Journal Article

Concerns about reported harvests in European forests

University of Maryland [College Park] (UMD) ; University System of Maryland, Bangor University, Marušák, Róbert, European Forest Institute (EFI), Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg = University of Freiburg, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences [Birmingham] ; University of Birmingham [Birmingham], Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU), Hetemäki, Lauri, Università degli studi di Torino = University of Turin (UNITO), University of Birmingham [Birmingham], Berndes, Göran, Technische Universität Munchen - Technical University Munich - Université Technique de Munich (TUM), Universidade de Lisboa = University of Lisbon = Université de Lisbonne (ULISBOA), Verkerk, Pieter Johannes, Asikainen, Antti, Tomé, Margarida, Wageningen University and Research [Wageningen] (WUR), Senf, Cornelius, Korhonen, Minna, Università degli Studi del Molise = University of Molise (UNIMOL), Sheil, Douglas, Valbuena, Rubén, Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE), Lindner, Marcus, Potapov, Peter, Biodiversité, Gènes & Communautés (BioGe

2021

Overview

Ceccherini et al.1 quantify change using map pixel counts, rather than using a statistically rigorous sampling approach that is more appropriate for the estimation of area change7. [...]although Ceccherini et al.1 considered false positives (incorrect detection of forest loss) in their sample analyses, they did not consider false negatives (undetected forest loss). [...]analyses, which address both omission and commission errors, offer accurate and unbiased results of forest change. [...]sample reference data tailored to the specific purpose of a given study can be used to discriminate proportions of loss due to natural disturbances within the overall forest loss rates12. [...]we are confident that natural disturbances were not correctly excluded. [...]information and knowledge are crucial to develop science-based, climate-smart forestry strategies18 to ensure that European forests continue to be an important carbon sink and a key ecosystem service provider in relation to the protection of biodiversity and the development of the bioeconomy. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03292-x Received: 3 July 2020 Accepted: 26 January 2021 Published online: 28 April 2021 Check for updates Acknowledgements We thank G. Ceccherini and co-authors for immediately making available all original material, processing codes and results of their study upon request.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group,CCSD,Nature Publishing Group UK
• Subject: 704/106/694/2739/2807 / 704/158/1145 / 704/172/4081 / Agricultural and Veterinary sciences / Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries / Biodiversity / Biomass / Carbon sinks / Disturbances / Earth and Related Environmental Sciences / Economic aspects / Ecosystem services / Environmental aspects / Environmental Sciences / Forest management / Forest Science / Forestry / Forests / Geovetenskap och relaterad miljövetenskap / Harvest / Humanities and Social Sciences / Jordbruk, skogsbruk och fiske / Lantbruksvetenskap och veterinärmedicin / Matters Arising / Miljövetenskap / multidisciplinary / Natural disturbance / Natural Sciences / Naturvetenskap / Science / Science (multidisciplinary) / Skogsvetenskap / Statistics / Time series / Trends
• ISBN: 0006453689000