Woodlands
This article is part of a larger document. View the larger document here.Abstract
Historically the primary interest area for national inventories was timber. Consequently, the national inventory framework and collection protocols were focused on productive timberlands (USDA Forest Service 2005). Over time, information such as estimations of carbon sequestration, wildfire fuel loads, and nontimber forest products and services (e.g., biofuels and wildlife habitat) has become topics of increasing interest. The FIA program—the national inventory used in the United States—broadened the focus of its surveys to include nontimberland forests, including woodlands, better aligning with these changing focus areas.