Gary J. Brand

The forest inventory and analysis database description and users manual version 1.0

Describes the structure of the Forest Inventory and Analysis Database (FIADB) and provides information on generating estimates of forest statistics from these data. The FIADB structure provides a consistent framework for storing forest inventory data across all ownerships across the entire United States. These data are available to the public.

Assessing sustainability using data from the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program of the United States Forest Service

Abstract Forest sustainability has emerged as a crucial component of all current issues related to forest management. The seven Montreal Process Criteria are well accepted as categories of processes for evaluating forest management with respect to sustainability, and data collected by the Forest and Inventory Analysis (FIA) program of the United States Forest Service are well suited for such evaluations. The FIA program focuses on the collection, analysis, and distribution of data for a core set of variables obtained using a plot configuration, a sampling design, and measurement protocols that all feature national consistency. Plot, subplot, and tree-level observations include traditional mensurational measurements such as forest area, tree species, diameter, and survival and a suite of non-tree measurements related to the health of the forest. FIA data are recognized for their completeness, geographic coverage, and accessibility to users via a user-friendly interface to a national database. Three examples for three different regions of the United States illustrate the relevance and utility of FIA data for environmental and ecological assessments in the context of the Montreal Process. Several conclusions may be drawn from the examples: (1) for the Southern region, the forest land base is stable, and growing stock volume is increasing; (2) for the Mid-Atlantic region, contributions to carbon accumulation are slightly greater than for storage, and storage increases from north to south; and (3) for the Central Hardwoods region, tree species richness increases from north to south and from west to east and is stable or slightly increasing.

Minnesota's forest resources in 2001

Results of the combined 1999, 2000, and 2001 annual forest inventories of Minnesota show that 16.3 million acres or 32 percent of the total land area is forested. The estimate of total all live tree volume on forest land is 17.4 billion cubic feet or approximately 1,068 cubic feet per acre. Nearly 15.0 million acres of forest land in Minnesota are classified as timberland (forest land that is not reserved and is of high productivity). The estimate of growing-stock volume on timberland is 14.9 billion cubic feet or approximately 998 cubic feet per acre. All live aboveground tree biomass on timberland is estimated at 429 million dry tons or approximately 28.7 tons per acre. Important pests in Minnesota forests include the forest tent caterpillar, spruce budworm, large aspen tortrix, and introduced larch casebearer.

Minnesota's forests 1999-2003 (Part A)

The first completed annual inventory of Minnesotas forests reports more than 16.2 million acres of forest land. Additional forest attribute and forest health information is presented along with information on agents of change including changing land use patterns and the introduction of nonnative plants, insects, and diseases.

Height Growth Modeling Using Second Order Differential Equations and the Importance of Initial Height Growth

Abstract In a study of height growth patterns of quaking aspen ( Populus tremuloides Michx.) in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, we represented the height-age pattern using a second order ordinary differential equation with environmentally governed parameters. Solving a second order differential equation that has been converted to a system of two first order equations requires knowledge of, or information on, initial conditions for both state variables, height and height growth. We used the natural boundary condition, h ( t = 0) = 0. Initial conditions for the second state variable, height growth, were estimated when fitting the equations to observations. This paper reports our research to predict the initial height growth from stem analysis data, and to assess the sensitivity of predicted height to differences in initial condition estimates. We found initial height growth to be the single most important ‘parameter’ to be estimated in our model.

Wisconsin's forest resources in 2003

Results of the 2002 annual inventory of Wisconsin show about 16.0 million acres of forest land, over 22.2 billion cubic feet of live volume on forest land, and nearly 598 million dry tons of all live aboveground tree biomass on timberland. Gypsy moth, forest tent caterpillar, twolined chestnut borer, bronze birch borer, ash yellows, and white pine blister rust were among the pests of Wisconsin forests.

Missouri's forests 1999-2003 (Part A)

The first completed annual inventory of Missouris forests reports more than 14.6 million acres of forest land. Softwood forests make up 4 percent of the total forest land area; oak/hickory forest types make up about three-fourths of the total hardwood forest land area. Missouris forests have continued to increase in volume, with all-live tree volume on forest land in Missouri an estimated 18 billion cubic feet compared to 9 billion cubic feet in 1972. All-live tree biomass on forest land in Missouri amounted to 573 million dry tons in 1999-2003. Almost 9 percent was in small trees, 74 percent was in growing-stock trees, and 17 percent was in non-growing-stock trees. Softwood growth was 44.1 million cubic feet per year and hardwood growth was 585.3 million cubic feet per year. Oak species constitute roughly three-fourths of the volume and three-fourths of the harvest. Total net all-live volume of oaks on timberland increased by 24 percent between 1989 and 2003. More than 82 percent of Missouri?s forest land is held by private landowners.

Delaware's Forests 2008

The fifth full inventory of Delawares forests reports an 8 percent decrease in the area of forest land to 352,000 acres, which cover 28 percent of the States land area and has a volume of approximately 2,352 cubic feet per acre. Twenty-one percent of the growing-stock volume is red maple, followed by sweetgum (13 percent), and loblolly pine (12 percent). All species of oaks combined account for 24 percent of the volume. Red maple is the most abundant species in terms of number of trees and the population had been rising through the 1980s and 1990s, but current data show little change since 1999. Oak species and loblolly pine decreased in numbers of trees and volumes. Seventy-three percent of forest land consists of large-diameter trees and 10 percent is in the small-diameter stand-size classes. Average annual growth as a percentage of total growing-stock volume increased from 2.3 to 3.9 percent between 1999 and 2008, while removals and mortality changed little. Additional information on forest attributes, land-use change, carbon, timber products, and forest health is presented in this report. A DVD included in the report provides information on sampling techniques, estimation procedures, a glossary, tables of population estimates, raw data, and a data summarization and reporting tool.

New Hampshire's Forests 2007

The first full annual inventory of New Hampshires forests reports nearly 4.8 million acres of forest land with an average volume of nearly 2,200 cubic feet per acre. Forest land is dominated by the maple/beech/birch forest-type group, which occupies 53 percent of total forest land area. Fifty-seven percent of forest land consists of large-diameter trees, 32 percent contains medium-diameter trees, and 11 percent contains small-diameter trees. The volume of growing stock on timberland has been rising since the 1980s and currently totals nearly 9.5 billion cubic feet. The average annual net growth of growing stock on timberland from 1997 to 2007 is approximately 164 million cubic feet per year. Additional information is presented on forest attributes, land use change, carbon, timber products, and forest health. Detailed information on forest inventory methods and data quality estimates is included in a DVD at the back of the report. Tables of population estimates and a glossary are also included.

Nebraska's forest resources in 2003

Results of the 2002 annual inventory of Nebraska show an estimated 1,346.5 thousand acres of forest land in the State. The estimated total volume of all live trees on forest land is 1.9 billion cubic feet. An estimated 1,297.4 thousand acres of forest land are classified as timberland. The estimate of growing-stock volume on timberland is 1.6 billion cubic feet. All live aboveground tree biomass on timberland is estimated at 43.3 million dry tons. Forest health concerns include a high population of engraver beetle in pine stands in north central and western Nebraska, and pine wilt and pinewood nematode in the southeastern part of the State.