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der Photoma$st'äbe, die für die indischen Bedingungen geeignet sind; die 
Identifizierung der Proben; die Darstellungder Forsttypen, die Bestimmung 
des Flachenraumes, die Höhe der Bäume und die Messung des Krondur- 
chmessers, die Kronschlussberechnung - alle diese Dinge wurden erfolg 
reich versuchto Unmittelbare Bestimmung der Volumen auf die Luftbilder, 
baumliche Luftvolumtabelle für Teakholz (Tectona grandis) und Niveauluft 
volumtabelle für gemischte Laubholzwalde alle diese wurden vorbereitet„ 
Diese und andere Versuche zur Entwicklung einer geeigneten Klazzifizierung 
für forstwirtschaftliche Auswertung der Luftbildkarte und für die Darstellung 
der Forsttypen; die quantitative Bestimmung der Volumen gaben durch Strand 
probenahme and Begrenzung, ebenso die Vorschläge für zukünftige Arbeite 
wurden diskutiert. 
INTRODUCTION 
This paper highlights the present state of art of the technique 
of aerial photo-interpretation and evolution of forest resource inventories tl 
in India. Although Indian forestry is more than hundred years old, the 
technique is still in infancy as it is only in the last ten years that Forest 
ry aerial photo-interpretation has been introduced in this country in a 
systematic way. The results and achievements have however been encour 
aging. Vertical air photos on small and medium scales on panchromatic 
films have been used since 19 25 for topographical surveys and till recently 
all air photos have been taken on panchromatic films, although modern 
precision cameras such as Wild RC 5(a) , RC (8) , Zeiss RMK 'A' are being 
increasingly used. Almost the entire country is covered on small to medium 
scale while large scale and special purpose photography exists for nearly 
20% of the area. With the establishment of Indian Photo-interpretation 
Institute and Pre-investment Survey of Forest Resources almost concurrently 
in 1965, the use of aerial photographs in Forestry mainly for resource 
inventories has been regular. In resource inventories the aerial photo 
graphs were mainly used for preparation of Forest Inventory Maps, Photo 
mosaics, delineation of forest types on the basis of species, heights, 
crown closure, crown diameter, and volume, for location of ground sample 
plots in the field, area determination etc. The gain in time and cost 
has been noticeable. Research work done on inventory design, tree 
species identification, optimum scale of photography, tree and stand 
aerial volume tables, direct estimation of growing stock has been use 
ful and is summarized in this paper. 
INDIAN FORESTS ON AERIAL PHOTOS 
India has nearly 73 million hectares of forest area which show 
great diversity in composition and structure. A major part (96%) is broad 
leaved while a small part (4%) is coniferous mostly confined to Himalayas. 
Most of these forests on aerial photos have been studied on medium to gc 
small scale while certain types have also been studied on larger scale ru 
(upto 1:5,000). Depending upon their amenability for photo interpretation, 
two types have been distinguished : le 
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