Growing stock monitoring by European National Forest Inventories: Historical origins, current methods and harmonisation

Wood resources have been essential for human welfare throughout history. Also nowadays, the volume of growing stock (GS) is considered one most important forest attributes monitored by National Forest Inventories (NFIs) to inform policy decisions and management planning. The origins inventories closely relate times early wood shortage in Europe causing need explore plan utilisation GS catchment areas mines, saltworks settlements. Over time, surveys became more detailed their scope turned larger areas, although they were still conceived as stand-wise inventories. In 1920s, first sample-based NFIs introduced northern European countries. Since earliest beginnings, monitoring approaches considerably evolved. Current NFI methods differ due country-specific conditions, inventory traditions, information needs. Consequently, estimates lacking international comparability therefore subject recent harmonisation efforts meet increasing demand consistent resource at level. As primary large-area programmes countries, assess a multitude variables, describing various aspects sustainable management, including example supply, carbon sequestration, biodiversity. Many these contemporary matters involve considerations about its changes, different geographic levels time frames from past future developments according scenario simulations. Due historical, continued currently importance, we provide an up-to-date review focussing on where i) describe historical development NFIs, ii) address terminology present definitions iii) summarise current 23 sampling methods, tree measurements, models, estimators, uncertainty components, use air- space-borne data sources, iv) progress Europe, v) outlook under changing climate forest-based bioeconomy objectives.