The formula to calculate the Basal Area Per Acre is:
\[ \text{BA} = \left(\frac{\pi \cdot \left(\frac{\text{DBH}}{2}\right)^2}{144}\right) \cdot N \]
Where:
Let's say the diameter at breast height (DBH) is 12 inches and the number of trees per acre (N) is 100. The basal area per acre would be calculated as follows:
\[ \text{BA} = \left(\frac{\pi \cdot \left(\frac{12}{2}\right)^2}{144}\right) \cdot 100 \approx 78.54 \text{ square feet} \]
So, the basal area per acre is approximately 78.54 square feet.
Basal area is a term used in forestry to describe the cross-sectional area of a tree trunk at breast height (4.5 feet above ground) per acre of forest. It is a measure of the density of trees on a plot and is used to estimate the volume of timber in a forest and to plan for sustainable forest management.