Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) – What is it and how does it impact me? Andrew Hartsell, Research Forester Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station

Presentation Goals/Outline What is Forest Inventory & Analysis? The history of FIA Why should we inventory forests? So how does this impact me? How do we do what we do? How is the FIA data used and distributed? Forest statistics for Mississippi

What is FIA? FIA stands for Forest Inventory and Analysis. It is a science and research program operated by the USDA Forest Service Simple definition – “The Nation’s Forest Census”

The FIA program collects strategic (state or multi-county level) data on the: Status, Trends, and Resource conditions, including forest health for ALL forest lands in a consistent fashion across the US

History 1876 – Congress assigned a Special Agent under USDA to assess state of Nation’s forests 1877 – USDA publishes report on forest conditions 1905 – US Forest Service is created and Gifford Pinchot is named the Nation’s first Chief Forester 1912 – FS Chief Graves identifies principles and guidelines for timber surveys 1928 – McSweeney-McNary Act establishes Forest Survey 1931 – Forest inventory begins in the southern US in MS 1938 – Field work and reports for MI, WI, and MN are completed in the northeast 1958 – USDA Timber Resource Review published; first national level report 1967 – USDA publishes “Forest Survey Handbook” ( ) 1998 – Agriculture Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act (Farm Bill) passed

Why should we inventory forests?

Why? Forest inventory and monitoring systems provide reliable baseline information that reveals how forests are changing over time and informs decisions about the future of forest resources. The system that you design and implement depends on the size of area you are interested in making decisions.

At the stand or woodlot level, helps a forest landowner: Know the health of the forests on their property. Find out how much timber is available for sale. Aid in estate planning and property sales. Compute insurance claims after wildfire and other extreme weather events.

At the landscape level, helps land managers and policymakers: Make policy decisions about resource management at the multi-county, state, and/or regional level. Prepare and adapt for future fire conditions, climate change, and/or insect/disease threats. Inform economic development decisions. Assess wildlife habitat suitability. Understand the implications of land use changes.

How does FIA help local landowners? State and local government agencies use FIA data to attract business to their states and to assess forest damage after major disasters Industries use FIA to locate their operations (mill locations), plan their harvesting zones, and use data for their own research and public relations. Congress, universities, and NGOs use FIA data for a host of purposes such as climate change, detecting land use changes, alterations in habitat, funding, public relations, support for other scientific studies, etc.

FIA program customers National and State forest policy planners Forest Service officials State Foresters and their organizations Forest industry and consultants Environmental organizations International reporting organizations Researchers Journalists Private citizens Congress

The nation is divided into four areas: Southern, Northern, Intermountain, and Pacific Northwest. Each region manages four separate programs that fall under the FIA umbrella: FIA field plots, Timber Products Output (TPO), Forest Health, and Landowner Survey questionnaires. How do we do what we do?

FIA Zones of Responsibilities SRS has responsibility for PR and US VI PNW has responsibility for other Pacific Islands

Field crews and plots Majority of time and resources are allocated to collecting tree and plot data by field crews What most people associate with FIA Longest history Follows the same guidelines across all regions and is laid out with a nationally consistent grid, plot design, data collection, and processing systems

And a nationally consistent plot grid

Measurements on all FIA Plots Basic tree measurements – species, size, condition, number/type of defects, etc. Plot descriptions – forest type, ownership, general size class, etc. Area descriptions – slope, elevation, location (coordinates and political descriptions), etc.

Measurements on all FIA Plots Plots are revisited every 5-10 years. The same information is then collected. Changes in volume and land-use along with growth, removal and mortality rates can be computed from this data.

Field crew composition Historically (pre 2000) mostly federal with help from individual states Today most data collection is performed by state personnel National FIA provides training and quality testing and assurance

Timber Products Output (TPO) A smaller division within FIA. Data is based on questionnaires sent out to primary wood using mills. Asks: What kind of wood (species- HW/SW), where are they getting it from, and what are they turning it into. Differs from field plots but the two compliment each other This information is frequently utilized by states and timber related industries

Landowner Survey Led by the northern research station Southern scientist assist the regional survey Survey sent to all landowners that FIA plots exist Questions pertain to landowner demographics, management strategies, and attitudes

So how does this impact me? Be aware that state and federal field crews are out in the woods and you may encounter them You have the right to refuse access to your land If you have a plot you will also receive a landowner survey You are not obligated to respond

So how does this impact me? However, your participation will help everyone understand what is happening to our nations forests This benefits both local, regional, and national interests Your identity is safe Continue to use and manage your lands as you normally would – Pretend the plot is not there!

So how is the FIA data used and distributed?

FIA information outputs Popular Magazine Articles FIA Business Reports FIA Annual State Updates Five-Year State Reports Proceedings, Published Abstracts, other FS publications Peer-reviewed Journal Articles Online via the web – FREE! Meeting Presentations

FIA Data Use Examples Rapid Assessment of Hurricane Damage Courtesy of Dennis Jacobs and Joe McCollum, SRS FIA

FIA Data Use Examples Courtesy of Ty Wilson, NRS FIA Total live basal area Based on gradient nearest neighbor and imputation of FIA plot data

FIA Data Use Examples National Woodland Owners Survey (NWOS) Results Courtesy of Brett Butler, NRS FIA Acres of Private Landowners and Number of Private Landowners by Year

Timber Production in Louisiana, 1937 through 2009 FIA Data Use Examples

Yadkin-Peedee Watershed

FIA Data Use Examples 2020 Dominant Land Use

FIA Data Use Examples 2060 Dominant Land Use

FIA Online and Data Distribution Presence SRS FIA website for accessing information regarding the SRS FIA Program - National FIA website for accessing information regarding National FIA Program - SRS website for SRS publications including FIA publications - On-line FIA data query tools -

FIA Publications are available in hardcopy and.pdf

History of SRS FIA Publications Older reports ( prior 2000) are based on a periodic inventory Newer information based on annual inventory Publish hard copies and digital (.pdf) can be obtained on line. Raw data and table making programs are also online

What do we know about MS forests?

Timberland area in MS over time

What do we know about MS forests? Total standing volume (cubic feet) of all live trees and average annual removals (cubic feet) in Mississippi, Standing live volume Average annual removals

What do we know about TN forests? Average annual removals (cubic feet) of all live trees and average annual removals (cubic feet) in Mississippi, Volume (billion cubic feet) Average annual growth Average annual removals

What do we know about MS forests? Species list (top 20) - MS, 2014 Common nameGenusSpeciesNumber of trees loblolly pinePinustaeda 2,852,004,040 sweetgumLiquidambarstyraciflua 2,005,118,147 water oakQuercusnigra 1,030,050,856 red mapleAcerrubrum 920,459,153 winged elmUlmusalata 580,917,947 blackgumNyssasylvatica 468,418,142 black cherryPrunusserotina 339,515,951 American hornbeam, musclewoodCarpinuscaroliniana 334,229,110 green ashFraxinuspennsylvanica 313,150,423 white oakQuercusalba 277,951,578 yellow-poplarLiriodendrontulipifera 268,355,609 southern red oakQuercusfalcata 245,119,756 eastern hophornbeamOstryavirginiana 242,834,978 mockernut hickoryCaryaalba 226,965,833 sweetbayMagnoliavirginiana 207,279,563 flowering dogwoodCornusflorida 199,083,532 common persimmonDiospyrosvirginiana 174,964,919 slash pinePinuselliottii 167,138,091 eastern redcedarJuniperusvirginiana 161,542,232 pignut hickoryCaryaglabra 155,887,698

What do we know about MS forests? Primary Wood-using Mill Employment by Survey Unit, in Mississippi,

FIA Data Use Examples Online - TPO

What do we know about MS forests? National Woodland Owner Survey

What do we know about MS forests? National Woodland Owner Survey

How many live oak trees are present in MS and how much is grown & removed each year?

How many oak trees are present in MS and how much is grown & removed each year?

How many oak trees are present in MS and how much is removed? DescriptionNumber Saplings, with a dbh of 1.0” to 4.9” ? Live trees, with a dbh greater than or equal to 5” ? How much volume (cu.ft.) is this? ? How many oak trees are removed (cut) each year? ? How much volume is grown each year? ?

How many oak trees are present in MS and how much is removed? DescriptionNumber Saplings, with a dbh of 1.0” to 4.9” 1,759,669,298 Live trees, with a dbh greater than or equal to 5” ? How much volume (cu.ft.) is this? ? How many oak trees are removed (cut) each year? ? How much volume is grown each year? ?

How many oak trees are present in MS and how much is removed? DescriptionNumber Saplings, with a dbh of 1.0” to 4.9” 1,759,669,298 Live trees, with a dbh greater than or equal to 5” 349,644,651 How much volume (cu.ft.) is this? ? How many oak trees are removed (cut) each year? ? How much volume is grown each year? ?

How many oak trees are present in MS and how much is removed? DescriptionNumber Saplings, with a dbh of 1.0” to 4.9” 1,759,669,298 Live trees, with a dbh greater than or equal to 5” 349,644,651 How much volume (cu.ft.) is this? 7,147,636,679 How many oak trees are removed (cut) each year? ? How much volume is grown each year? ?

How many oak trees are present in MS and how much is removed? DescriptionNumber Saplings, with a dbh of 1.0” to 4.9” 1,759,669,298 Live trees, with a dbh greater than or equal to 5” 349,644,651 How much volume (cu.ft.) is this? 7,147,636,679 How many oak trees are removed (cut) each year? 143,124,015 How much volume is grown each year? ?

How many oak trees are present in MS and how much is removed? DescriptionNumber Saplings, with a dbh of 1.0” to 4.9” 1,759,669,298 Live trees, with a dbh greater than or equal to 5” 349,644,651 How much volume (cu.ft.) is this? 7,147,636,679 How many oak trees are removed (cut) each year? 143,124,015 How much volume is grown each year? 213,024,394

Faster, better, and more comprehensive coverage of all southern U.S. forest information needs! Southern FIA Program Goal

Questions? Dick Smith – FOREST SURVEY - Iron Mountain, MI, 1934 Maurice Day, Jack Wagner, Ed Lawson, Dick Smith – FOREST SURVEY - Iron Mountain, MI, 1934

SRS FIA Seminar Series - FIA Overview