1. Wisconsin’s Continuous Forest Inventory State Forest Working Group Meeting Plymouth, WI May 10, 2006 Teague PrichardChip Scott WDNR State Lands SpecialistUSDA Forest Service State Forest Working Group Meeting Plymouth, WI May 10, 2006 Teague PrichardChip Scott WDNR State Lands SpecialistUSDA Forest Service

2. Wisconsin’s Forest Inventory in Brief Topics What is Continuous Forest Inventory Forest Inventory today and in the future Opportunities Monitoring Toolbox plan, design, build, analyze, report

3. Where did this come from…..Demand “There is a strong demand for timely, consistent, and reliable forest inventory and monitoring information for State Forests. “ ….covering a broader scope of forest attributes, with more analysis and reporting” Wisconsin Forest Certification 2004 “There is a strong demand for timely, consistent, and reliable forest inventory and monitoring information for State Forests. “ ….covering a broader scope of forest attributes, with more analysis and reporting” Wisconsin Forest Certification 2004 Number and kind of issues is increasing

4. Budget Initiative To increase the number of Forest Inventory and Analysis plots on State Forests A system to monitoring changes in forest condition over time on state forests. FY 05-07 successful Forest Certification was key To increase the number of Forest Inventory and Analysis plots on State Forests A system to monitoring changes in forest condition over time on state forests. FY 05-07 successful Forest Certification was key

5. Sustainability The Department is directed to manage the State Forests using the principles of sustainable forestry in order to assure that they can provide a full range of benefits for present and future generations as per Wis stats,. 28.04

6. Plan ……Check State forest master plans identify a range of ecological criteria and variables which need to be inventoried and monitored in order to assure the Department is meeting the goals of sustainable forestry. Monitoring and Assessment State forest master plans identify a range of ecological criteria and variables which need to be inventoried and monitored in order to assure the Department is meeting the goals of sustainable forestry. Monitoring and Assessment

7. Purpose of CFI is to collect and report on the condition of the forest in a statistically sound manner on an annual basis for each State Forest and forest units. Track the status and trends in forest extent, cover, growth, mortality, habitat, and overall health, etc Unbiased, reliable information at the property level with the ability to compare to regional trends. Assist in planning, management and monitoring. collect and report on the condition of the forest in a statistically sound manner on an annual basis for each State Forest and forest units. Track the status and trends in forest extent, cover, growth, mortality, habitat, and overall health, etc Unbiased, reliable information at the property level with the ability to compare to regional trends. Assist in planning, management and monitoring.

8. Topics WisCFI Should Consider… –Monitor the ecological attributes and changes over time of each state forest individually, as a group, and of “areas of interest”; –Augment existing inventory systems and use common definitions, e.g., RECON, Invasives; –Compatible with the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program to compare with regional trends; –Identify strategies for including and utilizing remote sensing data; –Design and incorporate growth models, small area estimation methods at the appropriate level (e.g., by species group). –Monitor the ecological attributes and changes over time of each state forest individually, as a group, and of “areas of interest”; –Augment existing inventory systems and use common definitions, e.g., RECON, Invasives; –Compatible with the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program to compare with regional trends; –Identify strategies for including and utilizing remote sensing data; –Design and incorporate growth models, small area estimation methods at the appropriate level (e.g., by species group).

9. Attribute chart FIA Data and Standard Analysis Products Spatial Resolution Attribute Resolution Low High Intensified FIA Data and Regional Analytical Methods => WisCFI RECON Stand-level estimates by matching WisCFI plots with stands using imagery

10. WisCFI is not… A replacement for stand level inventories (RECON) A social or economic inventory system A wildlife or critter inventory (other than habitat) A water quality inventory A replacement for stand level inventories (RECON) A social or economic inventory system A wildlife or critter inventory (other than habitat) A water quality inventory Will not focus on management prescriptions or management tracking

11. Grid of Permanent Plots FIA Statewide = 6,000 plots State Forests =2,500 plots ??

13. Objectives Forest Productivity Biological Diversity Vegetation Structure Forest Health Coarse woody debris Land Use and Site Characteristics Soils Yet to be determined…. Forest Productivity Biological Diversity Vegetation Structure Forest Health Coarse woody debris Land Use and Site Characteristics Soils Yet to be determined….

14. Questions/Variables Too many to name……. What are the growth and mortality rates by species What invasive species are present What is the distribution of structural or age classes and how is it changing To be determined soon Too many to name……. What are the growth and mortality rates by species What invasive species are present What is the distribution of structural or age classes and how is it changing To be determined soon

15. Attribute List Area attributes: Land use capable of producing timber Habitat type forest type age class stand size Understory Attributes: Number of seedlings/saplings Deer damage on seedlings Invasive plant species presence % cover of invasive plant species tree species diameter class Overstory Attributes: Number of trees Net volume of all live trees Net volume of growing stock Gross Growth growing stock Net volume of saw timber Net growth growing stock Removals growing stock Biomass all live - aboveground Mortality growing stock Number of snags Density of downed woody material Stocking level (density) tree species diameter class tree grade

16. Example-monitoring Implementation Increase area and density of pine Increase density of snags, coarse woody debris to enhance structural diversity Increase area and density of pine Increase density of snags, coarse woody debris to enhance structural diversity

17. Aging and Succession – State Forest and Region Increase in Maple-Basswood forests Decrease in Aspen- Birch forests Increase in Maple-Basswood forests Decrease in Aspen- Birch forests Forested area in thousand acres Forested area in thousand acres Maple/Basswood Aspen/Birch

18. Growth and Removals millions of cubic feet millions of cubic feet

19. TableMaker Select plots by: Features (polygons) User-defined polygon Features in table Distance from linear features

20. Timeline and milestones PHASE 1 (due June) –Define the purpose of the inventory (done) –Set broad objectives (Identify the information required from inventory) Select attributes to collect PHASE 2 (Summer 2006) –Inventory Design (sampling and plot design) –Information technology design and compilation procedures –Measurement procedures PHASE 3 (2007) –Field work – implementation –Reporting, analysis and maintenance PHASE 1 (due June) –Define the purpose of the inventory (done) –Set broad objectives (Identify the information required from inventory) Select attributes to collect PHASE 2 (Summer 2006) –Inventory Design (sampling and plot design) –Information technology design and compilation procedures –Measurement procedures PHASE 3 (2007) –Field work – implementation –Reporting, analysis and maintenance

21. The Planning Phase The Planning Tool could help with the first 9 monitoring steps 1. Set broad objectives –list desired conditions or outcomes 2. Set specific objectives –list questions and tables to address them 3. Select attributes – list the attributes needed to make the tables chosen 4. Set time/cost and precision constraints – Identify the costs of each component of monitoring. Specify precision for key attributes. The Planning Tool could help with the first 9 monitoring steps 1. Set broad objectives –list desired conditions or outcomes 2. Set specific objectives –list questions and tables to address them 3. Select attributes – list the attributes needed to make the tables chosen 4. Set time/cost and precision constraints – Identify the costs of each component of monitoring. Specify precision for key attributes.

22. The Planning Phase 5. Assemble and evaluate existing data – specify the area, then use FIA data to compute estimates and their variability 6. Select sampling and plot designs – based on objectives, specify which portions of FIA plot need to be measured, or what components need to be added. It can be used to develop an optimal plot design. Based on the plot design chosen, determine sample size. 5. Assemble and evaluate existing data – specify the area, then use FIA data to compute estimates and their variability 6. Select sampling and plot designs – based on objectives, specify which portions of FIA plot need to be measured, or what components need to be added. It can be used to develop an optimal plot design. Based on the plot design chosen, determine sample size.

23. Field Planning 7. Select plots –select plot locations based on chosen sample size and sampling rules. 8. Plan field work –select text needed for the field manual 9. Train – provide training materials and field training, as needed. Follow up QA/QC is an option. 7. Select plots –select plot locations based on chosen sample size and sampling rules. 8. Plan field work –select text needed for the field manual 9. Train – provide training materials and field training, as needed. Follow up QA/QC is an option.

24. The PDR Tool 10. Collect data – Portable Data Recorder software can be customized based on the planning phase. 11. Enter and store data – the data should be entered and checked while in the field using PDR software, then transferred electronically to the office. 10. Collect data – Portable Data Recorder software can be customized based on the planning phase. 11. Enter and store data – the data should be entered and checked while in the field using PDR software, then transferred electronically to the office.

25. The Compilation Tool 12. Compile data – the compilation tool computes derived variables, such as basal area or biomass, and stores in a large database – a generalized version of FIA’s National Information Management System (NIMS).

26. The Analytical Tool 13. Assess and interpret data – use the spatial/tabular analytical tool to ask questions of the data and compare the study area to the forest matrix. 14. Evaluate objectives and monitoring protocol 15. Decide on future management 13. Assess and interpret data – use the spatial/tabular analytical tool to ask questions of the data and compare the study area to the forest matrix. 14. Evaluate objectives and monitoring protocol 15. Decide on future management

27. How are we going to design and implement a CFI for State Forests? Partnerships – Integrated team evaluating monitoring objectives.. recommendations to the leadership teams Partnership – Northern Monitoring Program… the experts in forest inventory and monitoring and linkage with FIA …………………………………. Partnerships – Integrated team evaluating monitoring objectives.. recommendations to the leadership teams Partnership – Northern Monitoring Program… the experts in forest inventory and monitoring and linkage with FIA ………………………………….

28. Thank You and Questions Chip Scott Northern Monitoring Program USDA Forest Service 11 Campus Blvd., Suite 200 Newtown Square, PA 19073 610-557-4020 ctscott@fs.fed.us Chip Scott Northern Monitoring Program USDA Forest Service 11 Campus Blvd., Suite 200 Newtown Square, PA 19073 610-557-4020 ctscott@fs.fed.us Teague Prichard State Lands Specialist WDNR Forestry Madison 608-264-8883 pricht@dnr.state.wi.us Teague Prichard State Lands Specialist WDNR Forestry Madison 608-264-8883 pricht@dnr.state.wi.us