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Inventory of trees in nonforest areas in the Great Plains states

Informally Refereed

Abstract

The U.S. Forest Service's Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program collects information on trees in areas that meet its definition of forest. However, the inventory excludes trees in areas that do not meet this definition, such as those found in isolated patches, in areas with sparse or predominantly herbaceous vegetation, in narrow strips (e.g., shelterbelts), or in riparian areas. In the Plains States, little is known about the tree resource in these noninventoried, nonforest areas, and there is a great deal of concern about the potential impact that invasive pests, such as the emerald ash borer, might have. To address this knowledge gap, the National Inventory and Monitoring Applications Center (NIMAC) has partnered with state cooperators to design and implement an inventory of trees in nonforest areas. The goal of the inventory is to characterize the tree resource using methods compatible with those of FIA so a holistic understanding of the resource can be obtained by integrating the two surveys. The goal of this paper is to give an overview of the goals and objectives of the inventory and to describe the plot and sample designs. Key findings related to the planning and establishment of the inventory are also provided.

Parent Publication

Keywords

trees outside of forest, nonforest tree inventory, emerald ash borer, isolated trees, Great Plains forest inventory, multiphase sample

Citation

Lister, Andrew; Scott, Chip; Rasmussen, Steve. 2009. Inventory of trees in nonforest areas in the Great Plains states. In: McWilliams, Will; Moisen, Gretchen; Czaplewski, Ray, comps. Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Symposium 2008; October 21-23, 2008; Park City, UT. Proc. RMRS-P-56CD. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 7 p.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/33344