SAF Publishes Report from FIA User Group   

Commendations and Recommendations from the 2023 FIA National User Group Meeting

May 25, 2023 

SAF and the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) recently convened the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) National User Group for its 2023 meeting, continuing an annual tradition that has lasted over twenty years. The FIA program of the USDA Forest Service provides the critical service of monitoring and developing trend information on the status of America’s forest resources. This information is made available to managers, policy makers, investors, and the public through a system of annual resource inventories that covers both public and private forest lands across the United States.  

Held in Charlotte, North Carolina the week of April 11, we hosted 90 participants representing a diverse set of users and other stakeholders. The 2023 meeting agenda covered a broad range of topics important to the FIA user community. Some leading themes included: forest carbon estimation; program budget and congressional funding; new volume and biomass equations; privacy laws and data access; and the structure and function of state and private partnerships.  

SAF has published a summary report of the meeting, which includes brief presentation descriptions, links to presentation slides, as well as a final section outlining the key commendations and recommendations from the meeting. Authored by Rich Guldin of Guldin Forestry LLC, this final section identifies critical accomplishments and areas for improvement identified throughout the week’s sessions, painting a picture of the work being done by the FIA user community across the country.

We are grateful to the speakers and attendees for the important work they’re doing to shape and advance the sustainable monitoring and management of the nation’s forest resources. SAF and NCASI look forward to continuing their partnership in organizing and convening user group meetings focused on improving the FIA program.  

Access previous reports and other resources here. 

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