Operational Test of Panoramic Aerial Photography for Estimating Annual Mortality of Ponderosa Pine Caused by Mountain Pine Beetle

摘要

This report presents the results and conclusions of an operational test of the procedures used in a mortality survey designed to provide timely data to the Forest Pest Management staff of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. The Front Range of Colorado, an area of approximately 12 million acres, was the study area. The survey design is based on three-stage sampling with selection according to probability proportional to size. Information from each stage is combined to estimate the number of trees killed and the associated volume loss from mountain pine beetle infestation.