%0 Review article
%T Estimating tree biomass of sub-Saharan African forests: a review of available allometric equations
%A Henry, Matieu
%A Picard, Nicolas
%A Trotta, Carlo
%A Manlay, Raphaël J.
%A Valentini, Riccardo
%A Bernoux, Martial
%A Saint-André, Laurent
%D 2011
%J Silva Fennica
%V 45
%N 3B
%R doi:10.14214/sf.38
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/38
%X In response to the growing interest in estimating carbon stocks in  forests, available allometric equations have been compiled for  sub-Saharan Africa. Tree, sprout and stand volume and biomass equations  were reviewed. The 850 equations and 125 related references were  incorporated into an open-access database on the Carboafrica website  (http://www.carboafrica.net). The collected information provides a basic  tool for the estimation of biomass and carbon stocks and other  purposes, such as bioenergy and fodder supply assessment. A Tier-method  approach was developed to illustrate the possible use of the equations.  Current available biomass expansion factors that are used to convert a  volume to the total aboveground biomass appear to be limited; incomplete  species-specific allometric equations are preferred to generalised  equations. The analysis of the database highlighted important gaps in  available tools to assess forest carbon stocks and changes in these  stocks. A quality control assessment revealed that 22% of the equations  were misreported and recommendations were proposed to guide further  research. Further statistical analyses, such as the Bayesian approach,  would help to produce more accurate biomass estimates.