Total and merchantable volume equations for common tree species in British Columbia by region and biogeoclimatic zone

Summary: The British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations maintains tree taper equations that can be used to estimate individual tree volume; however, the calculations involved in making these estimates are non-trivial. A simple tree stem equation overcomes this issue and is easily programmed, for example, in a spreadsheet. Volume equations were developed in 1976. These equations show some bias when tested against the available stem anaysis data. Therefore, four new sets of volume equations were developed: total volume by species and region (coast or interior); total volume by species and biogeoclimatic zone; merchantable volume by species and region (coast or interior); and merchantable volume by species and biogeoclimatic zone. Merchantable tree volume is total tree voume minus the volume of the stump and top. These equations provide more accurate volume estimates that the 1976 volume equations and the taper equations.