In forest management in the hills of Nepal timber production (volume) is of minor importance - the products most required by local communities are fuelwood and foliage for fodder, bedding material and fertilizer - mostly acquired by management systems involving coppicing, lopping and pollarding. The use of established biomass relationships is, therefore, the most efficient way of inventorying for management. This paper summaries the methodology, limitations and options available for assessing standing biomass and biomass production, based on studies in several forest types in the central hill region. The first results given are for Rhododendron arboreum in a 10-yr-old regrowth forest. The method used for constructing a model of the biomass relations between tree components, and the criteria for selection of predictor and model, are described. Biomass stand tables are developed by combining the biomass relations with a diameter frequency distribution. The stand tables can be projected over time by establishing a relation between diam. o.b. and p.a.i. (diam.) established from disc analysis.