Modeled Distributions of Tree Species in New York

The goal of this project was to create maps of forest characteristics—in this case, distribution and relative importance of different tree species—from data collected by the U.S. Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (USFS FIA) program. The maps were generated from USFS FIA plot data from the last periodic inventory in each state (1993 for New York). They were created by stochastic simulation using Geostatistical Software Library (GSLIB), while modeling was done using a two-kilometer grid.

Each map provides an estimate of relative total tree stem cross-sectional area per acre of that species (percentage basal area per acre). Since any modeled estimate inevitably includes some level of uncertainty, each map is accompanied by a mapped estimate of uncertainty. The legends show graphs of the proportion of forestland belonging to both the percentage basal area/acre classes and the uncertainty classes.

These species maps also exist as posters that include 12 species for each state. Four posters currently exist: one each for New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and southern New England (Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island). Maps with the most recent FIA data are currently being developed. The goal is to generate spatial datasets for the 24-state area covered by the Northern Research Station (from the Dakotas to Maine).

Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.