NE-FIA Annual Forest Inventory

Chip ScottChip ScottProgram ManagerProgram Manager

Forest Inventory and AnalysisForest Inventory and AnalysisUSFS Northeastern Research StationUSFS Northeastern Research Station

Newtown Square, PANewtown Square, PA

Purposes of this Meeting:

To inform our users about FIA, the changes To inform our users about FIA, the changes in the Program, the data and analytical tools in the Program, the data and analytical tools available, and our publications.available, and our publications.

To stay in touch with our FIA users to meet To stay in touch with our FIA users to meet their needs as we are able.their needs as we are able.

Forest Inventory and Analysis

Report on Report on statusstatus and and trendstrends in the Nation’s in the Nation’s forested resources:forested resources: Forest area, extent, composition.Forest area, extent, composition. Tree growth, harvest, mortality.Tree growth, harvest, mortality. Wood volume, biomass, carbon.Wood volume, biomass, carbon. Forest health, sustainability.Forest health, sustainability.

Forest Inventory and Analysis

Part of US Department of Agriculture …Part of US Department of Agriculture …

… … Forest ServiceForest Service

… … Research and DevelopmentResearch and Development

Implemented in collaboration with States Implemented in collaboration with States

In operation for 75 yearsIn operation for 75 years

Northeastern FIA

Responsible for Responsible for 13 states13 states

Sample all Sample all landslands

Conduct Conduct measurements measurements on 93 million on 93 million acres of forest acres of forest landland

1998 Farm Bill (PL 105-185)

Major change in FIA business model:Major change in FIA business model: Periodic inventory => continuous inventoryPeriodic inventory => continuous inventory Non-NFS lands => all forest landsNon-NFS lands => all forest lands Less consistency => more consistencyLess consistency => more consistency Narrower scope => broader scope (FHM)Narrower scope => broader scope (FHM) Irregular cycle => predictable cycleIrregular cycle => predictable cycle Self contained => partnershipsSelf contained => partnerships

Forest Inventory and Analysis:Three Phase Sample

Phase 1 – Remote sensing for stratification into Phase 1 – Remote sensing for stratification into forest and nonforest.forest and nonforest.

Phase 2 - Nationwide system of sample plots, 1 Phase 2 - Nationwide system of sample plots, 1 every 3 mi (6,000 ac).every 3 mi (6,000 ac).

Phase 3 – 1 of 16 Phase 2 plots measured for Phase 3 – 1 of 16 Phase 2 plots measured for extended suite of ecosystem data (96,000 ac).extended suite of ecosystem data (96,000 ac).

Forest Inventory and AnalysisMethods

Phase 1 – Remote sensing for stratification into Phase 1 – Remote sensing for stratification into forest and nonforest.forest and nonforest.

Forest Inventory and AnalysisMethods

Phase 2 - Nationwide system of sample plotsPhase 2 - Nationwide system of sample plots

Year One

Year Two

Year Three

Year Four

Year Five

Five-Year Panel

1 2 3 4 5 11 2 3 4 5 1

4 5 1 2 33

4 5 1 2 33

Phase 2 Interpenetrating Design

Forest Inventory and Analysis:Three Phase Sample

Phase 1 – Remote sensing for stratification Phase 1 – Remote sensing for stratification into forest and nonforest.into forest and nonforest.

Phase 2 - Nationwide system of sample Phase 2 - Nationwide system of sample plots, 1 every 5 km (6,000 ac).plots, 1 every 5 km (6,000 ac).

Phase 3 – 1 of 16 Phase 2 plots measured Phase 3 – 1 of 16 Phase 2 plots measured for extended suite of ecosystem data.for extended suite of ecosystem data.

Phase 3 Indicators

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).

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.

Phase 3 Indicators (cont.)

The down woody material transects (line samples) are used to gather information on trees and tree branches.

General plot and stand descriptive data is collected on various portions of the plot.

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.

Forest Inventory and Analysis:Other Program Components

National Woodland Owner Survey.National Woodland Owner Survey.

Timber Products Output.Timber Products Output.

Special Studies – regional assessments, Special Studies – regional assessments, special problems.special problems.

NE-FIA Organization

Program Manager – Chip Scott

•Data Collection – Dave Alerich

•Information Management – Tom Frieswyk

•Analysis – Will McWilliams

•Techniques Development – Mike Hoppus

Data Collection

Equipping crews with new Portable Data Equipping crews with new Portable Data Recorders with GPSRecorders with GPS

Where appropriate, moving toward using Where appropriate, moving toward using one-person crews with additional one-person crews with additional equipment (laser range-finders, satellite equipment (laser range-finders, satellite beacons, satphones, and a second vehicle)beacons, satphones, and a second vehicle)

QA/QC on roughly 10% of plotsQA/QC on roughly 10% of plots

Information Management

Developing national program for use on Developing national program for use on PDR’sPDR’s

Developing National Information Developing National Information Management System (NIMS)Management System (NIMS)

Collaborating on the development of Collaborating on the development of national FIADB and web tools.national FIADB and web tools.

Analysis and Reporting

Shifted from periodic to annual reportingShifted from periodic to annual reporting First to combine Phase 2 and Phase 3 in a First to combine Phase 2 and Phase 3 in a

single annual reportsingle annual report Now shifting to developing the first 5-year Now shifting to developing the first 5-year

comprehensive analytical reportcomprehensive analytical report Hiring 1-2 Research Ecologists to analyze Hiring 1-2 Research Ecologists to analyze

Phase 3 data and to link it with Phase 2 and Phase 3 data and to link it with Phase 2 and other data.other data.

Techniques Development

Developed methods for rapidly stratifying Developed methods for rapidly stratifying satellite imagery for Phase 1satellite imagery for Phase 1

Developing methods for creating mapped Developing methods for creating mapped products, such as forest type, biomass, products, such as forest type, biomass, fragmentation, and tree species distributionfragmentation, and tree species distribution

Developing more efficient field methods, Developing more efficient field methods, such as the Tree Taper Study.such as the Tree Taper Study.

Regional Organization

NE-FIA Regional Management TeamNE-FIA Regional Management Team Representatives from each StateRepresentatives from each State National Forest System representativeNational Forest System representative Forest Health Monitoring Regional ManagerForest Health Monitoring Regional Manager NE-FIA Program ManagerNE-FIA Program Manager

NE-FIA Users’ GroupNE-FIA Users’ Group Meet once each yearMeet once each year

National Organization

FIA Management TeamFIA Management Team Representatives from 3 State regionsRepresentatives from 3 State regions 2 National Forest System representatives2 National Forest System representatives Forest Health Monitoring Program LeaderForest Health Monitoring Program Leader FIA Program Leader and Managers FIA Program Leader and Managers Meets 3 times a year & calls every other monthMeets 3 times a year & calls every other month

FIA Executive Team meets yearlyFIA Executive Team meets yearly National FIA Users’ Group meets once each yearNational FIA Users’ Group meets once each year

National Organization (cont.)

FIA Technical BandsFIA Technical Bands Data Acquisition BandData Acquisition Band Information Management BandInformation Management Band Analysis BandAnalysis Band Indicator Advisor BandIndicator Advisor Band Statistics BandStatistics Band Remote Sensing BandRemote Sensing Band

Implementation of Annual Inventories Where are we regionally? Where are we regionally? Where are we nationally?Where are we nationally?

State Last Periodic Annual Started

Connecticut 1998 2003

Delaware 1999 2004

Maine 1995 1999

Maryland 1999 2004

Massachusetts 1998 2003

New Hampshire 1997 2002

New Jersey 1999 2004

New York 1993 2002

Ohio 1991 2001

Pennsylvania 1989 2000

Rhode Island 1998 2003

Vermont 1997 2003

West Virginia 2001 2004

Survey Dates

Full Annual FIAFull Annual FIA

Annual FIA Fieldwork Status, 2003Annual FIA Fieldwork Status, 2003

1 year old1 year old 2 to 5 years old2 to 5 years old More than 5 years oldMore than 5 years old

Availability of State FIA Data, November 2003Availability of State FIA Data, November 2003Age of the most recent data available to the public in online FIA databases.

FIA Products:National reports and analysesNational reports and analyses

FIA Products: State annual reports and State annual reports and

5-year comprehensive 5-year comprehensive analyses.analyses.

FIA Products:

Regional Regional assessments.assessments.

FIA Products: Online databasesOnline databases

FIA Services Consultations and assistance in obtaining, Consultations and assistance in obtaining,

interpreting data (Spatial Data Services).interpreting data (Spatial Data Services).

Collaboration in research using FIA data.Collaboration in research using FIA data.

Assistance to other countries in developing Assistance to other countries in developing forest inventory and monitoring programs.forest inventory and monitoring programs.

Reporting to international bodies on the state of Reporting to international bodies on the state of US forests.US forests.

For more information: Contact:Contact:

FIAFIA

Northeastern Research StationNortheastern Research Station

11 Campus Blvd., Suite 20011 Campus Blvd., Suite 200

Newtown Square, PA 19073Newtown Square, PA 19073

610-557-4075610-557-4075

ctscott@fs.fed.usctscott@fs.fed.us

www.fs.fed.us/ne/fiawww.fs.fed.us/ne/fia

fia.fs.fed.usfia.fs.fed.us Sign up for quarterly NE-FIA NewsletterSign up for quarterly NE-FIA Newsletter