Geospatial Analysis of Forest Condition and Connectivity in the Northeast U.S.

Abstract

The Northeast Forest Condition tool uses spatially explicit data on forest age and height, turnover rates, degree of permanent conversion and fragmentation from anthropogenic disturbance to create an integrated estimate of current forest condition. The results are used, along with other datasets, to estimate the degree of forest connectivity available to support movement and range shifts of forest-dwelling species at multiple scales. Areas are identified where best management could have the largest improvement in connectivity at local and regional scales.

To ensure the long-term sustainability of the Northeast Forest, land managers, agencies and conservationists need a way to measure and monitor forest condition at a large scale, assess how condition is distributed across the region, and estimate the impact and benefits of forest management practices. Fortunately, the last decade has seen considerable progress in the creation of consistent remotely sensed, time-series datasets that through careful processing and interpretation could lead to a new generation of spatially explicit, dynamic maps depicting changes in geospatial forest condition.

For the Northeast Study Area we:

• Compiled spatially explicit metrics on forest age and height, turnover rates, degree of permanent conversion and fragmentation from anthropogenic disturbance
• Validated the metrics with FIA data
• Developed an integrated, geospatially based estimate of forest condition
• Estimated the degree of forest connectivity available to support the movement and range shifts of forest-dwelling species at two scales (local and regional)
• Identified areas where improving geospatial forest condition could have the largest improvement in connectivity at a local and regional scale

Our goal in this project was to assess and synthesize geospatial information on forest condition, report on our findings and translate them into a user-friendly decision support tool aimed at decision makers and other concerned audiences. The results will allow users to explore the condition of the forest at various scales and make informed decisions about the individual and cumulative impact of some management activities. This document provides the description, justification and methods for the datasets in the decision support tool.

Additional Resources

Explore the Data in the Forest Condition Mapping Tool

Download the Forest Condition GIS Datasets

Citation

Clark, M., Anderson, M.G. (2024). Geospatial Analysis of Forest Condition and Connectivity in the Northeast U.S. The Nature Conservancy, Center for Resilient Conservation Science