What Do NGOs Do With FIA Data?

(Preview: a lot!)

Christine NegraThe Heinz Center for Science,

Economics and the Environment

March 2009SAF National FIA User Group

FIA and Heinz Center Projects – I. Observation & Understanding

The State of the Nation’s Ecosystems

• Indicators of condition and use of ecosystems

Air Quality • Indicators of ecological effects of air pollution

Process:

Industry, NGOs, federal-state-local government, and academics

Data from many monitoring programs

Audiences:

Public/ private resource (and budget) managers, e.g.,

• Fiber, wood products • Air/water quality

protection• Species conservation • Biofuels, carbon credits

SNE 2008 – Forest cover types

USFS. All 50 states.

1963 to 2006: • Up and down

trends for different forest types (increase in oak-hickory)

SNE 2008 – Forest disturbance

• Since 1997, continuous tree mortality has been observed in an increasing number of forest acres.

USFS-FHM. All 50 states.1979-1996: 5 major insects.

Mill

ion

acre

s

SNE 2008 – Forest Productivity

• Growth > harvest on timberlands nationally

• Growth harvest on private timberlands in Pacific Coast and Interior West (2005)

USFS. All 50 states.

SNE 2008 – Forest carbon

• 1995-2005: 150 MMt gained annually

• 62% of forest acres increased in carbon density

USFS/NREL. Lower 48 states.

SNE 2008 – Forest carbon

• Since 1953, 43% increase in carbon in live trees. Since 1990, 4-8% increases in other pools.

• Northern forests store the most, Interior West forests store the least.

USFS-FHM. All 50 states.1979-1996: 5 major insects.

• Monitoring programs are widely dispersed

• Data is often not consistent, comparable

• Demands growing – resources flat

• No system for coordinated data integration or priority-setting

Observations about the data system

Recommendations for improving “the system”

Congress establish national indicator system

Early executive branch action

Increased funding

Increased state-level integration activities

FIA and Air Quality Indicators

Acidification of soils and surface waters

– Soils: % base saturation, C:N ratio

– Waters: ANC, nitrate

Ozone impacts on plants

– Biosite Index, decline in ozone-sensitive species

Mercury accumulation in food webs

– Hg in YOY fish

FIA and Heinz Center Projects II. Climate Change Adaptation

Downscaling projects • Engage stakeholders• Downscaling models (FIA data for baselines,

calibration / verification)• Adaptation planning

Wildlife outcome & performance metrics• Measuring results of wildlife management

(e.g., state wildlife plans)

FIA Data in Wildlife Monitoring Programs

• States need to include data on ecosystem condition, not just wildlife population status and trends

• Data of interest: Extent of forest cover; change in coverage of particular forest types of benefit to wildlife

• Contact Jonathan Mawdsley mawdsley@heinzctr.org for more information

FIA and Heinz Center Projects – III. Climate Change Mitigation

Terrestrial Carbon projects• REDD and MRV • REDD & Biodiversity• Research needs

Energy projects• Forests and Bioenergy stakeholder meetings• Global Energy Assessment: US support office

FIA and Forest Bioenergy project

Need realistic assessment of:1. overall forest bioenergy resource

– how much biomass of what types (trees/slash/residue)– by region, fine-scale (sourcing: 50-100 mile radius)

2. “Supply” – what feedstock buyers can expect (based on technology for harvest, landowner plans, etc.)

FIA: • provide data and facilitate analyses• joint regional assessments with NRCS, etc. (forest plus

ag) – many technologies can use multiple feedstocks

Contact Robin O’Malley (omalley@heinzctr.org)

Ecological changes of unusual and increasing rapidity and uncertainty need adequate information to respond:

• Multiple scales, multiple users

• Timely information tailored to managers’ needs

• E.g., baselines; predictions

Climate change and the data system

Thank you

www.heinzcenter.org

SNE 2008 – Extent of forests

• Since 1953, forest area has decreased significantly in the South and Pacific Coast and increased significantly in the North.

• Nationally the amount of forest area has changed little.

USFS. All 50 states.

SNE 2008 – Forest disturbance

• 1979-2006: slight but significant increase in area disturbed by fire

USFS/NIFC. All 50 states.Includes forests, grass/shrublands.

SNE 2008 – Forest populations

• One-fifth of native U.S. forest animal species are at risk of extinction

• State-level percentages are highly variable

NatureServe.All 50 states.

SNE 2008 – Air quality in forests

• 66% of U.S. had ozone levels >0.06 ppm for >10 hours

• 4% for >30 hours (2005)

EPA (analysis by USFS). Lower 48 states.12-hour, 3-month SUM06.

• CO2 levels are 20% higher than in 1950s and 36% higher than preindustrial times.

• ‘Cross-cutting’ topical factsheets

• Climate change

• Nitrogen

• Wildlife

• Contaminants

Beyond the report…

SNE 2008 – Land cover in forests

• Greater % of Interior West and Pacific Coast forest lands have core patches >100 square miles in size, while patches in nearly all southern forests were <100 square miles.

NLCD/ESRI (analysis by USFS, EPA). Lower 48 states.