NCCN Forest Vegetation Monitoring Data Package, 2005-2018

This data package contains North Coast and Cascades Network (NCCN) Inventory and Monitoring Program forest vegetation tabular data collected during 2005-2018 in Mount Rainier National Park (MORA), North Cascades National Park (NOCA), Olympic National Park (OLYM), and Lewis and Clark National Historical Park (LEWI). The protocol, publications, and all other associated links can be found in the project reference at: https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2182054. The diverse environmental conditions of the Pacific Northwest support various forest types, from coastal rainforests to subalpine fir forests, often containing mature forests that have not experienced recent stand-replacing disturbances. The North Coast and Cascades Network (NCCN) encompasses eight National Park Service units in the Pacific Northwest, with five parks featuring significant forest areas: Lewis and Clark National Historical Park (LEWI), Mount Rainier National Park (MORA), North Cascades National Park Service Complex (NOCA), Olympic National Park (OLYM), and San Juan Island National Historical Park (SAJH). Mature forests are integral to the character of these parks, and represent essential carbon stores and carbon sequestration potential. As such, forest vegetation has been identified as a key park ecosystem component in the development of NCCN's monitoring protocols. The primary objectives of the NCCN's forest monitoring program include tracking trends in tree recruitment, growth, mortality, and overall forest structure and composition, all as measures of forest health and integrity. Monitoring occurred in permanent one-hectare plots designed to align with the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program methodologies, incorporating a hierarchy of subplots for efficient data collection. These plots were designed to represent various forest types across the three large parks, focusing on warm-wet, cold-dry, and mid-elevation environments. Additionally, forests in the smaller parks were monitored with broader definitions of forest types. Specific parameters that were monitored include tree dimensions and health indicators, snag density and size, and environmental factors such as soil properties and landscape position. Complete measurements occurred every five years, while previously tagged trees were monitored annually for mortality to be able to detect short-term changes in tree condition. This comprehensive monitoring approach provides insights into the ecological dynamics of forest ecosystems, aiming to minimize the effects of succession while recognizing the significance of changing disturbance patterns (which have been monitored using remotely sensed imagery following a separate protocol, see https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2097545). This program aimed to detect subtle ecological changes, offering critical data for effective management of Pacific Northwest ecosystems amid ongoing environmental challenges.

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