On average there are about 30 records per cell for each of the database's 47,000 cells. Each of these records represents a unique forest stand or, more often, several stands with the same unique combination of national classifiers. These 12 classifiers can be used together and in conjunction with locational coding to provide a detailed description of forest conditions on a scale as small as individual forest map sheets or townships. Summary area statistics are presented in the NFDP Web site, based on selected combinations of classifiers. Each record in the CanFI database can include volume data for various species groups.
Volume is reported as gross merchantable volume in cubic metres per hectare.
By combining some species categories at the national level, the NFDP Web site reports on 12 species groups . The CanFI database also contains auxiliary information that may not be directly tied to specific database cells. The information in these auxiliary data sets is available for areas that vary in size and shape from one province to another, but the areas are larger than the area reported by just one database cell. Some of this information is presented in Table 1.2 of the NFDP Web site. The following auxiliary information categories can be linked to the core inventory data to provide additional information about forest areas.