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The Ecology Core Dataset: Information to Support Effective Management in the Pacific Northwest

The Ecology Core Dataset: Information to Support Effective Management in the Pacific Northwest. Overview of the Pacific Northwest Region 19 National Forests.

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The Ecology Core Dataset: Information to Support Effective Management in the Pacific Northwest

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  1. The Ecology Core Dataset:Information to Support Effective Management in the Pacific Northwest

  2. Overview of the • Pacific Northwest Region • 19 National Forests

  3. Need for basic terrestrial ecology data to classify ecosystems:1. Grew out of National Forest Management Act of 1976 reforestation requirements2. In recent years business needs have expanded to consider wide range of biodiversity assessments at multiple scales

  4. Data from the field • Collected on 400 m2 circular plots (ocular macroplots or releves)

  5. Data from the field • Data comprised of two basic parts: --Basic environmental data --Percent areal cover of vascular plant species

  6. Data from the field --Basic environmental data: Slope, elevation, aspect, landform, surficial and bedrock geology, location

  7. Data from the field --Percent areal cover of vascular plant species Organized by lifeform layers: Canopy trees, understory trees,regeneration trees, shrubs, herbs, graminoids, ferns

  8. Compiling the data: Challenges • Ecology program in the Region organized into six areas, each with autonomous personnel • Data collection standards difficult to enforce; data tended to “diverge”

  9. Compiling the data: Challenges • 40,000 plots: missing data fields, particularly with location • Dataset is forest ecosystem-centric • Deciding on core attributes

  10. Compiling the data: Response • National data standards emerged in 1998-99 (NRIS Terra) • Business needs refined by national technical guide development

  11. Compiling the data: Response • Hired a data management expert on contract • Data migrated to a core set based on standard attributes • Data dictionary to provide metadata

  12. Compiling the data: Results and Delivery • 40,000 plots migrated to standard core set • Posted to open website (www.reo.gov/ecoshare) • Data added and edited over time

  13. Compiling the data: Some applications • Eventually migrated to NRIS dataset • Provided to LANDFIRE and used to develop their vegetation layers • Used to develop regional potential vegetation layer

  14. Compiling the data: More applications • Can search for species occurrences • Identify wildlife habitat and map ranges • Post-fire monitoring (e.g., Biscuit, Egley) • Climate change monitoring

  15. Compiling the data: Future development • Complete potential vegetation mapping in Region • Support existing mapping vegetation effort (IMAP) • Compile structural and soils datasets

  16. Compiling the data: Future development • Vegetation structural dataset: Tree diameters and heights, snags. downed wood, etc.

  17. Lessons Learned • Data “rescue” and delivery are among the most important things we can do • Focus on core attributes to meet business needs, not all possible attributes • Location, location, location

  18. Lessons Learned • Retain paper data– migration doesn’t mean discarding old data formats • Maintain and add to set over time • Timeliness is important

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