Nationally consistent approach to forest inventory across the United States
The passage of the 1998 Farm Bill led to the development of a nationally consistent approach to forest inventory across the United States. This approach included a new National sample design, a National plot design, annual systematic measurement of a proportion of permanent plots in each State, data summaries taken within 6 to 12 months after the completion of the annual data collection, and State inventory reports every 5 years. In addition to these changes, measures relating to forest ecosystem function, condition, and health were added to Forest Inventory and Analysis Program reports. Seven 5-year reports were published describing the forest conditions in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, eastern Texas, and Virginia. These documents (and the data that support these reports) are used by the State forestry agencies to understand the issues that are impacting the condition of the forests in their States.