracteristics have received increased attention in the past decade. S ampling-based estimation is appealing for many tropical species owing to the dearth of appropriately fitted models from which one can obtain an accurate prediction of these characteristics. Two methods, namely randomized branch sampling and importance sampling, are described in t his paper. Their application to estimate surface (bark) area and avera ge stem length is elucidated. Extensions to a stratified design are br iefly discussed.