1. 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

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 requirements 2. 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

8. 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

10. 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

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

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

13. 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

14. 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

17. 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

18. 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

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

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

23. 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

24. Lessons Learned Retain paper data– migration doesnt mean discarding old data formats Maintain and add to set over time Timeliness is important