Transcript SNE 2008
What Do NGOs Do With FIA Data? (Preview: a lot!) Christine Negra The Heinz Center for Science, Economics and the Environment March 2009 SAF 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, federalstate-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) Million acres SNE 2008 – Forest disturbance USFS-FHM. All 50 states. 1979-1996: 5 major insects. • Since 1997, continuous tree mortality has been observed in an increasing number of forest acres. SNE 2008 – Forest Productivity USFS. All 50 states. • Growth > harvest on timberlands nationally • Growth harvest on private timberlands in Pacific Coast and Interior West (2005) 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 USFS-FHM. All 50 states. 1979-1996: 5 major insects. • 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. Observations about the data system • Monitoring programs are widely dispersed • Data is often not consistent, comparable • Demands growing – resources flat • No system for coordinated data integration or prioritysetting 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]) Climate change and the data system 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 Thank you www.heinzcenter.org SNE 2008 – Extent of forests USFS. All 50 states. • 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. SNE 2008 – Forest disturbance USFS/NIFC. All 50 states. Includes forests, grass/shrublands. • 1979-2006: slight but significant increase in area disturbed by fire 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. Beyond the report… • ‘Cross-cutting’ topical factsheets • Climate change • Nitrogen • Wildlife • Contaminants SNE 2008 – Land cover in forests NLCD/ESRI (analysis by USFS, EPA). Lower 48 states. • 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.