Program Features
Forest
Health Indicators
Down Woody Materials Indicator
The Down Woody Materials (DWM) Indicator is
a set of variables collected on Phase 3 (forest
health) FIA plots. The DWM Indicator is designed
to estimate the biomass of forest ecosystem
components not sampled during the FIA Phase
2 inventory. These biomass components include:
coarse woody debris, fine woody debris, duff,
litter, shrubs/herbs, slash piles, and fuelbed
depths.
Why is the Down Woody Material Indicator Important?
The Down Woody Material (DWM) Indicator provides
the only nationally consistent and extensive
inventory
of down
woody biomass. DWM data can be used to explore
important
fire, wildlife, and carbon questions.
Forest fire managers and researchers may utilize
the DWM indicator in numerous ways:
- Assessment of forest fire risks
for all regions of the U.S.
- Estimation of fuel
loadings by various forest attributes for
the U.S.
- Creation of national
fuels maps
- Monitoring effects of forest fuel reduction
projects
Wildlife scientists and managers may use the
DWM Indicator to assess wildlife habitat dynamics
across the U.S., including:
- Structure and amount
of coarse woody debris in critical habitats
- Assessment
of coarse woody debris decay classes
- Establishment
of important relationships between forest
types/past management actions
and
current levels of coarse woody debris
Carbon modelers may utilize the DWM
Indicator data to:
- Estimate down woody material and
forest floor carbon pools
- Monitor changes
in critical carbon pools for the
entire U.S.
- Provide a carbon estimation
framework and sampling protocol as
identified
by international
agreements
The DWM Indicator not only serves as a
data source for estimation and monitoring
of down
woody material biomass, but also serves as a
broad indicator of forest health.
For more information about the Down Woody
Materials Indicator visit our Down
Woody Materials
Indicator website or view
the FIA
Down Woody Materials Indicator Fact Sheet.
|