INFORMA

Glossary

To browse our glossary, type a forest management term in the search box.

The glossary contains definitions, as well as abbreviations and translations used for the terms within INFORMA.

Biogeographical region: • Definition: In INFORMA, the BIOGEOGRAPHICAL REGION (BR) refers to
the selected areas of relatively homogeneous ecological conditions with
common characteristics. These are:
(1) Boreal
(2) Alpine
(3) Atlantic
(4) Continental
(5) Mediterranea

• Abbreviation or acronym (if available or frequently used): BR

• Translation into the official national languages of the participating EU project
members:
o AT: Biogeographische Region
o BE: Biogeografisch gebied; Région biogéographique;
Biogeographische Region
o DE: Biogeografische Region
o ES: Región biogeográfica; regió bioeogràfica; eskualde
biogeografikoa; rexión bioxeográfica
o FI: Luonnonmaantieteellinen alue
o FR: Région biogéographique
o NL: Biogeografisch gebied
o RO: Regiunea biogeografică

Disturbance patch: • Definition: In INFORMA, a DISTURBANCE PATCH (DP) refers to a contiguous area affected by a single disturbance event, including a wildfire, windstorm, bark beetle or defoliating moth attack, or severe drought.

• Abbreviation or acronym (if available or frequently used): DP

• Translation into the official national languages of the participating EU project members:
o AT: Waldstörungsfläche
o BE: Verstoringspatch; parcelle perturbée;
Waldkatastrophenfläche (Waldstörungsfläche)
o DE: Waldkatastrophenfläche (Waldstörungsfläche)
o ES: Zona de perturbación; zona de pertorbació; asalduraeremua; zona de perturbación
o FI: Luonnontuhoalue
o FR: Parcelle perturbée
o NL: Verstoringspatch
o RO: Zonă cu perturbări (disturbanțe)

Forest management unit: • Definition: In INFORMA, a FOREST MANAGEMENT UNIT (FMU) refers to
a defined area of mainly forested land that forms a single administrative
entity for planning and management purposes. Management units are
the basis of management plans, projects and actions. They may be
further divided into smaller divisions, such as patches and stands (see
definitions below). They themselves may be part of a larger
administrative unit.

• Abbreviation or acronym (if available or frequently used): FMU

• Translation into the official national languages of the participating EU
members:
o AT: Waldbewirtschaftungseinheit
o BE: Bosbeheereenheid; waldbewirtschaftungseinheit; unité de
gestion forestière
o DE: Waldbewirtschaftungseinheit
o ES: Monte – Unidad de Gestión Forestal, Mont – Unitat de Gestió
Forestal; Monte – Baso Kudeaketa Unitatea; Monte – Unidade de
Xestión Forestal
o FI: Metsätalousyksikkö
o FR: Unité de gestion forestière
o NL: Bosbeheereenheid
o RO: unitate de producție
• Definition: In INFORMA, a FOREST MANAGEMENT UNIT (FMU) refers to
a defined area of mainly forested land that forms a single administrative
entity for planning and management purposes. Management units are
the basis of management plans, projects and actions. They may be
further divided into smaller divisions, such as patches and stands (see
definitions below). They themselves may be part of a larger
administrative unit.

Forest patch: • Definition: For the purpose of INFORMA project, a FOREST PATCH (FP)
refers to a forest area that is a candidate for inclusion, or that has been
included, in the INFORMA Forest Management Platform. A forest patch,
preferably larger than 50 ha, can consist of several forest stands of
different age classes, and thus of different forest developmental stages,
but under the same forest management regime. Furthermore, it is
homogeneous in terms of species composition and site conditions.

• Abbreviation or acronym (if available or frequently used): FP

• Translation into the official national languages of the participating EU
members:
o AT: Waldversuchsfläche
o BE: Bosvlek; parcelle de forêt; Waldversuchsfläche
o DE: Waldversuchsfläche
o ES: Cantón; cantó; baso kantonamendua; cantón
o FI: Metsänkäsittelyalue
o FR: Parcelle de forêt
o NL: Bosvlek
o RO: unitatea de gospodărire (SUP/SG)

Forest stand: • Definition: In INFORMA, a FOREST STAND (FS) refers to a community of
trees possessing sufficient uniformity in composition, age, arrangement
or condition to be distinguishable from adjacent stands, and forming the
smallest silvicultural or management entity. Forest stands are the
measurement unit for modelling in INFORMA context and will
preferably have an extent of more than 1 ha, if possible, but in any case,
more than 0,25 ha

• Abbreviation or acronym (if available or frequently used): FS

• Translation into the official national languages of the participating EU project
members:
o AT: Bestand
o BE: Bosopstand; peuplement forestier; Bestand
o DE: Bestand
o ES: Rodal; rodal; basoko harmaila; rodal
o FI: Metsikkö
o FR: Peuplement forestier
o NL: Bosopstand
o RO: arboret

Legacy: • Definition: For the purpose of INFORMA project, the LEGACY (L) of a forest area refers to a collection of natural and human-induced past events in the forest area that have long-lasting and large impacts on the future forest development and structure. This includes, among others, periods of intensive management or past agricultural or grazing use, large wildfires, windstorms, flooding, pest attacks and disease infections.

• Abbreviation or acronym (if available or frequently used): L

• Translation into the official national languages of the participating EU project members:
o AT: Erbe
o BE: Erfenis; heritage; Erbe
o DE: Erbe
o ES: Legado; llegat; ondarea; legado
o FI: Perintö
o FR: Héritage
o NL: Erfenis
o RO: Moștenire

Managed forest: • Definition: In INFORMA, a forest area is considered as MANAGED FOREST (MF) when a certain silvicultural regime is applied to the area, including some recurrent management interventions such as planting, thinning or harvesting. Also, extensively managed systems with thinning frequencies of less than once per decade in older stands are considered managed. Alternative management activities, like grazing/pasturage or NTFP harvesting, should also be considered.

• Abbreviation or acronym (if available or frequently used): MF

• Translation into the official national languages of the participating EU project
members:
o AT: Bewirtschafteter Wald
o BE: Beheerd bos; forêt gérée; Bewirtschafteter Wald
o DE: Bewirtschafteter Wald
o ES: Bosque gestionado; bosc gestionat; baso kudeatua; bosque
xestionado
o FI: Hoidettu metsä
o FR: Forêt gérée
o NL: Beheerd bos
o RO: Pădure gestionată

Old-growth forest: • Definition: In INFORMA, an OLD-GROWTH FOREST (OGF) is defined as a forest containing a considerable amount of large old trees and often also large deadwood. It is not primary because there are indications of
past or present forest management (wood harvesting, including firewood, grazing/pasturage and NTFP harvesting or collecting), agricultural use, or any other human intervention.

• Abbreviation or acronym (if available or frequently used): OGF

• Translation into the official national languages of the participating EU project members:
o AT: Altbestand
o BE: Matuur bos; forêt ancienne; Altbestand
o DE: Altbestand
o ES: Bosque maduro; bosc madur; baso heldua; bosque maduro
o FI: Vanha metsä
o FR: Forêt ancienne
o NL: Matuur bos
o RO: Pădure seculară

Primary forest: • Definition: In INFORMA a PRIMARY FOREST (PF) is defined as a naturally regenerated forest of native species that has been left unmanaged for long periods of time (at least 100 years), and that shows no indications of human-induced disturbance or management (wood harvesting, including firewood, grazing/pasturage and NTFP harvesting or collecting) and the ecological processes are not significantly disturbed.

• Abbreviation or acronym (if available or frequently used): PF

• Translation into the official national languages of the participating EU project members:
o AT: Urwald
o BE: Oerwoud; forêt primaire; Urwald
o DE: Urwald
o ES: Bosque primario; bosc primari; baso primarioa; bosque
primario
o FI: Luonnontilainen metsä
o FR: Forêt primaire
o NL: Oerwoud
o RO: Pădure primară

Production forest: • Definition: In the context of the INFORMA project, a PRODUCTION (PROD) forest refers to a forest which is predominantly managed for providing timber and non-timber forest products.

• Abbreviation or acronym (if available or frequently used): PROD

• Translation into the official national languages of the participating EU
members:
o AT: Wirtschaftswald
o BE: Productiebos; Forêt de production; Wirtschaftswald
o DE: Wirtschaftswald
o ES: Bosque de producción; bosc de producció; ekoizpen basoa;
bosque de produción
o FI: Metsämaa
o FR: Forêt de production
o NL: Productiebos
o RO: Pădure cu funcții de producție

Protection forest: • Definition: In the context of the INFORMA project, a PROTECTIVE
(PROT) forest refers to a forest which is predominantly managed for
reinforcing the inherent ecological processes, thus providing ecosystem
services such as clean water and air, pollination, erosion control, etc.

• Abbreviation or acronym (if available or frequently used): PROT

• Translation into the official national languages of the participating EU
members:
o AT: Schutzwald
o BE: Bescherming bos; Forêt de protection; Schutzwald
o DE: Schutzwald
o ES: Bosque de protección; bosc de protecció; babes basoa;
bosque de protección
o FI: Suojametsä
o FR: Forêt de protection
o NL: Bescherming bos
o RO: Pădure cu funcții de protecție

Recreational forest: • Definition: In the context of the INFORMA project, a RECREATIONAL
(RECR) forest refers to a forest which is predominantly managed for
cultural purposes, such as recreation, landscape beauty, spirituality
and/or cultural identity

• Abbreviation or acronym (if available or frequently used): RECR

• Translation into the official national languages of the participating EU
members:
o AT: Erholungswald
o BE: Recreatief bos; Forêt récréative; Erholungswald
o DE: Erholungswald
o ES: Bosque de recreo; bosc recreatiu; aisialdirako basoa; bosque
recreativo
o FI: Virkistyskäyttömetsä
o FR: Forêt récréative
o NL: Recreatief bos
o RO: Păduri cu rol recreativ și social

Stand developmental stages: • Definition: The different STAND DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES (SDS) used within INFORMA are:
a) Young = top height < 130 cm
b) Thicket = top height > 130 cm, DBH 0-10 cm
c) Pole = DBH 10-20 cm
d) Mature = DBH > 20 cm

• Abbreviation or acronym (if available or frequently used): SDS

• Translation into the official national languages of the participating EU project members:
o AT: Bestandsentwicklungsstadien
o BE: Opstandsontwikkelingsstadia; les stades de développement
des stands; Bestandsentwicklungsstadien
o DE: Bestandsentwicklungsstadien
o ES: Estrato forestal; estrat forestal; baso-geruza; estrato forestal
o FI: Metsän kehitysvaiheet
o FR: Les stades de développement des stands
o NL: Opstandsontwikkelingsstadia
o RO: Etapele de dezvoltare ale arboretului

Study region: • Definition: In INFORMA, the STUDY REGION (SR) refers to the
aggregated area within the corresponding biogeographical regions:
(1) Northern Limestone Alps, Austria (Alpine)
(2) Brabantse Wouden, Belgium (Atlantic)
(3) Northern Karelia, Finland (Boreal)
(4) Carpathian Mountains, Râșca Forest District, Romania (Continental)
(5) Segre-Rialb Basin, Spain (Mediterranean)

• Abbreviation or acronym (if available or frequently used): SR

• Translation into the official national languages of the participating EU
project members:
o AT: Studienregion
o BE: Studiegebied; région d’étude; Studienregion
o DE: Studienregion
o ES: Región de estudio; regió d’estudi; aztertzeko eskualdea;
rexión de estudo
o FI: Tutkimusalue
o FR: Région d’étude
o NL: Studiegebied
o RO: Regiunea de studiu

Undisturbed patch: • Definition: In INFORMA, an UNDISTURBED PATCH (UDP) refers to a contiguous area that has not been affected by one or more disturbance events, including wildfires, windstorms, bark beetle or defoliating moth attacks, or severe droughts.

• Abbreviation or acronym (if available or frequently used): UDP

• Translation into the official national languages of the participating EU project members:
o AT: ungestörte Waldfläche
o BE: Niet verstorende patch; patch de non perturbation;
ungestörte Waldfläche
o DE: ungestörte Waldfläche
o ES: Zona sin perturbación; zona sense pertorbació; trabarik
gabeko zona; zona sen perturbacións
o FI: Metsäalue jolla ei ole esiintynyt luonnontuhoja
o FR: Patch de non perturbation
o NL: Niet verstorende patch
o RO: Zonă fără perturbări (disturbanțe)

Unmanaged forest: • Definition: In INFORMA a forest area is considered as an UNMANAGED
FOREST (UF) when preferably at least 50 (but depending on the region
20) years of zero-management has been applied. Unmanaged forests
may include primary forests, unmanaged forest reserves, unmanaged
forests after conversion or transition from other land uses (e.g.
agriculture), or abandonment (i.e. non-management) of forest after a
large disturbance event such as wildfires or windstorms or other
socioeconomical drivers.

• Categorization: In INFORMA, unmanaged forests are subdivided into
four categories:
a) Primary forest: a naturally regenerated forest of native species that has
been left unmanaged for long periods of time (at least 100 years), and
that shows no indications of human-induced disturbance or
management (wood harvesting, including firewood, grazing/pasturage
and non-timber forest products (NTFP) harvesting or collecting) and the
ecological processes are not significantly disturbed.
b) Unmanaged reserve: This category includes previously managed forests,
often old-growth forests, where management was discontinued by any
active decision or socioeconomic reasons.
c) Unmanaged after disturbance: a forest that regenerated after a large
disturbance event and where no management interventions have been
performed since the disturbance.
d) Abandoned non-forest land: this category includes spontaneous forest
development after another land use was phased out, such as agriculture
or grazing.
In fact, categories a and b represent together late-successional unmanaged forests,
while the categories c and d form together early-successional unmanaged forests

• Abbreviation or acronym (if available or frequently used): UF

• Translation into the official national languages of the participating EU
members:
o AT: Unbewirtschafteter Wald
o BE: Onbeheerd bos; forêt non gérée; Unbewirtschafteter Wald
o DE: Unbewirtschafteter Wald
o ES: Bosque no gestionado; bosc no gestionat; kudeatu gabeko
basoa; bosque non xestionado
o FI: Hoitamaton metsä
o FR: Forêt non gérée
o NL: Onbeheerd bos
o RO: Pădure fără intervenții silviculturale