Improved Rapid Forest Ecosystem and Habitat Inventory
Minnesota has 15.9 million acres of forest land managed by a variety of county, state and federal agencies, and private landowners for timber production, wildlife habitat, and ecological considerations. Forest managers rely on inventory data to make effective planning and management decisions. Because forests are continually changing through natural and human processes, forest inventory data is periodically updated. However, doing so is an expensive and time-consuming endeavor and, as a result, much of Minnesota’s forest inventory data is currently out of date. This appropriation is being used by scientists at the University of Minnesota to evaluate an innovative approach to forest inventory using existing statewide Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data that could help reduce costs, expedite future updates, and improve overall usability.
$262,000 the first year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to evaluate a new approach to forest inventory, based on statewide forest inventory and analysis (FIA) data.
Click on Work Plan under Project Details.
Click on Work Plan under Project Details.