Rapid forest change in the interior west presents analysis opportunities and challenges

John D. Shaw

Treesearch

Rapid forest change in the interior west presents analysis opportunities and challenges

Informally Refereed

Authors:

John D. Shaw

Year:

2007

Type:

General Technical Report

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

In: McRoberts, Ronald E.; Reams, Gregory A.; Van Deusen, Paul C.; McWilliams, William H., eds. Proceedings of the seventh annual forest inventory and analysis symposium; October 3-6, 2005; Portland, ME. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-77. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: 127-133.

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Abstract

A recent drought has caused compositional and structural changes in Interior West forests. Recent periodic and annual inventory data provide an opportunity to analyze forest changes on a grand scale. This "natural experiment" also provides opportunities to test the effectiveness of Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) methodologies. It also presents some analysis challenges, because analysts must evaluate the relative contributions of data obtained on phase 2 and phase 3 (i.e., Forest Health Monitoring) plots. In the case of the latter, some variables may reveal less-than-catastrophic changes. Evaluation of available data may allow FIA analysts to answer several longstanding, fundamental questions.

Parent Publication

Proceedings of the seventh annual forest inventory and analysis symposium

Keywords

drought, Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA)

Citation

Shaw, John D. 2007. Rapid forest change in the interior west presents analysis opportunities and challenges. In: McRoberts, Ronald E.; Reams, Gregory A.; Van Deusen, Paul C.; McWilliams, William H., eds. Proceedings of the seventh annual forest inventory and analysis symposium; October 3-6, 2005; Portland, ME. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-77. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: 127-133.