National Forest Health Monitoring Program: Monitoring Urban Forests in Indiana: Pilot Study 2002. Part 1: Analysis of Field Methods and Data Collection

摘要

The implementation of the Forest Health Monitoring (FHM) Program by the USDA Forest Service has proven to be an effective way to assess and detect potential health issues within traditional forested areas. Urban forests are a key component of environmental health whose contributions are becoming increasingly vital as urban sprawl escalates and other factors impinge on urban forest health. There is minimal information available, however, to address issues regarding this valuable natural resource. Data collected from urban sampling plots could identify trends detrimental to the health of urban forest ecosystems. Indiana conducted a pilot test of urban forest health monitoring to refine sampling techniques and data collection procedures, determine the validity of data collected, and address complications encountered when using the FHM sample framework in urban environments.