Use of the canopy-scope for assessing canopy openness in plantation forests

Journal article

The canopy-scope was recently introduced as a cheap, robust, portable and easy to use instrument for assessing canopy openness in forests. In this study, the method was tested in predominantly coniferous plantation forests, which were different in species and structure to the forests where the instrument was originally tested. The relationship between canopy openness (calculated from hemispherical photography) and canopy-scope score at individual points, despite being statistically significant, showed considerable scatter, especially at low values. Consequently, the canopy-scope is not recommended for obtaining estimates of canopy openness at a single point within plantation conifer stands. However, good results were obtained when values were averaged across a plot. Eight to 10 canopy-scope measurements in 0.25 ha were found to be sufficient to estimate canopy openness. © Institute of Chartered Foresters, 2005. All rights reserved.

Authors: Hale, SE; Brown, N

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: FORESTRY
• Volume: 78
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 365-371
• Publication date: 2005-10-01
• DOI: 10.1093/forestry/cpi043
• EISSN: 1464-3626
• ISSN: 0015-752X
• Language: English