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Draft:Forest Inventory an Analysis (FIA) Program

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The Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) is a program of the Research and Development arm of the United States Forest Service (USFS), designed to collect, analyze, and disseminate information about the status, trends, and conditions of U.S. forests. The FIA Program was established by The National Forest Management Act of 1976 (PL 94-588) directed the USDA Forest Service to: “ensure research on and (based upon continuous monitoring and assessment in the field) evaluation of the effects of each management system…”[1] Established to provide reliable data for forestry management and policy decisions, the FIA Program serves as the primary source of information on the extent, composition, health, and sustainability of forests across the United States.

Mission and Objectives

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Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) is a congressionally mandated program that delivers current, consistent, and credible information about the status of forests and forest resources within the United States by continually collecting and analyzing data about these forests and the values they provide.[2] FIA works to:

  • Collect annualized data relating to forest resources, health and ownership.
  • Collect and analyze a consistent core set of ecological data on all forests to view trends over time.
  • Utilize new and emerging technologies to acquire data through remote sensing and field activities.

Data Collection and Methodology

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The FIA Program uses a systematic sampling approach to collect data from over 355,000 permanent sample plots distributed across the U.S. forests. These plots are revisited on a rotating basis, typically every 5-10 years, to track changes in forest conditions.[3]

Field crews collect a wide range of data, including:

  • Tree species, size, and growth.
  • Forest composition and structure.
  • Land use and ownership patterns.
  • Wildlife habitat conditions.
  • Evidence of disturbances such as pests, diseases, and wildfires.

The program combines field measurements with satellite imagery and other remote-sensing data to provide a comprehensive view of forest conditions at regional, state, and national scales.

Funding

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The FIA Program has enjoyed bipartisan support in Congress[4] In FY 2022, Congress appropriated $22.197 million for FIA operations. Other funding made available to the program included S&E for FIA staff ($44.05 million), information technology (IT) funding ($1.55 million), and the agency’s indirect costs of common business services ($10.4 million in FY 2020, the last year this was tracked).[5]

References

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  1. ^ "The National Forest Management Act of 1976" (PDF).
  2. ^ "Forest Inventory and Analysis". January 13, 2023 – via research.fs.usda.gov. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ Service, Ty Wilson, USDA Forest (February 1, 2024). "BIGMAP". ArcGIS StoryMaps.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "Legislative Priorities for Farm Bill Reauthorization Released, Ne". natlawreview.com.
  5. ^ "Forest Inventory and Analysis Fiscal Year 2022 Business Report" (PDF).