Upload
oswin-mckenzie
View
221
Download
3
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
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 [email protected] 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 ([email protected])
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.