Pacific 

Northwest 

Research 

Station

United States Department of Agriculture

Forest 

Inventory

Analysis

HOW DO YOU ACCESS FIA DATA?

Pacific Northwest FIA:

http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/rma/fia-topics

USDA Forest Service 

Pacific Northwest 

Research Station:

http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/

Questions should be directed to: 

Joseph Donnegan 

Deputy Program Manager

503-808-2053 

jdonnegan@fs.fed.us

and

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July 2016

Four FIA units are responsible for monitoring all 

forested lands in the United States. The Pacific 

Northwest (PNW-FIA) unit conducts inventories in 

the Pacific Coast states, Alaska, Hawaii, American 

Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the 

Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, 

Federated States of Micronesia, 

and the Republic of the 

Marshall Islands.

WHAT IS FIA?

Do you want to know how much forested land 

is in your state? Where can you find a map that 

shows the location of every forest in the Nation, 

and what tree species are present now or grew 

there in the past? Perhaps you are a wildlife 

biologist trying to assess habitat quality for 

migrating songbirds.

Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) can help. 

Often referred to as “The Nation’s Forest Census,” 

FIA is a longstanding U.S. Forest Service program 

that has continuously monitored forests since 

the 1930s. We are responsible for providing 

highly reliable and accurate information on 

forest resources throughout the United States, 

enabling us to evaluate whether current 

management practices are sustainable and will 

allow the next generation to enjoy America’s 

forests as we do today.
WHY IS FIA IMPORTANT?

Our work makes it possible to show how forests have 

changed and how they might change in the future. 

We collect, analyze, and 

share data that provide 

broad insights into past 

trends and the future 

potential of forest land. 

Our program focuses 

on long-term tracking 

of the status of land use 

and forest resources by 

sampling all forest types 

under all ownerships. 

The information FIA 

acquires can be used 

in many ways to inform 

management decisions.

FIA information can tell us: 

•	 How much forested land 

do we have? 

•	 Where is it located?

•	 What types of landowners 

own the forests?

•	 What species are present? 

Are we gaining or losing 

species?

•	 How are the forests 

changing?

•	 What might forests be like 

10 to 50 years from now?

•	 How do Pacific Northwest 

forests compare to those 

in other parts of the 

United States?

•	 What is the volume, carbon 

content, or biomass of live 

and dead trees? 

•	 At what rates are trees 

growing, dying, or being 

harvested?

WHERE DOES FIA GET ITS DATA?

Forest Inventory 

and Analysis collects 

data on a large set of 

permanent field plots. 

These plots are spaced 

at intervals of about 

3 miles on all public 

and private forests 

across the Nation. 

Data are collected 

using techniques and 

methods that are 

consistently applied 

across the country. 

This core data set can 

be enhanced at the 

regional, state, or local 

level to address specific 

interests and projects. 

PNW-FIA samples all land ownerships and collects data 

on live and dead trees, understory vegetation, down 

woody material, and damage caused by such factors as 

insects and disease.

WHY DOES FIA MATTER 

TO LANDOWNERS?

Estimates of forest conditions on nonindustrial private 

lands are often overlooked. Therefore, it is critical 

that we continue to include these lands in our forest 

inventories. Private landowner cooperation contributes 

greatly to the overall data set and relevance of this vital 

national program.

WHO USES FIA INFORMATION? 

The scientifically credible and robust information on 

forest resources that FIA collects is invaluable to a 

wide range of users: 

•	 State foresters and 

economists

•	 State and national 

forest managers and 

decisionmakers

•	 Resource consultants

•	 Land managers

•	 Carbon offset registries

•	 Native American tribes

•	 Environmental and nonprofit 

organizations

•	 Researchers and scientists 

•	 Elected officials 

•	 Students and teachers 

•	 Interested private citizens 

HOW IS FIA INFORMATION USED?

Data on supplies of forest products are a longstanding 

part of our inventory, but we also have data to assess 

the condition of wildlife habitats, plant diversity, fuels 

and potential fire hazard, mortality caused by insects 

or disease, biomass, carbon storage, forest health, and 

general characteristics of forest ecosystems.

FIA analysts regularly produce statewide forest 

resource reports that summarize timber availability, 

forest health, and biodiversity. Economists and 

consultants incorporate FIA data into utilization 

studies to produce timber product output reports. 

Researchers use FIA data to assess the consequences 

of alternative management strategies on regional 

carbon stores and wildlife habitat. Municipalities look 

at changes in FIA data in relation to land use and zoning 

regulations. Reports and research findings are 

available to the public; check our website 

for copies and contact information.

DOES FIA PROTECT 

LANDOWNER PRIVACY?

Yes, we do. Plot locations and landowner information 

are strictly confidential.

•	 FIA data collection and analysis requires confidential 

treatment under the National Food Security Act. This law 

prevents the disclosure of plot locations so that individual 

ownership cannot be determined. 

•	 Confidentiality of plot 

locations extends to 

landowners themselves to 

protect the integrity of the 

data we collect and avoid 

biasing our assessments.

•	 We obtain landowner 

permission prior to 

accessing land and 

collecting data.

•	 We never release the 

name or address of private 

landowners to the general 

public or Forest Service 

employees who have not 

demonstrated a direct 

need for the information 

or have not signed a nondisclosure agreement.

•	 We require any person or 

organization providing 

services or products to FIA 

to protect the information 

through a data security 

certification process.

•	 We allow reporting and 

sharing of data only in 

a manner that makes it 

impossible to identify 

individual landowners.