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Harmonisation and Standardisation in Multi-National Environmental Statistics – Mission Impossible?

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Abstract

Multi-national statistics are frequently based on data, whichoriginate from national surveys. The systems of nomenclatureapplied for key attributes often show national differences.Different error sources which are incorporated in multi-nationalstatistics are discussed. The paper presents approaches forharmonisation and standardisation of multi-nationalenvironmental statistics and gives examples from the forestrysector. The effect of differences of national forest areaestimates on multi-national figures is quantified. An examplefrom forest health surveys is presented that shows the impact ofdifferent interpretation and application of the attribute “crown transparency” that is already harmonised on theEuropean level.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chair of Forest Biometrics and Computer Sciences, Dresden University of Technology, Wilsdruffer Straße 18, D-01737, Tharandt, Germany

    Michael Köhl

  2. Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, CH 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland

    Berthold Traub

  3. European Forest Institute, Torikatu 34, FIN-80100, Joensuu, Finland

    Risto Päivinen

Authors
  1. Michael Köhl
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  2. Berthold Traub
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  3. Risto Päivinen
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Correspondence to Michael Köhl.

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Köhl, M., Traub, B. & Päivinen, R. Harmonisation and Standardisation in Multi-National Environmental Statistics – Mission Impossible?. Environ Monit Assess 63, 361–380 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006257630216

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