Structurally complex forests add to biodiversity, increase forest carbon stocks, and help the forest to adapt to climate change. Forest structure refers to the three-dimensional distribution of trees in a given space, and it is affected by genetic factors of individual trees, as well as by surrounding trees, the amount of light and water available, and any possible damages. Forest structure can also be influenced by forest management, and objective assessment of the structural complexity of forests is a prerequisite for enhancing it through different measures.
Three-dimensional point clouds provide insight into the structural complexity of forests
