Mapping forest site quality at national level

Determining site quality is essential in order to develop sustainable forest management, allowing more appropriate silvicultural decisions be made. However, most studies carried out Spain have focused on a few species and at local scale, which makes it difficult apply the findings or conduct larger scales. The aim of this study obtain map national scale for main (Pinus sylvestris, Pinus uncinata, pinea, halepensis, nigra, pinaster, canariensis, radiata, Abies alba, Juniperus thurifera, Quercus robur, Querus petraea, pyrenaica, faginea, ilex, suber, Populus Eucalyptus globulus, camaldulensis, Fagus sylvatica, Castanea sativa, pubescens, × canadensis, Betula alba). National Forest Inventory (NFI) data has been used models using form (SF) concept (dominant height- dominant diameter relationship). Universal Kriging techniques identify both geographical trend linked factors (climatic, soil physiographic variables) their spatial autocorrelation estimate SF every species. Finally, information was interpolated each tile Spanish Map considered present, thus obtaining results reveal biologically consistent models, indicating that NFI are suitable studying level. variables differ among analyzed, altitude being important variable estimating while aridity less important. obtained could provide an tool managers working level with Spain. This methodology areas, such as European level, would allow some analyzed