Plantebestand

Plantebestand is a term used in ecology, forestry and horticulture to describe the standing vegetation or plant population in a defined area. The concept encompasses the species composition, relative abundance, density, age or size structure, health and spatial arrangement of plants. In some languages it also refers to the planting stock or nursery stock prepared for planting. The precise meaning can vary by context: in forestry and vegetation science it usually means the plant stand in a given plot, stand or landscape, while in agriculture plantebestand may denote the group of plants set for cultivation or the source material for planting.

Assessment typically uses field methods such as quadrat sampling and transects to estimate species cover, density and height, along with measurements of basal area and diameter at breast height for trees. Remote sensing and GIS are increasingly used to map canopy cover and stand structure over larger areas. Data from plantebestand inform management decisions, such as thinning, reforestation, restoration, grazing regimes, or restoration of biodiversity.

Management aims may include maintaining or improving species composition, enhancing habitat quality, controlling invasive species, and maintaining sustainable yields in production systems. The term also emphasizes the ecological status of vegetation and can be used in monitoring programs to track changes over time due to climate change, disturbance, or land-use changes.