The National Inventory of Down Woody Materials: Methods, Outputs, and Future Directions

Abstract

The Forest Inventory and Analysis Program (FIA) of the USDA Forest Service conducts a national inventory of forests of the United States. A subset of FIA permanent inventory plots are sampled every year for numerous forest health indicators ranging fiom soils to understory vegetation. Down woody material (DWM) is an FIA indicator that refines estimation of forest structural diversity, forest area fuel loadings, and national carbon sources. DWM comprise fine woody debris, coarse woody debris, slash piles, duff, litter, and shrub/herbs. Components of DWM are sampled using planar intercept methodologies, fixed-radius sampling, and point sampling. DWM data analyses produce core tables, regional/national reports, wildlife habitat assessments, and fuel maps. The DWM inventory began in 2001 and is currently implemented in 38 states.

Citation

Woodall, Christopher W. 2003. The National Inventory of Down Woody Materials: Methods, Outputs, and Future Directions. In; Proceedings, Society of American Foresters 2002 National Convention; 2002 October 5-9; Winston Salem, NC SAF Publ. 03-01. Bethesda, MD: Society of American Foresters: 87-91