Buton Forest Character Survey (Bruce’s 2005)

The aim of the Buton Forest Character project is to improve our understanding of how
general forest characteristics vary across Buton. The project has the following
objectives:
 Gather data on a range of forest characteristics across Buton;
 Examine patterns and scales of spatial variation in these characteristics;
 Assess the potential of satellite imagery for creating island-wide forest
character maps.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork involves gathering three types of information to characterise Buton’s

forests: stand characteristics, species composition and forest structure. First, the
circumference of all trees greater than 5 cm dbh is measured, allowing an estimate of
stand density (number of trees per unit area) and calculation of basal area – a proxy
for tree biomass. Second, to study species composition, the vernacular names of all
trees greater than 10 cm dbh are recorded. The vernacular names are used as a proxy
for species names. Third, the vertical structure of the forest is characterised by
estimating percentage cover using the Braun-Blanquet scale for different vegetation
layers. Environmental factors and the presence and character of key environmental
indicators are also recorded.

1. Sample Design

There are 6 nodes located in the Lambusango Forest Management Area:

 Anoa
 Balanophora
 Lapago
 Wabalamba
 Wahalaka
 New node

Each node has 4 parallel transects, each 3km long, spaced 1 km apart. Distance along
each transect is marked with flagging tape tied around a tree at 100m intervals.

Each sample site is a 50m by 10m quadrat aligned alongside and to the left (as you
walk from 0m to 3000m) of the transect. In practice each site is split into five 10m by
10m quadrats. The target number of samples is 12 sites per node. In practice anything
from 8 to 12 sites is adequate.

2. Sample Selection

Four days are spent sampling each node, with one transect surveyed each day. During
an initial walk along the length of each 3 km transect of each node, a visual
assessment is used to divide the transect into basic forest structure types. This rapid
and informal stratification is based on the density of a lower layer (less than 2 m), a
mid-layer (from 2m to approximately 15m), an upper layer (higher than
approximately 15 m) and the terrain (flat, valley bottom, slope, or ridge). See the
attached stratification schema. At each node, i.e. across the four transects, at least 2
sites are surveyed within each broad forest structure type. This approach to locating
sites has been devised to give a comprehensive representation of the variation in
forest character.

On completing the initial stratification of the transect, 2 or 3 sample sites are chosen
for that days surveying. These sites are located in the approximate centre of a stretch
of one broad forest structure type. If more than three broad forest structure types have
been encountered, it can be assumed that some of these will be encountered on
subsequent days and saved for later survey.

3. Stand Characteristics

For each 10m by 10m quadrat of each site the circumference of all trees greater than 5
cm diameter at breast height (dbh) is measured to the nearest centimetre. If a tree is
multi-stemmed, all stems are measured.

4. Species Composition

For each 10m by 10m quadrat of each site the vernacular names of all trees greater
than 10cm dbh are recorded – see the attached list of vernacular names. Trees smaller
than this are not recorded due to the difficulty of accurately determining type when
young.

5. Forest Structure

For each 10m by 10m quadrat of each site a Braun-Blanquet percentage cover score is
recorded for each of the following:
 Rock cover
 Bare soil cover
 Litter cover
 Ground layer cover (vegetation 0 m to 1 m above ground)
 Shrub layer cover (1 m to 5 m)
 Lower canopy cover (5 m to 20 m)
 Upper canopy (above 20 m)

A digital photograph is also taken looking directly upwards from the approximate
centre of each 10m by 10m quadrat. A location without vegetation immediately above
(up to 5m above ground) is used.

The height of the tallest tree is visually estimated to the nearest 5m.

6. Environmental factors

The location of the start and end of each 50m by 10m quadrat is recorded using a
hand held GPS (Garmin GPS 72) with the reading averaged over as long a period as
practicable to maximise accuracy. An Estimated Positional Error (EPE) of less than
10m is the goal. If a reading cannot be obtained at the desired location, a nearby
alternative location (e.g. a clearing) can be used and the compass bearing and distance
recorded so that an offset can be calculated later.
The altitude is also recorded from the GPS. The UTM coordinate system (Zone 51S)
with the WGS84 datum is used for position and altitude readings.

The basic terrain position of each quadrat is recorded (ridge, peak, upper slope, mid-
slope, slope base, channel). The gradient of each 10m by 10m quadrat is measured
from the highest to the lowest points on the perimeter of the quadrat using a
clinometer. A handheld compass is used to record the aspect of this gradient.

In the 2nd and 4th 10m by 10m quadrat of each site, two soil samples are taken. One
soil sample is taken from the surface (after litter has been moved aside) and another
from a depth of 5 cm to 10 cm. A trowel is used to collect approximately 10g of soil
(about enough to fill a film canister). The soil is placed in a small freezer bag with a
sample ID number written on waterproof paper and the bag is knotted shut.

7. Vegetation Indicators

The presence or absence of pandans, ferns, tree ferns and palms (not including
rattans) is recorded for each 10m by 10m quadrat.

The number of birds nest ferns and the height of the lowest one are recorded for each
10m by 10m quadrat.

The maximum height of bole climbers is recorded for each 10m by 10m quadrat.

The abundance of epiphylls in each 10m by 10m quadrat is recorded on a 3 point

scale (rare: <10%; common: 10% to 60%; abundant: >60%).

The maximum height at which mosses are found and the maximum depth/thickness of
moss is recorded for each 10m by 10m quadrat.

The maximum height of rattan and its percentage cover on the Braun-Blanquet scale
is recorded for each 10m by 10m quadrat. If the length of a rattan stem exceeds the
maximum height (i.e. it climbs and drops and winds around) then this length is also
recorded.

The measurements and observations described above are recorded on a site (50m by
10m) survey sheet and a quadrat (10m by 10m) survey sheet.