Southern Research Station

Title: The reporting revoluation—the southern endeavor

Author: Brown, Mark

Date: 2009

Source: In: McRoberts, Ronald E.; Reams, Gregory A.; Van Deusen, Paul C.; McWilliams, William H. Proceedings of the eighth annual forest inventory and analysis symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-79. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington Office. 47-51.

Description: The need for expeditious portrayal of statewide inventory findings is paramount. Demand is intensifying. Yet, to date, relaying data results and analysis through traditional publications has been extremely time consuming. To address this issue, southern forest inventory and analysis (FIA) reporting is in transition. This article discusses the evolution of authorship, reporting formats, and incorporating nontraditional topics and presents examples of new instruments, such as "Factsheets" and "Congressional Corner" Web sites, and the advantages to address timely ouptut. This article summarizes ventures into wildland-urban interface analysis, National Woodland Owner Survey categorization, invasive/exotic species identification, National Forest System reporting, and nontimber-product use arenas beyond regular reporting. Finally, differences in key issues and other considerations identified that impede standardized format goals are discussed. Beyond the hurdle of transitioning from periodic to annual reporting, the future appears brighter; however, currently mandated timeframes and unresolved format consensus are leading to more succinct methods of output under present organizational staffing.

Keywords: Factsheets, reporting, FIA, authorship

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Citation

Brown, Mark  2009.  The reporting revoluation—the southern endeavor.   In: McRoberts, Ronald E.; Reams, Gregory A.; Van Deusen, Paul C.; McWilliams, William H. Proceedings of the eighth annual forest inventory and analysis symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-79. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington Office. 47-51..