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Landscape pattern and context of forest and grassland in Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico

Informally Refereed

Abstract

As development introduces competing land uses into forest and grassland landscapes, the public concerns for landscape patterns are expressed through headline issues such as urban sprawl and forest fragmentation. The task for resource managers is to maintain an appropriate balance of biodiversity, water quality, recreation experience, and other amenities in forest and grassland ecosystems. A prerequisite for informed actions at local, regional, and national scales is reliable information about landscape patterns at those scales. National assessments document the status and trends of landscape patterns in a consistent fashion nationwide, making it possible to identify national strategies to achieve particular objectives. To the extent that nationally available input data are able to also capture important local details, the same information can be used for local planning as well.

Parent Publication

Citation

Riitters, Kurt H. 2012. Landscape pattern and context of forest and grassland in Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. In: Potter, Kevin M.; Conkling, Barbara L., eds. 2012. Forest health monitoring: 2009 national technical report. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-167. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 19-35.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/43388