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Forests
at a Glance… |
The Forest Resource |
New Mexico is a land
of “sky islands”, where diverse forests top mountain
ranges that are surrounded by arid lands. These high-elevation
forests have provided resources for humans and wildlife for
thousands of years. Because New Mexico forests have high value
as wildlife habitat, and timber, scenic, and watershed resources,
it is important to track their condition. USDA Forest Service
inventory and monitoring efforts 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 New
Mexico's Forest Resources, 2008-2012, presents a summary of the most recent
inventory data available for New exico's forest lands. |

Figure 3. Plot status of the 11,792 Phase 2 plots in New Mexico’s annual forest inventory, 2008-2012. (Note: plot locations are approximate; some plots on private land were randomly swapped.)
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Plot Status and Current
Activity |
State inventories cover about 10% of the
total forest plot locations each year, and provides a full cycle
of plots over a 10-year period. The FIA method consists of 3 inventory
phases: a remotely sensed phase (P1) and 2 field phases (P2 and
P3). Comprehensive state reports are
scheduled to be published every 5 years. |
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Cooperators |
In addition to this site, other information related to New Mexico
forest conditions may be found on the websites of federal and state
cooperators. |
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USDA Forest Service in New Mexico |
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Data and Table Access |
Customized data summaries are available through FIA
data retrieval systems. |
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Other New Mexico Reports |
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Statewide Reports |
Year
Published |
Data
Year |
Title / Link |
Reference
Number * |
2003 |
2000 |
New
Mexico’s Forests, 2000 |
Resource Bulletin RMRS-RB-3 |
1993 |
1987 |
New
Mexico’s Forest Resources |
Resource Bulletin INT-79 |
1966 |
1962 |
New
Mexico’s Forest Resources |
Resource Bulletin INT-5 |
* 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 Monitory 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.
2003. New Mexico’s Forests, 2000. USDA Forest Service, Rocky
Mountain Research Station. Resource Bulletin RMRS-RB-3 117 p.
Van Hooser, D.D.;
O’Brien, R.A.; Collins, D.C. 1993. New Mexico’s Forest
Resources. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment
Station. Resource Bulletin INT-79. 110 p.
Choate, G.A. 1966.
New Mexico’s Forest Resources. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain
Forest and Range Experiment Station. Resource Bulletin INT-5.
59 p.
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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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