Growing-stock volume and distribution

Figure 1: Average volume per hectare, by administrative region (m3/ha).	Figure 2: Growing-stock volume, depending on diameter classes and leaf type.

The mean growing-stock volume of the French forests is estimated at 2.8 billion cubic meters. [1]
This volume calculated by the NFI is the stem volume of live trees having a diameter at breast height superior to 7.5 cm, from the stump to a minimum 7 cm top diameter over bark.

The growing-stock volume per hectare is 174 m³.
Privately-owned forests account for 2/3 (72%) of the growing-stock volume.
The volume per hectare is higher in state forests (197 m³/ha).
The French forest is dominated by broadleaved species (64% of the growing-stock volume and more than 2/3 of the total forest area).
Broadleaved trees are mostly located in flat and low-elevation areas, except the Landes of Gascogne region in South-Western France, which is dominated by maritime pine, whereas the coniferous are in mountainous and Mediterranean areas (for more information, read the article "More than 190 tree species inventoried in France").
Oak species account for more than 1/4 of the total growing-stock volume, beech for 10%, Norway spruce for 7% and silver fir for 8%.

Basic volume estimates in productive forests

GROWING STOCK

Volume of trees with dbh >= 7.5 cm, including stump, bole up to 7 cm diameter and bark

DEAD WOOD

Volume of standing trees with dbh>= 7.5 cm.
Volume of lying trees or branches with dbh >= 2.5 cm.

ANNUAL INCREMENT OF GROWING STOCK

Mean annual volume increment computed over the last 5 years; includes the biological increment and the volume of trees that reached 7.5 dbh in the last 5 years [2]

ANNUAL MORTALITY

Mean annual volume mortality computed over the last 5 years [2]

ANNUAL FELLING

Mean annual volume felling computed over the last 5 years [2]