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Forest Monitoring and Assessment

We conduct fundamental and applied research to understand and predict changes in forest landscapes across all ownerships. We develop innovative techniques for long-term monitoring, detecting change, and predicting outcomes following forest management and disturbances.

Program Overview

 

The Forest Monitoring and Assessment (FMA) program helps to inform the consequences of decisions made that affect landscapes and ecosystem services, like water, recreation, and forest products. Our data and research are used to gauge progress toward forest restoration, the effects of disturbance and climate on forests, and help people understand how forests are changing through time. We measure forests in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, and the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands to provide the public, land managers, investors, and policy makers with timely, reliable, data-driven science to improve the condition of forests and rangelands. The inventory and monitoring component of FMA is part of a larger, national Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program. The Pacific Northwest FIA (PNW-FIA) program provides data and basic resource information needed to assess the current status and potential futures of America's forests. 

Contact us with questions regarding inventory design or accessing FIA data.

Learn more about PNW-FIA through our interactive story map:

 

Full Screen

The Forest Monitoring and Assessment (FMA) program provides science and technical applications that can be readily used by land managers and decisionmakers to improve the quality of life for people in the Pacific Northwest, the Nation, and the world.

Our research focuses on landscape assessment, management, partnerships, as well as delivery of science and technology through education and outreach. The FMA program addresses current and future natural resource issues with applied research that produces tools that are of use to on-the-ground natural resource specialists and others. FMA scientists are based at the Forestry Sciences Laboratories in Anchorage, Corvallis, Portland, Olympia, and Seattle, but team scientists and staff conduct research projects across the range of Pacific Northwest (PNW)-FIA states (Alaska, California, Hawaii and the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands, Oregon, and Washington), as well as on topics that are national and international in scope.

The Vegetation Monitoring Science and Application (VeMSA) team develops and applies comprehensive, regional-scale resource information to improve the management and understanding of forests and rangelands. Most of the team's research is focused on improving monitoring techniques and developing new applications for the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program (FIA).

The Vegetation Monitoring and Remote Sensing (VMaRS) team uses state-of-the-art geospatial technologies with traditional forest inventory information to increase the accuracy and precision of resource monitoring systems over multiple spatial scales. Application of remote sensing can increase the efficiency of monitoring and enable near-term detection of changes in the condition of aquatic, riparian, and terrestrial ecosystems affected by management and natural disturbance. Research conducted by VMaRS scientists consists of a range of activities, from very focused and detailed explorations of narrowly defined problems to broad descriptions of vegetation and change processes and ecological consequences across large spatial scales.

Follow this link for a list of publications by FMA program scientists. All publications are fully downloadable.

The Pacific Northwest Forest Inventory and Analysis (PNW-FIA) program measures and compiles data on plots in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, and U.S.- affiliated Pacific Islands. Most data are available in SQLite databases and can be downloaded by clicking one of the links below.

 

Current data summaries for each state can be found on our State Stats page.

National FIA Data and Documentation 

PNW-FIA data are combined with data from all states in the U.S. and stored in the national FIADB. Data for any state can be accessed on the national FIA Data and Tools website. Raw data are available via the FIA Data Mart and table generator tools such as EVALIDator provide a user-friendly interface for producing quick, customizable data summaries. The national FIADB User Guide provides comprehensive information on all fields in the database and is a good place to start when using the data.

Field Manuals 

Detailed field manuals for each inventory and year and available on the PNW-FIA Field Manuals page.

Prior PNW-FIA Inventories 

The PNW-FIA Program shifted from a periodic to an annual inventory system in 2001. Periodic inventories sampled primarily timberland plots outside of national forests and most reserved areas, in a single state within a 2- or 3-year window. Typically, re-assessments occurred every ten years in the West. For the annual inventory in the Pacific Northwest all forested plots are now sampled, with one-tenth of the plots in any given state being visited annually. A full annual inventory cycle is complete in ten years. 

PNW-IDB Periodic Inventory Database

Pacific Northwest Forest Inventory and Analysis (PNW-FIA) measures and reports on forest conditions in coastal Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, and U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands.

The PNW-FIA Field Manuals used for field data collection by the PNW-FIA region include detailed instructions for both core (nationally consistent) and regional data items. Manuals for annual inventory of California/Oregon/Washington, annual inventory of coastal Alaska, Interior Alaska, Pacific Islands, special studies, and historic (periodic) inventories and can be found in the sections below.

National FIA field manuals and FIADB database documentation can be found on the national FIA website. These documents contain all items which are collected consistently across all 50 states and U.S. territories, and they serve as the basis for each of the regional manuals listed below.

Field Manuals

CA/OR/WA Annual Inventory:

2026 Annual Inventory (PDF - 20.7 MB)

2025 Annual Inventory (PDF - 18.7 MB)

2024 Annual Inventory (PDF - 18.4 MB)

2023 Annual Inventory (PDF - 7.7 MB)

2022 Annual Inventory (PDF - 6.4 MB)

2021 Annual Inventory (PDF - 6.4 MB)

2020 Annual Inventory (PDF - 5.8 MB)

2019 Annual Inventory (PDF - 5.8 MB)

2018 Annual Inventory (PDF - 4.5 MB)

2017 Annual Inventory (PDF - 3.5 MB)

2016 Annual Inventory (PDF - 3.5 MB)

2015 Annual Inventory (PDF - 3.3 MB)

2014 Annual Inventory (PDF - 3.3 MB)

2013 Annual Inventory (PDF - 6.7 MB)

2012 Annual Inventory (PDF - 6.9 MB)

2011 Annual Inventory (PDF - 6.8 MB)

2010 Annual Inventory (PDF - 7.1 MB)

2009 Annual Inventory (PDF - 9.4 MB)

2008 Annual Inventory (PDF - 9.6 MB)

2007 Annual Inventory (PDF - 7.1 MB)

2006 Annual Inventory (PDF - 7.9 MB)

2005 Annual Inventory (PDF - 8.4 MB)

2004 Annual Inventory (PDF - 8.2 MB)

2003 Annual Inventory (PDF - 8.0 MB)

2002 Annual Inventory (PDF - 5.6 MB)

2001 Annual Inventory of Oregon and California (PDF - 8.4 MB)

Alaska Annual Inventory:

2026 Alaska Annual Inventory (PDF - 13.6 MB)

2025 Alaska Annual Inventory (PDF - 13.5 MB)

2024 Alaska Annual Inventory  (PDF - 11.7 MB)

2023 Alaska Annual Inventory  (PDF - 6.1 MB)

2022 Alaska Annual Inventory  (PDF - 4.9 MB)

2021 Alaska Annual Inventory (PDF - 6.6 MB)

2020 Alaska Annual Inventory (PDF - 4.6 MB)

2019 Alaska Annual Inventory (PDF - 4.7 MB)

Coastal Alaska Annual Inventory:

Note - Alaska field crews used the Coastal Alaska field guide plus an Interior Alaska supplement through the 2018 field season. In 2019 the Alaska inventory field guides were combined.

2018 Coastal Alaska Annual Inventory (PDF - 2.9 MB)

2017 Coastal Alaska Annual Inventory (PDF - 2.5 MB)

2016 Coastal Alaska Annual Inventory (PDF - 2.5 MB)

2015 Annual Inventory (PDF - 2.5 MB)

2014 Annual Inventory (PDF - 2.4 MB)

2013 Annual Inventory (PDF - 2.5 MB)

2012 Annual Inventory (PDF - 2.0 MB)

2011 Annual Inventory (PDF - 5.9 MB)

2010 Annual Inventory (PDF - 2.3 MB)

2009 Annual Inventory (PDF - 1.3 MB)

2008 Annual Inventory (PDF - 1.6 MB)

2007 Annual Inventory (PDF - 1.5 MB)

2006 Annual Inventory (PDF - 1.7 MB)

2005 Annual Inventory (PDF - 1.6 MB)

2004 Annual Inventory (PDF - 3.0 MB)

Interior Alaska Inventory:

Note - Interior Alaska field crews use the Coastal Alaska field guide plus an Interior Alaska supplement through the 2018 field season. In 2019 the Alaska inventory field guides were combined.

2018 Interior Alaska Supplement (PDF - 611 KB)

2017 Interior Alaska Supplement (PDF - 623 KB)

2016 Interior Alaska Supplement (PDF - 1.1 MB)

Hawaii and Pacific Islands:

2026 Commonwealth of The Northern Mariana Islands Inventory Field Manual (PDF - 11.1 MB)

2025 Palau Inventory Field Manual (PDF - 11.9 MB)

2024 Guam Inventory Field Manual (PDF - 9.1 MB)

2022 American Samoa Inventory Field Manual (PDF - 7.0 MB)

2019 Hawaiian Islands Inventory Field Manual (PDF - 6.6 MB)

2018 Marshall Islands Inventory Field Manual (PDF - 2.8 MB)

2016 Federated States Of Micronesia Inventory Field Manual (PDF - 2.8 MB)

2015 Commonwealth of The Northern Mariana Islands Inventory Field Manual (PDF - 2.7 MB)

2014 Republic of Palau Inventory Field Manual (PDF - 9.3 MB)

2013 Guam Inventory Field Manual (PDF - 8.2 MB)

2013 Hawaiian Islands Inventory Field Manual (PDF - 9.2 MB)

2012 American Samoa Inventory Field Manual (PDF - 8.6 MB)

2012 Hawaiian Islands Inventory Field Manual (PDF - 6.7 MB)

2011 Hawaiian Islands Inventory Field Manual (PDF - 9.8 MB)

2009-2010 Hawaiian Islands Inventory Field Manual (PDF - 9.3 MB)

2008 Marshall Islands Inventory Field Manual (PDF - 5.9 MB)

2005-2006 Pacific Islands Inventory Field Manual (PDF - 6.0 MB)

Special studies:

2026 Urban Inventory of Portland, Oregon, San Diego, California, and the State of Washington (PDF - 17.2 MB)

2025 Urban Inventory of Portland, Oregon, San Diego, California, and the State of Washington (PDF - 16.1 MB)

2024 Urban Inventory of Portland, Oregon and San Diego, California (PDF - 13.9 MB)

2023 Urban Inventory of Portland, Oregon and San Diego, California (PDF - 6.6 MB)

2022 Urban Inventory of Portland, Oregon and San Diego, California (PDF - 5.9 MB)

2020 Urban Inventory of Portland, Oregon and San Diego, California (PDF - 5.6 MB)

2019 Urban Inventory of Portland, Oregon and San Diego, California (PDF - 5.6 MB)

2018 Urban Inventory of Portland, Oregon and San Diego, California (PDF - 5.0 MB)

2017 Urban Inventory of San Diego, California (PDF - 4.6 MB)

2021 Fire Effects and Recovery Manual (PDF - 765 KB)

2019 Fire Effects and Recovery Manual (PDF - 873 KB)

2018 Fire Effects and Recovery Manual (PDF - 295 MB)

2017 Fire Effects and Recovery Manual (PDF - 296 KB)

2016 Fire Effects and Recovery Manual (PDF - 1.1 MB)

2013 Fire Effects and Recovery Manual (PDF - 263 KB)

Historical (periodic) Inventory:

2003 South-Central Alaska Periodic Field Manual (PDF - 4.4 MB)

2001 Eastern Washington Periodic Field Manual (PDF - 2.3 MB)

2000 Southeast Alaska Periodic Field Manual (PDF - 8.7 MB)

2000 Western Washington Periodic Field Manual (PDF - 3.2 MB)

1999 Eastern Oregon Juniper Inventory (PDF - 1.1 MB)

1998 Eastern Oregon Periodic Inventory (PDF - 3.6 MB)

1995-1997 Western Oregon Periodic Inventory (PDF - 1.2 MB)

1995 R6 & BLM Current Vegetation Survey (CVS) Manual (PDF - 361 KB)

1992-1994 California Periodic Inventory (PDF - 555 KB)

1991 Eastern Washington Periodic Field Manual (PDF - 7.5 MB)

1990's California Inventory Techniques Manual (PDF - 314 KB)

1988-1989 Western Washington Periodic Field Manual (PDF - 6.2 MB)

 

 

 

Key Personnel

Program Manager

Deputy Program Manager

Team Leaders

  • Person

    Hans Andersen, PhD

    Research Forester/VMaRS Team Leader
  • Person

    Jonathan Beals-Nesmith

    Data Collection Team Leader
  • Person

    Andrew Gray, PhD

    Research Ecologist, Team Leader
  • Person

    Daniel Irvine

    Data Collection Team Leader - FIA - Alaska, Hawaii, Pacific Islands
  • Person

    Jane Terzibashian

    Supervisory Biological Scientist - IRAM Team Leader

Staff

  • Person

    Nicholas Affleck

    Forestry Technician
  • Person

    Christine Aldrete

    Project Manager
  • Person

    Dean Anderson, PhD

    Research Ecologist
  • Person

    Joseph Ardent

    Biological Scientist
  • Person
    USDA Forest Service Logo

    Michael Ausman

    Biologist Scientist
  • Person

    Kathryn C. Baer, PhD

    Research Ecologist
  • Person

    Patrick Baird

    Forestry Technician
  • Person

    Julia Bartley

    Biological Scientist
  • Person
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    Lucas Behler

    Biological Scientist
  • Person

    David M. Bell, PhD

    Research Forester
  • Person

    Victor J. Biasotti

    Biological Scientist
  • Person

    Hannah Bohn

    Forestry Technician
  • Person
  • Person

    Sebastian Busby

    Post Graduate Researcher
  • Person

    Shannon Busby

    QA/QC Forester
  • Person

    Sean MP. Cahoon, PhD

    Research Ecologist
  • Person

    Karen Carlson

    Biological Scientist
  • Person

    Johnny H. Carson

    Biological Scientist- QA
  • Person
    Deryn Carter

    Deryn Carter

    Biological Scientist
  • Person
    USDA Forest Service Logo

    Gwyn Case

    Forestry Technician
  • Person
  • Person

    John M. Chase

    Natural Resource and GIS/Remote Sensing Specialist
  • Person
  • Person
  • Person

    Janelle Cossey

    Gear, Fleet, Safety Manager
  • Person

    Casey Croshaw

    Biological Scientist
  • Person

    Brett H. Davis

    Biological Science Information Specialist
  • Person

    Jessica Deans

    Ecologist
  • Person

    Julian Dendy

    Natural Resource Specialist
  • Person

    Sarah Ellison

    Alaska Analyst
  • Person
  • Person

    Matthew Ferrante

    Biological Scientist
  • Person
  • Person

    Walter Foss

    Forester
  • Person

    Bryce Frank

    Research Mathematical Statistician
  • Person

    Paul David Fredrickson

    Forestry Technician
  • Person

    Jeremy S. Fried, PhD

    Research Forester
  • Person

    Elizabeth Garvey

    Natural Resource Specialist
  • Person

    Mark Gasser

    Biological Scientist
  • Person

    Demetrios Gatziolis

    Research Forester
  • Person

    Emily Giovannozzi

    Forestry Technician
  • Person
    USDA Forest Service Logo

    Alex Gould

    Biological Scientist
  • Person

    Melissa Gray

    Forestry Technician
  • Person

    Christopher Hall

    Forestry Technician
  • Person

    Michelle Hansen

    Biological Scientist
  • Person

    Alexa Bronte Helms

    Biological Scientist
  • Person
    USDA Forest Service Logo

    Andrew Hoff

    Ecologist
  • Person

    Hannah Hoff

    Supervisory Biological Scientist
  • Person

    Danielle Jackson

    Forestry Technician
  • Person

    Michael Jonsson

    Forestry Technician
  • Person

    Sarah Jovan, PhD

     Research Ecologist
  • Person

    Megan Keville

    Science Delivery Specialist
  • Person

    Poonam Khatri, PhD

    ORISE Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Person
    Ian Kottke

    Ian Kottke

    Biologist
  • Person

    Stephen Kraft

    Forestry Technician
  • Person

    Olaf Kuegler

    Mathematical Statistician
  • Person

    Ashley Lehman

    Pacific Island/Hawaii Coordinator
  • Person

    Alexa Bronte Helms

    Biological Scientist
  • Person

    Jonathan D. Marshall

    Biological Scientist
  • Person

    Bailey Matthys

    Biological Scientist
  • Person

    Jacob McClure

    Forestry Technician
  • Person

    Robert McGaughey

    Research Forester
  • Person

    Taylan Morcol, PhD

    Biological Scientist
  • Person

    Jonathon Newman

    Supervisory Biological Scientist
  • Person

    Suzanne M. Owen, PhD

    Natural Resources Specialist
  • Person
  • Person

    Daniel Perret

    ORISE Research Fellow
  • Person
    USDA Forest Service Logo

    Scott Rash

    Supervisory Ecologist
  • Person

    Katie Rigsby

    Supervisory Biological Scientist
  • Person

    Richard Ruhe

    Biological Scientist
  • Person

    Lindsey Salmonson

    Forestry Technician
  • Person

    Jakub Serwatka

    Supervisory Biological Scientist (Research)
  • Person

    Richard Smith

    Forestry Technician
  • Person
    USDA Forest Service Logo

    Luke Steiner

    Forestry Technician
  • Person

    Jacob L. Strunk, PhD

    Research Statistician
  • Person

    Daniel Swann

    ORISE Research Fellow
  • Person

    Teresa Swanson

    Interior Alaska Data Collection Coordinator
  • Person

    Thomas Thompson

    GIS Specialist
  • Person

    Aaron Teets

    Biological Scientist
  • Person
    USDA Forest Service Logo

    Ana Tobio

    Forestry Technician
  • Person

    Kaitlyn Toledo

    Forestry Technician (Research)
  • Person

    Steven Trimble

    Biological Scientist
  • Person

    Allison Trudgeon

    Forestry Technician
  • Person
    USDA Forest Service Logo

    Chuck Veneklase

    IM Team Leader
  • Person

    Luke Vroegop

    Forestry Technician
  • Person
    USDA Forest Service Logo

    Nathan Wesely

    Biological Scientist
  • Person
  • Person
    USDA Forest Service Logo

    Ian Zacher

    Biologist
  • Person

    Harold Zald, PhD

    Research Ecologist
  • Person
    USDA Forest Service Logo

    Emily Zetkulic

    SCA
  • Person

    Graham Zimmerman

    Biological Scientist

Data and Tools

Projects

Publications

Last updated June 9, 2026