NIMAC Status Chip Scott Todays Topics NIMAC Background

NIMAC Status Chip Scott

Today’s Topics �NIMAC Background �States �National Forest System �International �Toolkit

NIMAC Background �National Inventory and Monitoring Applications Center (NIMAC) �Mission: �To develop leading-edge forest ecosystem monitoring methods and tools to help FIA and its customers monitor forests, resulting in compatible results across the landscape. Methods and software tools are designed for use by land managers and across ownerships at landscape to national scales, but will also provide added flexibility to FIA.

States: Wisconsin �Contract crews are in the second panel of the second cycle of data collection on their 514, 000 ac. �Data are processed by NIMAC and UNLV cooperators �Wis. FIDO is operational, but waiting for FIA FIDO to be upgraded first before additional enhancements: http: //wiscfi. fiatools. us/fido/index. html �Data and estimates are being made available using PC EVALIDator, including some P 3 data.

States: Indiana �State crews are completing the fifth panel on their 150, 000 ac of state land. �Plots are paneled by 1, 000 ac compartments. We are using this concept in the NFI of Peru. �IN DNR expanded the system to 600, 000 ac of private conservation lands. �We prepared a PC version of NIMS so they can process the data themselves. �NIMAC is training IN DNR on processing the data for use in PC EVALIDator.

States: Missouri �Missouri crews have finished the first season of fieldwork on 600, 000 ac of State Forest land. Fieldwork is done during the “off season. ” �MDC is now adopting the Wisconsin model of having NIMAC and UNLV do all the processing with NIMS and provide the results using PC EVALIDator.

States: Kansas �Kansas has developed a proposal to intensify the sample in forest land in nonforest with trees in order to evaluate commercial biomass production.

National Forest System �NIMAC worked with R 9 so that the sample on all Forests is intensified (2 X or 3 X). �Regions 8 and 9 funded a 1 -year Term position within NIMAC to provide analytical support for the two Regions. �NFS continues to fund the development of the Design and Analysis Toolkit for Inventory and Monitoring (DATIM). �Cross-Deputy Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment effort to make IM&A more cost-effective.

International: Growing need for monitoring globally �Primary factor is the financial incentives of REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Plus), Plus) but others include timber production and conservation of biodiversity. �USAID & State Dept. are funding the FS, USGS, NASA, Smithsonian Inst. , and EPA to provide technical assistance to Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Viet Nam and Gabon �Goal is to reduce carbon emissions and to encourage sustainable use of forests to help keep them as forests.

What is FIA doing about it? �FIA’s role is to provide technical assistance and training, not to do the work. �NIMAC coordinates the technical assistance for the FS. �Skills Roster – about 60 folks have signed up on the skills roster to provide technical assistance. �Built an optimal plot design tool which factors in both cost and precision.

Toolkit �Developed portable data recorder program (modern version of TALLY) which is being using in Honduras, Peru and now Gabon. FAO is posting it for download. �DATIM is almost done with Phase 1 of development. �Web version of the Design Tool for Inventory and Monitoring (DTIM) and will include NFS Planning Rule and international modules. �The Analytical Tool for Inventory and Monitoring (ATIM) and the Spatial Intersection Tool (SIT) are integrated to facilitate spatial analyses.

Summary �NIMAC’s role is growing, especially in the international arena �States – don’t anticipate additional states. Focus is on providing compilation and reporting tools. �National Forest System – continue to partner with R 8 and R 9; work on the IM&A effort. �International – develop documentation, training and tools �Toolkit – DATIM testing will begin January 2013; Phase 2 will be completed Fall 2013.

Questions / Comments Chip Scott FIA-NIMAC USDA Forest Service 11 Campus Blvd. , Suite 200 Newtown Square, PA 19073 610 -557 -4020 ctscott@fs. fed. us