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1970s to 1999

The bulk of the results and discussion of southern forests in this chapter are based on analyses of FIA data collected since the 1970s. FIA data collected over the past three decades are compatible and consistent and allow for general comparisons and analyses of trends in forest area, volume, growth, mortality, and removals. Differences in sampling methods and changes in design, standards, and definitions are noted. Definitions of FIA data variables are included in the report glossary. A general description of the sampling designs and methods used by FIA to conduct the past three statewide inventories is provided at the end of this chapter.

Analyses were based on data for all 13 States aggregated into three "report" years—1982, 1989, 1999—using the past three surveys of each State:

state	State Report Year
	1982	1989	1999
AL	1972	1982	1990
AR	1978	1988	1995
FL	1980	1987	1995
GA	1982	1989	1997
KY	1975	1975	1988
LA	1974	1984	1991
MS	1977	1987	1994
NC	1974	1984	1990
OK	1976	1986	1993
SC	1978	1986	1993
TN	1980	1989	1999
TX	1975	1986	1992
VA	1977	1986	1992

The 1982 report year includes data for States inventoried between 1972 and 1982, including the 1975 survey of Kentucky. The 1989 report year, with the exception of Kentucky, includes State surveys conducted between 1982 and 1989. In order to include Kentucky and provide analyses for the entire South, data from the 1975 inventory were used to represent both the 1982 and 1989 report years. In a few cases where the 1975 FIA data for Kentucky were not available, estimates from the 2001 RPA report were used. The 1999 report year includes surveys conducted between 1990 and 1999, again with the exception of Kentucky. The most recent inventory of Kentucky, completed in 1988, was used to represent the 1999 report year.