1. NE-FIA Annual Forest Inventory Chip Scott Program Manager Forest Inventory and Analysis USFS Northeastern Research Station Newtown Square, PA

2. Purposes of this Meeting: To inform our users about FIA, the changes in the Program, the data and analytical tools available, and our publications. 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 stay in touch with our FIA users to meet their needs as we are able.

3. Forest Inventory and Analysis Report on status and trends in the Nation’s forested resources:  Forest area, extent, composition.  Tree growth, harvest, mortality.  Wood volume, biomass, carbon.  Forest health, sustainability.

4. Forest Inventory and Analysis Part of US Department of Agriculture … Part of US Department of Agriculture … … Forest Service … Research and Development Implemented in collaboration with States Implemented in collaboration with States In operation for 75 years In operation for 75 years

5. Northeastern FIA Responsible for 13 states Responsible for 13 states Sample all lands Sample all lands Conduct measurements on 93 million acres of forest land Conduct measurements on 93 million acres of forest land

6. 1998 Farm Bill (PL 105-185) Major change in FIA business model: Major change in FIA business model:  Periodic inventory => continuous inventory  Non-NFS lands => all forest lands  Less consistency => more consistency  Narrower scope => broader scope (FHM)  Irregular cycle => predictable cycle  Self contained => partnerships

7. Forest Inventory and Analysis: Three Phase Sample Phase 1 – Remote sensing for stratification into forest and nonforest. 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 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). Phase 3 – 1 of 16 Phase 2 plots measured for extended suite of ecosystem data (96,000 ac).

8. Forest Inventory and Analysis Methods Phase 1 – Remote sensing for stratification into forest and nonforest.

9. Forest Inventory and Analysis Methods Phase 2 - Nationwide system of sample plots

10. Year One Year Two Year Three Year Four Year Five Five-Year Panel Phase 2 Interpenetrating Design

11. Forest Inventory and Analysis: Three Phase Sample Phase 1 – Remote sensing for stratification into forest and nonforest. 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 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. Phase 3 – 1 of 16 Phase 2 plots measured for extended suite of ecosystem data.

13. 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.

14. 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.

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

16. NE-FIA Organization Program Manager – Chip Scott Data Collection – Dave Alerich Information Management – Tom Frieswyk Analysis – Will McWilliams Techniques Development – Mike Hoppus

17. Data Collection Equipping crews with new Portable Data Recorders with GPS Equipping crews with new Portable Data Recorders with GPS Where appropriate, moving toward using one-person crews with additional equipment (laser range-finders, satellite beacons, satphones, and a second vehicle) Where appropriate, moving toward using one-person crews with additional equipment (laser range-finders, satellite beacons, satphones, and a second vehicle) QA/QC on roughly 10% of plots QA/QC on roughly 10% of plots

18. Information Management Developing national program for use on PDR’s Developing national program for use on PDR’s Developing National Information Management System (NIMS) Developing National Information Management System (NIMS) Collaborating on the development of national FIADB and web tools. Collaborating on the development of national FIADB and web tools.

19. Analysis and Reporting Shifted from periodic to annual reporting Shifted from periodic to annual reporting First to combine Phase 2 and Phase 3 in a single annual report First to combine Phase 2 and Phase 3 in a single annual report Now shifting to developing the first 5-year comprehensive analytical report Now shifting to developing the first 5-year comprehensive analytical report Hiring 1-2 Research Ecologists to analyze Phase 3 data and to link it with Phase 2 and other data. Hiring 1-2 Research Ecologists to analyze Phase 3 data and to link it with Phase 2 and other data.

20. Techniques Development Developed methods for rapidly stratifying satellite imagery for Phase 1 Developed methods for rapidly stratifying satellite imagery for Phase 1 Developing methods for creating mapped products, such as forest type, biomass, fragmentation, and tree species distribution Developing methods for creating mapped products, such as forest type, biomass, fragmentation, and tree species distribution Developing more efficient field methods, such as the Tree Taper Study. Developing more efficient field methods, such as the Tree Taper Study.

21. Regional Organization NE-FIA Regional Management Team NE-FIA Regional Management Team  Representatives from each State  National Forest System representative  Forest Health Monitoring Regional Manager  NE-FIA Program Manager NE-FIA Users’ Group NE-FIA Users’ Group Meet once each year Meet once each year

22. National Organization FIA Management Team FIA Management Team  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 FIA Executive Team meets yearly National FIA Users’ Group meets once each year National FIA Users’ Group meets once each year

23. National Organization (cont.) FIA Technical Bands FIA Technical Bands  Data Acquisition Band  Information Management Band  Analysis Band  Indicator Advisor Band  Statistics Band  Remote Sensing Band

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

25. StateLast PeriodicAnnual Started Connecticut19982003 Delaware19992004 Maine19951999 Maryland19992004 Massachusetts19982003 New Hampshire19972002 New Jersey19992004 New York19932002 Ohio19912001 Pennsylvania19892000 Rhode Island19982003 Vermont19972003 West Virginia20012004 Survey Dates

26. Full Annual FIA Annual FIA Fieldwork Status, 2003

27. 1 year old 2 to 5 years old More than 5 years old Availability of State FIA Data, November 2003 Age of the most recent data available to the public in online FIA databases.

29. FIA Products: National reports and analyses

30. FIA Products: State annual reports and 5-year comprehensive analyses. State annual reports and 5-year comprehensive analyses.

31. FIA Products: Regional assessments. Regional assessments.

32. FIA Products: Online databases Online databases

33. FIA Services Consultations and assistance in obtaining, interpreting data (Spatial Data Services). Consultations and assistance in obtaining, interpreting data (Spatial Data Services). Collaboration in research using FIA data. Collaboration in research using FIA data. Assistance to other countries in developing forest inventory and monitoring programs. Assistance to other countries in developing forest inventory and monitoring programs. Reporting to international bodies on the state of US forests. Reporting to international bodies on the state of US forests.

34. For more information: Contact: Contact:FIA Northeastern Research Station 11 Campus Blvd., Suite 200 Newtown Square, PA 19073 610-557-4075 ctscott@fs.fed.us www.fs.fed.us/ne/fiafia.fs.fed.us Sign up for quarterly NE-FIA Newsletter Sign up for quarterly NE-FIA Newsletter