Data Set Citation:
When using this data, please cite the data package:
Somyot S.
Systematic forest inventory plots and their contribution to plant distribution and climate change impact studies in Thailand
ERDP-2020-05.1.1 (https://db.cger.nies.go.jp/JaLTER/metacat/metacat/ERDP-2020-05.1.1/jalter-en)
General Information:
Title:Systematic forest inventory plots and their contribution to plant distribution and climate change impact studies in Thailand
Identifier:ERDP-2020-05.1.1
Abstract:
Thailand is recognized as having high species richness both flora and fauna. The systematic plant taxonomy and collection was initiated in 1957–58. However, the distribution of specimen collections is uneven and mainly located near road networks. The Royal Forest Department (RFD) has since 2001 initiated the systematic uniformly fixed grids of 20 km × 20 km for measuring trees and their environments with the financial and technical support from the International Tropical Timber Organization. After the reorganization of the RFD in 2002, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation of Thailand, which then was separated from the RFD, has carried on this project and added the uniformly fixed grids ranging from 2.5 km × 2.5 km to 10 km × 10 km over the entire protected areas in Thailand. Throughout three project phases (2001-present), there are over 3,150 plots collected from 59 provinces, while the remaining 18 provinces do not have monitoring plots because of either the security issue or no forest covers. There were, based on altogether 24,605 occurrence records of trees with a diameter greater than 4.5 cm at breath high level from 363 species from 81 families and 222 genera. Trees belong to Dipterocarpaceae, Lamiaceae, Burseraceae, Phyllanthaceae, Malvaceae and Fabaceae families are dominant. Besides for simple estimation of tree density and volume, the data were used for bio-geographical and climate change impact studies.
Keywords:
  • Forest inventory
  • systematic grids
  • climate change studies
  • Thailand
  • plot
Data Table, Image, and Other Data Details:
Metadata download: Ecological Metadata Language (EML) File
Data Table:Plot_loc.csv ( View Metadata | Download File download)
Data Table:Species_name.csv ( View Metadata | Download File download)
Data Table:Species_occur ( View Metadata | Download File download)
Other Data:data_discriptor.pdf ( View Metadata | Download File download)

Involved Parties

Data Set Owners:
Individual: Saengnin Somyot
Organization:Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation
Address:
61 Phaholyothin Road,
Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900 Thailand
Phone:
+66-2-5610777 (voice)
Phone:
+66-2-5610777 (fax)
Email Address:
yotsaeng@hotmail.com
Data Set Contacts:
Individual: Trisurat Yongyut
Organization:Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University
Address:
50 Ngamwongwan Road,
Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900 Thailand
Phone:
+66 2 579 0176 (voice)
Phone:
+66 2 942 8107 (fax)
Email Address:
fforyyt@ku.ac.th
Associated Parties:
Individual: Saengnin Somyot
Organization:Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation
Address:
61 Phaholyothin Road,
Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900 Thailand
Phone:
+66-2-5610777 (voice)
Phone:
+66-2-5610777 (fax)
Email Address:
yotsaeng@hotmail.com
Individual: Trisurat Yongyut
Organization:Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University
Address:
50 Ngamwongwan Road,
Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900 Thailand
Phone:
+66 2 579 0176 (voice)
Phone:
+66 2 942 8107 (fax)
Email Address:
fforyyt@ku.ac.th
Individual: Eiadthong Wichan
Organization:Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University
Address:
Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University,
Bangkok Thailand
Individual: Khunrattanasiri Weeraphart
Organization:Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University
Address:
Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University,
Bangkok Thailand
Individual: Chitechote Auschada
Organization:Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation
Address:
Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation,
Bangkok Thailand
Individual: Maneerat Sompoch
Organization:Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation
Address:
Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation,
Bangkok Thailand

Data Set Characteristics

Geographic Region:
Geographic Description:Thailand
Bounding Coordinates:
West:  97.34  degrees
East:  105.64  degrees
North:  20.46  degrees
South:  5.62  degrees
Time Period:
Begin:
2001
End:
2018

Sampling, Processing and Quality Control Methods

Step by Step Procedures
Step 1:
Description:

A Sampling sites and data collection

The project phase I: The THAIFORM project phase I covered three years from 2001 to 2003 (RFD/ITTO, 2002). Besides a network of unbiased monitoring points and data collection scheme, an operational pilot implementation was conducted at the Ngao Model Forest in Lampang Province of northern Thailand, covering approximately 1,750 km2. A total of 903 plots based on a systematic 1.5 km × 1.5 km grid were established. At each monitoring plot, a cluster-plot comprising a center plot and 4 temporary plots in cardinal directions to collect information on the current status and changes over time in vegetation, tree growing stock, coarse wood debris (CWD), soil, etc. (Table 1 and Figure 1). The circular plots have been used for forest inventory in Thailand since 1955. They are preferable and practical in steep slope terrains and have less potential edge-effect bias than rectangular or square shapes (DNP/ITTO, 2007). The project phase II. To build on the earlier phase, the RFD was granted to continue the establishment of a national forest-resources monitoring information system under the project entitled “To Establish a National Monitoring Information System for the Observation and Sustainable Management of Thailand’s Forest Resources” ITTO Project PD 195/03 Rev.2 (F)”. During this project phase (2004-2007), the uniform fixed grids of 20 km × 20 km were identified. This comprised a total of 1,287 plot locations across the country, but 1,129 plot clusters were established on the ground. The remaining 158 locations were dropped largely due to the security issue in the three southernmost provinces and inaccessibility (steep terrains) (DNP/ITTO, 2007). Data collection scheme was followed the project phase I. The project phase III: After termination of the ITTO Project Phase II in 2007, the RFD and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), which was separated from the RFD in 2002, jointly maintain the monitoring plots. In addition, the uniform fixed grids of 10 km ×10 km were established in the remaining forest covers between the previous 20 km × 20 km grids. Additionally, a more intensive grid system of 5 km × 5 km was installed in some protected areas (national parks and wildlife sanctuaries). Where the previous grids were included, the accumulated grid size was 14,152 plots (Table 2). Recently, a further detailed grid system of 2.5 km × 2.5 km was initiated starting from nationally and internationally important protected areas such as Tung-Yai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries and Khao Yai National Parks. To obtain the reliable data using the consistent procedures across the country, the strategies to implement the project include: 1) organizing several national workshops to train the field staff on the use of the THAIFORM procedures; 2) collecting plant data by field staff consisting of trained forestry students and local labor experiencing in plant species identification and ethno botany, and 3) field monitoring by plant taxonomists and project staff (DNP/ITTO, 2007). Specimens of unknown species were collected and identified by plant taxonomists at the Bangkok Forest Herbarium. In addition, the project employs the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (2016) or APG IV system for plant classification. It should be noted that since 2006 the DNP has not used the plot clusters system but applied only a 0.1 ha plot center (Figure 1). Therefore, only tree name, diameter and height have been systematically recorded for all phases, while other attribute data (e.g., seedling, understory, bamboo, CWD) are not systematically recorded and are for internal uses.

Step 2:
Description:

B Monitoring plot distribution

The dataset obtained from the uniform fixed grids (20 km × 20 km, 10 km × 10 km, and 5 km × 5 km) comprise 3,150 plots situated in 59 provinces or 53 plots per province (Figure 2). Eighteen provinces do not have monitoring plots because of either the security issue (Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat Provinces) or inaccessibility (steep terrain) or no forest covers. These provinces are mainly located in the central and lower north regions having high population density and extensive cultivation areas such as Ang Thong, Bangkok, Chai Nat, Krabi, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Phichit, Ayutthaya, Samut Prakan, Samut , Samut Songkhram, and Singburi Provinces (Trisurat et al., 2018). More than 100 plots were established in Chiang Rai (114), Nakhon Si Thammarat, Chiang Mai 9,146), Kanchanaburi (158), Prachinburi (160), Phitsanulok (186), Tak (245), Mae Hong Son (279) and Lampang provinces (290). This is due to many protected areas were established in these provinces. High density (>2 plots/100 km2) were also found in Lampang, Mae Hong Son, and Nakhon Nayok Provinces followed by Kamphaeng Phet, Mukdahan, Na Khon Si Thammarat, Phitsanulok, Phrae, Sakon Nakhon, Saraburi and Tak Provinces, which all have densities greater than 1.0 per 100 km2. The remaining provinces have low plot density.

Step 3:
Description:

C Sampled tree species richness and distribution

There were, based on trees with a diameter greater than 4.5 cm at breath high level, altogether 24,605 occurrence records of 363 species from 81 families and 222 genera. Lauraceae, Rubiaceae, Malvaceae and Fagaceae families have equal or more than 10 genera. Although, Dipterocarpaceae, Lamiaceae, Burseraceae, Phyllanthaceae and Malvaceae families have fewer genera but they have occurrences greater than 1,000 individuals, including Fabaceae (3,247 individuals), Dipterocarpaceae (2,810 individuals), Lamiaceae (1,242 individuals), Burseraceae (1,167 individuals)., Phyllanthaceae (1,140 individuals), and Malvaceae (1,095 individuals). In contrast, 12 families have occurrences of less than 10 individuals for each family such as Altingiaceae (7 individuals), Torricellianceae (6 individuals), Cycadaceae (3 individuals). In addition, Acanthaceae, Hernandiaceae and Sabiaceae only have one occurrence (see uploaded data). Furthermore, the distribution of species among families is uneven. The highest species richness was observed for Diptercapaceae (34 spp.), followed by Fabaceae (30 spp.), Ebenaceae (18 spp.), Fagaceae (18 spp.), Anacardiaceae (15 spp.), and Malvaceae (15 spp.). Lauraceae, Rubiceae, Annonaceae, Phllanthaceae, Sapindaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Meliaceae families have a moderate number of species, while the remaining families include less than 10 spp. per family.

Data Set Usage Rights

This dataset is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (CC‐BY 4.0) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Access Control:
Auth System:JaLTER
Order:allowFirst
Allow: [read] public
Metadata download: Ecological Metadata Language (EML) File