Local taper functions for natural black pine forests  in the Northwestern Rhodopes in Bulgaria Local taper functions for black pine

Unlike the heavily deforested Eastern or Low Rhodopes, the Western or High Rhodopes are one of Bulgaria’s main forestry areas, where black pine is widespread and economically important. Based on stem analyzes, an average taper curve for black pine stems in the Northwestern Rhodopes was determined. The method of relative taper curves (echte Ausbauchungsreihen) was used. Taper models based on spline functions and power functions were fitted. A comparison with the official assortment table of Nedyalkov was made. The systematic deviation of the sample stems from the long-used assortment table justifies the development of a local black pine table.