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The Forest Inventory and Analysis Program in the Northeast

The Forest Inventory and Analysis Program in the Northeast. Charles T. “Chip” Scott Program Manager Forest Inventory and Analysis Northeastern Research Station Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA. Outline. Why are we here? What is FIA? Farm Bill Mandates FIA Organization

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The Forest Inventory and Analysis Program in the Northeast

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  1. The Forest Inventory and Analysis Program in the Northeast Charles T. “Chip” Scott Program Manager Forest Inventory and Analysis Northeastern Research Station Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA

  2. Outline • Why are we here? • What is FIA? • Farm Bill Mandates • FIA Organization • FIA’s Three Phase Approach • Implementation Status • NE-FIA Products and Services • Measuring Sustainability • Future Direction

  3. Purposes of this Meeting: • To inform our users about FIA, the changes in the Program, the data and analytical tools available, and our publications. • To stay in touch with our FIA users to meet their needs as we are able. • To get feedback on the draft FIA Strategic Plan

  4. Forest Inventory and Analysis • To advance the understanding and management of the forests of the Northeast by monitoring the status and trends in our forest ecosystems • Part of US Department of Agriculture … … Forest Service … Research and Development • Implemented in collaboration with States • In operation for 75 years

  5. Northeastern FIA • Responsible for 13 states • Sample all lands • Conduct measurements on 93 million acres of forest land

  6. 1998 Farm Bill Mandates • 1998 Farm Bill was a response to user demand for more timely and comprehensive information about the sustainability of US forests • US Congress directed FIA to develop a Strategic Plan on how changes would be implemented • Appropriations have increased yearly

  7. 1998 Farm Bill Mandates • Periodic inventory => continuous inventory • Irregular cycle => fixed cycle • Non-National Forest lands => all forest lands • Less consistency => more consistency

  8. 1998 Farm Bill Mandates • Current estimate focus => monitoring focus • Narrower scope => broader scope (FHM) • Self contained => partnerships • Periodic reports => 5-year analytical reports

  9. National Organization • FIA Management Team • Representatives from 3 State regions • 2 National Forest System representatives • Forest Health Monitoring Program Leader • FIA Program Leader and Managers • Meets 3 times a year & calls every other month • FIA Executive Team meets yearly • National FIA Users’ Group meets once each year • 5 Bands (Data Acquisition, Information Mgt., Analysis, Statistics, Remote Sensing)

  10. Regional Organization • NE-FIA Regional Management Team • Representatives from each State • National Forest System representative • Forest Health Monitoring Regional Manager • NE-FIA Program Manager • Meet once each year • NE-FIA Users’ Group

  11. NE-FIA Organization • Program Manager – Chip Scott • Data Collection – Dave Alerich • Information Management – Tom Frieswyk • Analysis – Will McWilliams • Techniques Development – Mike Hoppus

  12. Forest Inventory and Analysis:Three Phase Sample • Phase 1 – Remote sensing for stratification into forest and nonforest. • Phase 2 - Nationwide system of sample plots, 1 every 3 mi (6,000 ac). • Phase 3 – 1 of 16 Phase 2 plots measured for extended suite of ecosystem data (96,000 ac).

  13. Forest Inventory and AnalysisMethods Phase 1 – Remote sensing for stratification into forest and nonforest.

  14. Forest Inventory and AnalysisMethods Phase 2 - Nationwide system of sample plots

  15. Grid / Cycle / Subcycle • Same grid across country • NE-FIA has two cycles: • 7-year federal cycle • 5-years in ME, PA, NY and DE • 5-years for Phase 3 • Divide grid by number of years in Cycle to create that 5 or 7 annual Subcycles

  16. Five-Year Cycle Year One Year Two Year Three Year Four Year Five 1 2 3 4 3 5 4 1 5 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 3 1 4 5 1 2 3 Phase 2 Interpenetrating Design

  17. Forest Inventory and Analysis:Three Phase Sample • Phase 1 – Remote sensing for stratification into forest and nonforest. • Phase 2 - Nationwide system of sample plots, 1 every 5 km (6,000 ac). • Phase 3 – 1 of 16 Phase 2 plots measured for extended suite of ecosystem data.

  18. Measurements General plot and stand descriptive data is collected on various portions of the plot. The subplot is where the basic tree measurements ( with a DBH of 5.0 inches and greater) are collected including crown condition and damage symptoms, growth, mortality, and quality measures of the tree for use. Information relating to regeneration is collected on the microplot for trees with a DBH less than 5.0 inches (seedlings and saplings).

  19. Measurements – Phase 3 The down woody material transects (line samples) are used to gather information on trees and tree branches. Soil samples are analyzed in at a laboratory for basic soil nutrient parameters, pH, and soil aluminum. Other descriptive information are used to estimate potential soil erosion. Also ozone bioindicator plant data are collected on their own network of plots.

  20. Measurements – Phase 3 The lichen plot is used to collect voucher specimens and estimate of abundance. The vegetation plots are used to identify all vegetation to the species level and also the height zone that the species occupies in the stand. Information on exotic or introduced plants can be extracted from the species list from each plot.

  21. Forest Inventory and Analysis:Other Program Components • National Woodland Owner Survey. • Timber Products Output. • Special Studies – regional assessments, special problems.

  22. Implementation Status

  23. MA CT RI Northeastern Annual Inventories1999-2004 ME VT NH NY 1999 PA NJ OH 2000 MD 2001 WV DE 2002 2003 2004

  24. States with Full Annual FIA in FY 2004

  25. Implementation Status • Portable data recorder, data storage, compilation, and reporting systems are being developed (http://fia.fs.fed.us/tools-data/) • National sampling design and estimation methods for Phase 2 being published • Phase 3 estimation methods being developed • Quality Assurance data now on our website: www.fs.fed.us/ne/fia • Forest area, forest type, and biomass are being mapped nationally

  26. Tons/acre 0 – 20 20 – 30 30 – 40 40 – 50 50 – 90 90 – 130 > 130 National Biomass Map

  27. To Reporting and Beyond • Completed first annual cycle in ME and first year of remeasurement. First 5-year report on web – a collaborative effort with Maine Forest Service. • Completed first 5 years in Pennsylvania and are analyzing the results for analytical report. • Working on 2-year (40%) results for New York • Collecting taper data on standing trees to reduce need for merchantable heights and flexible utilization standards. • Computed fragmentation statistics across NE

  28. SIZES OF FORESTED PATCHES – CREATED USING SATELLITE DATA AND FOREST FRAGMENTATION ANALYSIS METHODS

  29. NE-FIA Products Report on status and trends in the Nation’s forested resources: • Forest area, extent, composition. • Tree growth, harvest, mortality. • Wood volume, biomass, carbon. • Forest health, sustainability.

  30. State annual reports and 5-year comprehensive analyses

  31. FIA Services • Consultations and assistance in obtaining, interpreting data (Spatial Data Services) • Collaboration in research using FIA data. • Assistance to our partners (NFS, S&PF, and States) and to other customers: • data analysis and reporting • developing forest inventory and monitoring programs.

  32. FIA Products • Online databases

  33. How is FIA Addressing Sustainability? • Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program is changing to meet international, national, regional, and State forest resource information needs. • The changes enhance our ability to monitor the sustainability of our forests, including components of change

  34. How is FIA Addressing Sustainability? National Level • Montreal Criteria and Indicators report on attributes, such as area change • 14 of 67 indicators, and 9 more in progress • For example, FIA monitors: • forest area by forest type • standing volume and removals • erosion on forest soils • ozone damage • forest biomass and carbon

  35. How is FIA Addressing Sustainability? State Level • FIA produces comprehensive reports on all aspects of data collected, including: • Growth-to-removals ratios • Stand structure • Species composition • Regeneration • Volume by species and diameter class • Ownership • Productivity • Disturbance

  36. Future Direction • Nation-wide maps and localizing estimates • Scaling-up research results on impacts, such as air pollution and climate change. Also scaling up Phase 3 to Phase 2 (and Phase 1) • Expanding FIA to other treed lands, such as in urban areas and riparian zones • Strategic Plan for next 5 years being developed

  37. 7th Annual Forest Inventory and Analysis Symposium 3-6 October 2005 Portland, Maine, USA The 2005 Symposium will emphasize international contributions and collaborations and will include keynote and invited speakers from Canada, Europe, and other countries. Presentation topics include sampling, modeling, estimation, remote sensing, mapping, ecological analyses, forest health, sustainable forest management, and analytical reporting. Abstracts for contributed papers may be submitted until 30 June 2005to Ron McRoberts at rmcroberts@fs.fed.us http://www.ncrs.fs.fed.us/4801/regional-programs/Inventory/meetings/symposia/default.asp

  38. Questions? • For further information, contact: Chip Scott Northeastern Research Station 11 Campus Blvd., Suite 200 Newtown Square, PA 19073 610-557-4020 ctscott@fs.fed.us fia.fs.fed.us • Sign up for quarterly NE-FIA Newsletter

  39. Please give us your input! We, the Northeastern Forest Inventory and Analysis (NE-FIA) Program, are interested in knowing if we are meeting your needs for forest inventory data and what we can do to improve our organization. We want your feedback in two areas. This section focuses on the NE-FIA Program in the 13 northeastern states. By answering the questions below, you will be helping to improve the performance and efficiency of NE-FIA. Thanks! Name (optional):_____________________ Affiliation (mark all that apply): ٱ State forestry agency ٱOther federal/state agency ٱ Private consultant ٱ Forest industry ٱ University ٱ Other: _______________________

  40. What FIA products and services do you use? • How does FIA affect your decisions and understanding of forest resources? • How effective is FIA at responding to your data requests and questions regarding data use and interpretation? • How easy is it to contact us, and do we respond in a timely manner? • Do you have any suggestions for improving FIA?

  41. We want to know your thoughts on the draft National FIA Strategic Plan. The outline of it below provides you with spaces for comments. Your comments and insights would be greatly appreciated. • Current Program Status • Definition of the Base Federal Program • Implementation Status • Federal Base Program Adjustments for 2006 and Beyond • Updated estimates of forest area • Changes in Staffing Plans • Distribution of National Roles to the Regional Units • Base Federal Program Plans for the Next Five Years

  42. Enhancements

  43. Additions

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