New equations accurately estimate tropical forest biomass, aiding conservation efforts.
Researchers in Central Mexico developed equations to estimate the amount of aboveground biomass in tropical dry forests. They found that using tree diameter at breast height was a good predictor of biomass. Species with similar wood density had more accurate predictions. Adding tree height to the equation improved accuracy further. Basal area measurements alone could predict biomass, but adding wood density reduced errors. Each tree species had its own unique equation for estimating biomass.