# Generic stem biomass from Dbh (Lama forest)

Stem biomass equation for Eighteen dominant tree species of Lama forest plus species from Guendehou et al. (2012), Benin, from Goussanou et al. 2016. 617 trees. Listed on Tree Allometrics, a free library of tree allometric equations, each quoted from the source that published it.

## Equation

As printed in Goussanou et al. 2016 (Eq. 3 and 5, p. 7; Table 4 (Model structure: ln(X) = x0 + x1ln(Dbh)), p. 10):

> Generic –1.98*** (0.06) 2.30*** (0.02) 95.07 45 0.10 615

Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/goussanou-2016-generic-stem-biomass-d/#equation

In this library's units, ready to compute (stem biomass in kg):

```
Stem biomass = exp(-1.98 + 2.3 * ln(D) + 0.1)
```

Inputs: D = Diameter at breast height (1.3 m) (cm).
The source's own form: exp(-1.98 + 2.3 * ln(Dbh) + 0.1), with Dbh in cm; output in kg.
Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/goussanou-2016-generic-stem-biomass-d/#canonical

## What it covers

- Output: Stem biomass, kg
- Taxon: Eighteen dominant tree species of Lama forest plus species from Guendehou et al. (2012) (mixed species); broadleaf
- Where: Lama forest reserve, southern Benin (semi-deciduous forest). Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/goussanou-2016-generic-stem-biomass-d/#where
- Biomes: tropical
- Stand: natural
- Trees measured: 617. Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/goussanou-2016-generic-stem-biomass-d/#n_trees
- Method: ln-ln linear regression, back-transformed with exp(σ²/2) (printed σ²/2 is rounded to 2 decimals). Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/goussanou-2016-generic-stem-biomass-d/#method
- Verification: read in the original source
- Last checked: 2026-11-02. Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/goussanou-2016-generic-stem-biomass-d/#checked_at

A missing fit statistic is one the source doesn't state, or that we haven't recorded; it is never estimated. Outside the stated DBH range or region, the equation is an extrapolation.

## Source

Goussanou, C.A., Guendehou, S., Assogbadjo, A.E., Kaire, M., Sinsin, B., Cuni-Sanchez, A. (2016). Specific and generic stem biomass and volume models of tree species in a West African tropical semi-deciduous forest. Silva Fennica, 50(2), article id 1474.

- DOI: https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.1474
- Access: open access
- Copy we read: https://silvafennica.fi/pdf/1474
- Every equation from this source: https://treeallometry.org/sources/goussanou-2016/
- Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/goussanou-2016-generic-stem-biomass-d/#source

## The facts, in the source's words

**Equation** (Eq. 3 and 5, p. 7; Table 4 (Model structure: ln(X) = x0 + x1ln(Dbh)), p. 10):

> Generic –1.98*** (0.06) 2.30*** (0.02) 95.07 45 0.10 615

Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/goussanou-2016-generic-stem-biomass-d/#equation

**Trees measured** (Section 2.3, p. 7):

> This resulted in 617 trees used for the generic volume and biomass models.

Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/goussanou-2016-generic-stem-biomass-d/#quote-fit-n-trees

**Our note:** Stem biomass only (stem = height to crown base); the authors say to multiply by a biomass expansion factor (IPCC 2006) to get aboveground biomass. Coefficients are printed to 2 decimals, so predictions are only as precise as that. σ²/2 is the paper's printed bias-correction term, added inside the exponent (Eq. 5); it is printed rounded to 2 decimals. Fitted on the 501 trees of this study plus those of Guendehou et al. (2012) (617 trees); the paper gives no Dbh range for the combined set, and the authors warn it predicts most species poorly. Adjusted R² 95.07%, rRMSE 45% (Table 4). 

## Checks this equation passes

On every build, the library's form and the source's own form (in its units) must both give these values within 1%.

| Inputs | Expected | We get | From |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| D = 20 | 150 | 150 | Computed from the printed form: computed from the published form (coefficients as printed to 2 decimals) |
| D = 40 | 738 | 738 | Computed from the printed form: computed from the published form (coefficients as printed to 2 decimals) |

Cite: https://treeallometry.org/equations/goussanou-2016-generic-stem-biomass-d/#checks

The calculator on the page shows carbon as biomass × 0.47 (IPCC 2006 Guidelines, Vol. 4, Ch. 4, Table 4.3) and CO₂e as carbon × 44/12.

## How to cite

Cite the source for the equation: Goussanou, C.A., Guendehou, S., Assogbadjo, A.E., Kaire, M., Sinsin, B., Cuni-Sanchez, A. (2016). Specific and generic stem biomass and volume models of tree species in a West African tropical semi-deciduous forest. Silva Fennica, 50(2), article id 1474. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.1474

Cite this page for the record and checks: Tree Allometrics (Restoration Scope), "Generic stem biomass from Dbh (Lama forest)", checked 2026-11-02, https://treeallometry.org/equations/goussanou-2016-generic-stem-biomass-d/. Data CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Quotes are the authors' words.

Data for this equation: https://treeallometry.org/data/equations/goussanou-2016-generic-stem-biomass-d.json
Report a problem: email info@restorationscope.com with the equation id (goussanou-2016-generic-stem-biomass-d) and where the right value appears.