Integration of strategic inventory and monitoring programs for the forest lands, wood lands, range lands and agricultural lands of the United States

Abstract

The United States Department of Agriculture uses the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program to monitor the nation's forests and wood lands, and the National Resources Inventory (NRI) program to monitor the nation's agricultural and range lands. Although their measurement methods and sampling frames are very different, both programs are developing annual systems to better detect trends in land use and ecosystem health, evaluate effectiveness of public policies, guide sustainable development, and forecast alternative future conditions. Other federal programs use Landsat satellite data to map the nation's land cover, land use, and habitat diversity. I offer two proposals that could increase consistency and reduce cost among these federal monitoring programs.

Parent Publication

• North American Science Symposium: Toward a unified framework for inventorying and monitoring forest ecosystem resources

Citation

Czaplewski, Raymond L. 1999. Integration of strategic inventory and monitoring programs for the forest lands, wood lands, range lands and agricultural lands of the United States. In: Aguirre-Bravo, Celedonio; Franco, Carlos Rodriguez, compilers. North American Science Symposium: Toward a unified framework for inventorying and monitoring forest ecosystem resources. Guadalajara, Mexico (November 2-6, 1998). Proceedings RMRS-P-12. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 342-348.