Terrestrial Condition Framework Overview 9 November 2011 Bend

Terrestrial Condition Framework Overview 9 November 2011 Bend Workshop

Purpose of the Terrestrial Condition Framework (TCF) • Follow on the footsteps of the Watershed Condition Framework (WCF) with a terrestrial counterpart • Build a framework for implementation of an Integrated Resource Restoration (IRR) job code • Work towards more integrated approaches with other efforts

Integration of the Terrestrial Condition Framework (TCF) with other efforts • Integrate with Watershed Condition Framework • Use with other assessments to set restoration priorities • Plan, implement, report, monitor and adapt

Terrestrial Condition Framework Disturbance Agents and Stressors Biotic Vegetative Condition Abiotic 3. Road Density 1. Insects and Pathogens - Current Impacts 7. Fuel Conditions - Areas requiring fuel 9. Vegetative Successional Departure (FRCC) - Composition - Structure modification 4. Climate 2. Terrestrial Invasive Species - Recent seasonal shifts in temperature and precipitation - Occurrence 5. Air Pollution - Terrestrial acidification - Excess nitrogen - Ozone 6. Catastrophic Disturbance Events - Recent severe wildfire extent - Recent catastrophic blowdowns, floods, landslides 8. Forestland conditions promoting uncharacteristic mortality - Host species and pest conditions 10. Ecological Process Departure - Missed fire cycles

Workplan Outline 1) Indicators/Attribute s Draft a ruleset for each attribute background, data availability, approriate scale of use, etc. Review v 1. 0 product. Draft ruleset (analysis, computational methods, classification threshholds, etc) for each attribute. Review v 2. 0 product. Broader, but limited, review of rulesets. Finalize rulesets for pilot test. 2) Classification and Reporting Units 3) Data Structures and Analysis 4) Operationalize the Framework Assemble existing Landtype Association (LTA) maps. Develop central repository for all data for Regional access and distribution. Draft classification and implementation guidelines. Form Regional Teams to review existing LTA maps and revise where necessary. Process LANDFIRE Bp. S layer into landscape-level units where LTAs aren't available. Prototype the system on National Forests in several Regions. Convene National-Regional teams to map Analysis Units using LTA or Bp. S products. National level working team oversees compilation of needed existing data. Process data to develop attributes for Analysis Units on, or partly on, NF lands. (To be determined) National -level analysis of all Analysis Units. National-Regional teams convene expert panels to provide estimates of local conditions lacking national data, improve estimates from national data, and conduct local analyses/syntheses. Final condition rating assigned to Analysis Units.

Timeline: • Develop Guidance on Indicators and Attributes – September 30, 2011; • Report on Pilot Test on a single NF – November 15, 2011; • Report on Beta Testing in two Regions – January 15, 2012; • Completion of TCF production version – June 30, 2012.

Issues: • How to build Forest ownership in a short time • How to ensure meaningful estimates, avoiding “everything moderate” • How to include a minimum set of indicators without alienating interests • How to minimize impact on workloads