Forests
at a Glance… |
The Forest Resource |
Arizona boasts a diverse forest resource,
from the high plateaus in the north to the “sky islands”
in the south. Ponderosa pine, mixed-conifer, and pinyon-juniper
forests surround the Grand Canyon, which is visited by millions
of tourists from all over the world. Near Tucson, one can take
a 27-mile drive from valley to mountain top that crosses vegetation
zones equivalent to those found driving from Mexico to Canada.
Arizona’s forests include some areas, such as the “cypress
thicket” that are unique to the state. Because Arizona
forests have high scenic, habitat, watershed and timber values,
it is important to track their condition. |
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Inventory and monitoring efforts conducted by USDA
Forest Service present a systematic compilation of forest statistics
of the state. For example, the graph here presents a breakdown of
forest cover, or forest type, on all land ownerships. A report titled
Arizona's Forest Resources, 1999,
presents a summary of the most recent inventory data available for
Arizona's forest lands. Beginning in 2001, Annual Inventories began
in the state using a new sampling design called the mapped plot
design. |
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Plot Status
and Current Activity |
Field crews collect data on Forest Inventory
plots and Forest Health plots across Arizona annually. Field work
begins in January and proceeds into the fall as plots are completed
or weather permits. |
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Number of Plots
by Plot Type |
Annually, there are on average 450 Phase 2 (P2) plots
and 25 Phase 3 (P3) plots in Arizona. Phase 3 plots are a subset of
P2 plots. In addition to the variables taken on P2 plots, P3 plots
collect additional data with an emphasis on forest health. |
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Cooperators |
In addition to this site, other information related
to Arizona forest conditions may be found on the websites of federal
and state cooperators. Click on the icons below to see what our partners
are up to… |
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USDA Forest Service in Arizona |
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Data and Table
Access |
You may find standardized summary tables by going
to – Annual
Tables. Customized data summaries are available through FIA
data retrieval systems. |
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Other Arizona
Reports |
A record of previous statewide reporting efforts is
shown in the table below. Note that other special reports, brochures,
and data tables using FIA data, but not shown in the table, can be
found in a comprehensive list at the Arizona’s
Forest Resources link. |
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Previous
Statewide Reports |
Year
Published |
Data
Year |
Title / Link |
Reference Number * |
2002 |
1999 |
Arizona's Forest Resources,
1999 |
Resource Bulletin RMRS-RB-2 |
1990 |
1985 |
Arizona's
Forest Resources |
Resource Bulletin INT-69 |
1966 |
1962 |
Arizona's
Forests |
Resource Bulletin INT-6 |
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* USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain
Research Station publication numbers are shown here. Over the
years the name of the Research Station has changed. Previously
it was named the Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station
or the Intermountain Research Station, hence the initials INT
in the report number. |
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Inventory and
Monitoring Information |
For specific questions related to field procedures,
current and past field
manuals are available online. These manuals describe the details
of plot establishment and description, forest inventory methods,
and procedures used for each forest health indicator. Websites for
forest health indicators
give rationale for the indicator, as well as access to data, analytical
procedures, and related publications.
For clients with a general interest in inventory and monitoring
work elsewhere, we have compiled a short list of Inventory
and Monitoring On the Web. This list comprises agencies and
entities with related interests in forest monitoring at various
geographic scales, both within the U.S. and internationally, plus
some recommended publications for those with a more technical interest
in this subject. |
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References |
O'Brien, R.A. 2002.
Arizona's Forest Resources, 1999. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain
Research Station, Resource Bulletin RMRS-RB-2.
Conner, R.C.,
A.W. Green, J.D. Born and R.A. O'Brien. 1990. Arizona's Forest Resources.
USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station,
Resource Bulletin INT-69.
Spencer, J.S., Jr.
1966. Arizona's Forests. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest
and Range Experiment Station, Resource Bulletin INT-6. |
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Contacts |
Interior
West Forest Inventory and Analysis
Michael Wilson, Program Manager
USDA Forest Service
507 25 th St.
Ogden, Utah 84401
(801) 625-5407 |
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