What Do NGOs Do With FIA Data? (Preview: a lot!) Christine Negra The Heinz Center for Science, Economics and the Envir

1. What Do NGOs Do With FIA Data? (Preview: a lot!) Christine Negra The Heinz Center for Science, Economics and the Environment March 2009 SAF National FIA User Group

2. FIA and Heinz Center Projects – I. Observation& Understanding • The State of the Nation’s Ecosystems • Indicators of condition and use of ecosystems • Air Quality • Indicators of ecological effects of air pollution

3. Process: • Industry, NGOs, federal-state-local government, and academics • Data from many monitoring programs • Audiences: • Public/ private resource (and budget) managers, e.g., • Fiber, wood products • Air/water quality protection • Species conservation • Biofuels, carbon credits

4. SNE 2008 – Forest cover types USFS. All 50 states. • 1963 to 2006: • Up and down trends for different forest types (increase in oak-hickory)

5. SNE 2008 – Forest disturbance • Since 1997, continuous tree mortality has been observed in an increasing number of forest acres. Million acres USFS-FHM. All 50 states. 1979-1996: 5 major insects.

6. SNE 2008 – Forest Productivity • Growth > harvest on timberlands nationally • Growth  harvest on private timberlands in Pacific Coast and Interior West (2005) USFS. All 50 states.

7. SNE 2008 – Forest carbon • 1995-2005: 150 MMt gained annually • 62% of forest acres increased in carbon density USFS/NREL. Lower 48 states.

8. SNE 2008 – Forest carbon • Since 1953, 43% increase in carbon in live trees. Since 1990, 4-8% increases in other pools. • Northern forests store the most, Interior West forests store the least. USFS-FHM. All 50 states. 1979-1996: 5 major insects.

9. Observations about the data system • Monitoring programs are widely dispersed • Data is often not consistent, comparable • Demands growing – resources flat • No system for coordinated data integration or priority-setting

10. Recommendations for improving “the system” • Congress establish national indicator system • Early executive branch action • Increased funding • Increased state-level integration activities

11. FIA and Air Quality Indicators • Acidification of soils and surface waters • Soils: % base saturation, C:N ratio • Waters: ANC, nitrate • Ozone impacts on plants • Biosite Index, decline in ozone-sensitive species • Mercury accumulation in food webs • Hg in YOY fish

12. FIA and Heinz Center Projects II. Climate Change Adaptation • Downscaling projects • Engage stakeholders • Downscaling models (FIA data for baselines, calibration / verification) • Adaptation planning • Wildlife outcome & performance metrics • Measuring results of wildlife management (e.g., state wildlife plans)

13. FIA Data in Wildlife Monitoring Programs • States need to include data on ecosystem condition, not just wildlife population status and trends • Data of interest: Extent of forest cover; change in coverage of particular forest types of benefit to wildlife • Contact Jonathan Mawdsley mawdsley@heinzctr.org for more information

14. FIA and Heinz Center Projects – III. Climate Change Mitigation • Terrestrial Carbon projects • REDD and MRV • REDD & Biodiversity • Research needs • Energy projects • Forests and Bioenergy stakeholder meetings • Global Energy Assessment: US support office

15. FIA and Forest Bioenergy project Need realistic assessment of: • overall forest bioenergy resource • how much biomass of what types (trees/slash/residue) • by region, fine-scale (sourcing: 50-100 mile radius) • “Supply” – what feedstock buyers can expect (based on technology for harvest, landowner plans, etc.) FIA: • provide data and facilitate analyses • joint regional assessments with NRCS, etc. (forest plus ag) – many technologies can use multiple feedstocks Contact Robin O’Malley (omalley@heinzctr.org)

16. Climate change and the data system • Ecological changes of unusual and increasing rapidity and uncertainty  need adequate information to respond: • Multiple scales, multiple users • Timely information tailored to managers’ needs • E.g., baselines; predictions

17. Thank you www.heinzcenter.org

19. SNE 2008 – Extent of forests • Since 1953, forest area has decreased significantly in the South and Pacific Coast and increased significantly in the North. • Nationally the amount of forest area has changed little. USFS. All 50 states.

20. SNE 2008 – Forest disturbance • 1979-2006: slight but significant increase in area disturbed by fire USFS/NIFC. All 50 states. Includes forests, grass/shrublands.

21. SNE 2008 – Forest populations • One-fifth of native U.S. forest animal species are at risk of extinction • State-level percentages are highly variable NatureServe. All 50 states.

22. SNE 2008 – Air quality in forests • 66% of U.S. had ozone levels >0.06 ppm for >10 hours • 4% for >30 hours (2005) EPA (analysis by USFS). Lower 48 states. 12-hour, 3-month SUM06. • CO2 levels are 20% higher than in 1950s and 36% higher than preindustrial times.

23. Beyond the report… • ‘Cross-cutting’ topical factsheets • Climate change • Nitrogen • Wildlife • Contaminants

24. SNE 2008 – Land cover in forests • Greater % of Interior West and Pacific Coast forest lands have core patches >100 square miles in size, while patches in nearly all southern forests were <100 square miles. NLCD/ESRI (analysis by USFS, EPA). Lower 48 states.