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The Many Uses of FIA Data
Paul Van DeusenNCASI
FIA National User Group MeetingFeb 23rd – 24th, 2010
Houston, Texas
Historical PerspectiveHave FIA data become more useful over time?
FIA Began in the 1930's
-McSweeny-McNary Act 1928 Originally used fixed area plots Changed to variable plots in 1950's Sampled states periodically since inception Sample states annually now (fixed plots)
- 1998 Farm Bill
Blue Ribbon Panel II (1997)
Elevate priority of FIA in Forest Service Program Move to an annual inventory ASAP Report on all lands (Private and PublicPrivate and Public) Concentrate on collection of core data Develop a strategic plan with costs and time-
tables for implementation.
1998 Farm Bill
Mandated suggestions made in BRP II
-Implement an annual system on all lands
-Develop a strategic plan
-Do a 20 percent annual survey in every state
-Merge FIA and FHM
Does FIA have a history of listening to outsiders?
FIA listened and implementedan annual Inventory on all lands.
This was a hugeimprovement.
Is change always good?
Changing from periodic to annual was good. HOWEVER,
It was traumatic and is still not fully implemented Many states have no plot remeasurements yet
What did users say at the recent Biometrics working group meeting about change?
BWG consensus about more change
FIA should not make any changes to the basic annual inventory design
FIA should meet its current obligations before getting into new areas like Urban or Rangeland inventories
COLE
First funded in 2002 by FHM
Custom carbon reports modeled after GTR NE-343
Filters make it easy to do reports for National Forests
SOLE
Funded after COLE Funds gone 3 yrs ago
SOLE & COLE have similar interfaces base on JAVA Lite versions don't
need Java SOLE is somewhat
like FIDO or the deceased Mapmaker.
My most recent uses of FIA data
Publications (Just published or in press)
1) A new volume change index
2) A new method to estimate conversion rates
3) Using mapped plots for single owner surveys
4) Preservation vs management for Carbon Sequestration in Georgia
Black: <0.95Dark Gray: .95 to 1.0Light Gray: 1 to 1.05White: > 1.05
Incr
easi
ng S
patia
l Ext
ent
Paper 1Paper 1
Knowing about conversion rates is important for FSC members(Forest Stewardship Council)Paper 2Paper 2
Company Policy (for FSC members)
The company shall have a ...policy...to avoid trading and sourcing wood (that is)
(only listing items that might be relevant to FIA) harvested in forests where high conservation values
are threatened by management activities; harvested in forests being converted to plantations
or non-forest use;
Paper 2Paper 2
Mapped plots for single owner forest surveysJournal of Forestry
Demonstrates value of mapped plots for small inventories Can handle property
boundary overlap Provides better
estimates of particular forest types.
Paper 3Paper 3
FIA Data are used to compare management vs preservation in Georgia
Too close to cities
Publicly owned
Privately owned
Public land and land close toCities is assumed to be OFFLIMITS for management.
Paper accepted by Biomass & Bioenergy
Paper 4Paper 4
Carbon Stored in Georgia Forest
All Land
Available Land
Unmanaged
Managed
Managed
Unmanaged
Bill
ion
tonn
es C
O2
equi
vale
nts
US Emitted 1.57 billion tonnesC02 in 2005
http://cdiac.ornl.gov
Paper 4Paper 4
Carbon in products by half life assumption
5 year half life
10
25
50
75
100 year half life
Paper 4Paper 4
Conclusions from Georgia Carbon Study
Over time forest management sequesters more carbon than preservation
The amount of carbon that can be sequestered in forest products is very significant in relation to total US emissions.
Wood for energy increases the advantage of management over preservation assuming it's carbon neutral (infinite half life).
Paper 4Paper 4
Summary
FIA's most important product is data Don't sacrifice plot intensity
We could use more plots, not less Remote sensing is good, but its not as good as plot data
Do more to encourage outsiders to use the data Data doesn't wear out with use
Summary
FIA ain't broke, some changes might break it, even with increased funding.
FIA is still in the process of digesting the changes called for in the 1998 Farm Bill Before making more changes:
complete all 50 states Improve biomass and carbon estimates Fully utilize the value of remeasured plots Use compatible methods everywhere