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
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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
Purposes of this Meeting:
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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
Forest Inventory and Analysis
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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
Northeastern FIA
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Responsible for
13 states
Sample all lands
Conduct
measurements
on 93 million
acres of forest
land
1998 Farm Bill Mandates
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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
1998 Farm Bill Mandates
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Periodic inventory => continuous inventory
Irregular cycle => fixed cycle
Non-National Forest lands => all forest lands
Less consistency => more consistency
1998 Farm Bill Mandates
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Current estimate focus => monitoring focus
Narrower scope => broader scope (FHM)
Self contained => partnerships
Periodic reports => 5-year analytical reports
National Organization
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FIA Management Team
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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)
Regional Organization
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NE-FIA Regional Management Team
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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
NE-FIA Organization
Program Manager – Chip Scott
•Data Collection – Dave Alerich
•Information Management – Tom Frieswyk
•Analysis – Will McWilliams
•Techniques Development – Mike Hoppus
Forest Inventory and Analysis:
Three Phase Sample
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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).
Forest Inventory and Analysis
Methods
Phase 1 – Remote sensing for stratification into forest
and nonforest.
Forest Inventory and Analysis
Methods
Phase 2 - Nationwide system of sample plots
Grid / Cycle / Subcycle
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Same grid across country
NE-FIA has two cycles:
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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
Phase 2 Interpenetrating Design
Five-Year Cycle
Year One
Year Two
Year Three
Year Four
Year Five
Forest Inventory and Analysis:
Three Phase Sample
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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.
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).
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.
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.
Forest Inventory and Analysis:
Other Program Components
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National Woodland Owner Survey.
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Timber Products Output.
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Special Studies – regional assessments,
special problems.
Implementation Status
State
Last Periodic
Annual Started
1998
2003
Delaware
1999
2004
Maine
1995
1999
Maryland
1999
2004
Massachusetts
1998
2003
New Hampshire
1997
2002
New Jersey
1999
2004
1993
2002
1991
2001
1989
2000
Rhode Island
1998
2003
Vermont
1997
2003
West Virginia
2001
2004
Connecticut
New York
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Northeastern Annual Inventories
1999-2004
ME
VT
NH
MA
NY
CT
PA
OH
NJ
RI
1999
2000
MD
WV
2001
DE
2002
2003
2004
States with Full Annual FIA in
FY 2004
Implementation Status
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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
National Biomass Map
Tons/acre
0 – 20
20 – 30
30 – 40
40 – 50
50 – 90
90 – 130
> 130
To Reporting and Beyond
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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
SIZES OF FORESTED PATCHES – CREATED USING SATELLITE DATA
AND FOREST FRAGMENTATION ANALYSIS METHODS
Count of Core Forest Patches per Patch Size Class
300000
250000
Count of 200000
Core
150000
Forest
Patches 100000
50000
0
1
10
50
100
500
1000
Patch Size (acres)
5000
10000 >10,000
NE-FIA Products
Report on status and trends in the Nation’s
forested resources:
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Forest area, extent, composition.
Tree growth, harvest, mortality.
Wood volume, biomass, carbon.
Forest health, sustainability.
State annual reports and 5-year
comprehensive analyses
FIA Services
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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:
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data analysis and reporting
developing forest inventory and monitoring
programs.
FIA Products
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Online databases
How is FIA Addressing Sustainability?
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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
How is FIA Addressing Sustainability?
National Level
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Montreal Criteria and Indicators report on
attributes, such as area change
14 of 67 indicators, and 9 more in progress
For example, FIA monitors:
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forest area by forest type
standing volume and removals
erosion on forest soils
ozone damage
forest biomass and carbon
How is FIA Addressing Sustainability?
State Level
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FIA produces comprehensive reports on all
aspects of data collected, including:
• Volume by species
and diameter class
• Ownership
• Productivity
• Disturbance
• Growth-to-removals
ratios
• Stand structure
• Species composition
• Regeneration
Future Direction
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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
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 2005 to Ron McRoberts at rmcroberts@fs.fed.us
http://www.ncrs.fs.fed.us/4801/regionalprograms/Inventory/meetings/symposia/default.asp
Questions?
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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
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Sign up for quarterly NE-FIA Newsletter
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):
‫ ٱ‬State forestry agency
‫ ٱ‬Private consultant
‫ ٱ‬University
‫ ٱ‬Other federal/state agency
‫ ٱ‬Forest industry
‫ ٱ‬Other: _______________________
1. What FIA products and services do you use?
2. How does FIA affect your decisions and
understanding of forest resources?
3. How effective is FIA at responding to your data
requests and questions regarding data use and
interpretation?
4. How easy is it to contact us, and do we respond in
a timely manner?
5. Do you have any suggestions for improving FIA?
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
Enhancements
Priority
Topic Area Comments
Techniques Research
Synchronize Phase 2 and Phase 3 Plot Schedules
Partnerships with Other Federal Programs
Increased Use of Remote Sensing and Spatial
Techniques
Increased FIA Analytical Capability
Sustainability Assessment
Legacy Data Recovery Project
Enhanced Tropical Forest Inventory
Additions
Topic Area Comments
Increase Intensity of the Base FIA Program to 15%
or 20% Nationwide
Land Use/Land Cover Change Analysis
Urban Forest Inventory
Rapid Assessment Teams
Other Treed Land Inventory
Wildlife Habitat Monitoring
Inventory and Monitoring of special forest products
Priority