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.

The geodatabase represents the sampling design used to meet the project's purpose. The sampling design relies upon spatially balanced GRTS sampling. Geodatabase representing the sample design for the North Coast and Cascades Network (NCCN) forest vegetation monitoring project. The Forest Monitoring project objectives are to monitor trends in the processes of tree recruitment, growth, and mortality, and in forest structure and composition. The geodatabase represents the sampling design used to meet project objectives. The sampling design relied upon spatially balanced, Generalized Random Tessellation Stratified (GRTS) sampling for all parks. The GRTS sample design was created using stratified equal probability survey design methods (psurvey.design package for R). Strata were defined based on elevation bands. The sample design formed the basis for office and field evaluation of selected locations, and the subsequent establishment of long-term monitoring plots.

This dataset represents the forest vegetation monitoring from 2006-2024 collected by the National Capital Region Network (NCRN) Inventory and Monitoring Program. Data were collected from over 400 forest plots randomly scattered throughout National Parks in the NCR. Each of the plots was monitored a single time within a four-year return cycle. Data related to forest structure and plant community composition is reported for the region as a whole and each individual park. This data package includes information about: Trees, Shrubs, Herbaceous Vegetation, Coarse Woody Debris, Vines, and Conditions including Pests and Diseases.

This dataset represents the forest vegetation monitoring from 2006-2024 collected by the National Capital Region Network (NCRN) Inventory and Monitoring Program. Data were collected from over 400 forest plots randomly scattered throughout National Parks in the NCR. Each of the plots was monitored a single time within a four-year return cycle. Data related to forest structure and plant community composition is reported for the region as a whole and each individual park. This data package includes information about: Trees, Shrubs, Herbaceous Vegetation, Coarse Woody Debris, Vines, and Conditions including Pests and Diseases.

Vegetation communities serve as the foundation of habitat for many species, function as a carbon sink, produce oxygen, cycle nutrients and energy, improve water quality, and moderate flooding/erosion. Given the widespread anthropogenic influences in Southeast Coast Network parks and the importance of vegetation communities, quantifying trends in species diversity and forest regeneration is vital to understanding ecological processes and identifying stressors and their impacts. Evaluating trends in vegetation and environmental attributes provides measures for assessing the ecological integrity and sustainability of park’s terrestrial vegetation and identifies potential management activities on our park lands. The National Park Service Omnibus Management Act of 1998 and other reinforcing policies and regulations require park managers to establish baseline information and to provide information on the long-term trends in the condition of National Park System resources (Title II, Sec. 204). The data summarized herein is a tool to assist managers in fulfilling this mandate.

Vegetation communities serve as the foundation of habitat for many species, function as a carbon sink, produce oxygen, cycle nutrients and energy, improve water quality, and moderate flooding/erosion. Given the widespread anthropogenic influences in Southeast Coast Network parks and the importance of vegetation communities, quantifying trends in species diversity and forest regeneration is vital to understanding ecological processes and identifying stressors and their impacts. Evaluating trends in vegetation and environmental attributes provides measures for assessing the ecological integrity and sustainability of park’s terrestrial vegetation and identifies potential management activities on our park lands. The National Park Service Omnibus Management Act of 1998 and other reinforcing policies and regulations require park managers to establish baseline information and to provide information on the long-term trends in the condition of National Park System resources (Title II, Sec. 204). The data summarized herein is a tool to assist managers in fulfilling this mandate.

The Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) Division's Northeast Temperate Network (NETN) has identified forest vegetation, and several associated vital signs, as high priority for long-term monitoring. The NETN long-term forest monitoring protocol was adapted from methods developed by the U.S. Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis program and was developed in collaboration with other eastern forest I&M networks. The NETN forest monitoring protocol assesses the status and trends in structure, function, and composition of forested ecosystems, along with the impacts of stressors such as white-tailed deer, invasive exotic plants, exotic pests and pathogens, and effects of acid deposition on forest soils. A set of Standard Operating Procedures are shared with the Mid-Atlantic Network's forest vegetation monitoring protocol. The current protocol has been designed to sample 350 plots in forested areas of NETN parks. Plot locations are randomly chosen using a spatially balanced design (generalized random-tessellation stratified). Each plot consists of a 20 x 20 m square (15 x 15 m square in Acadia National Park) where all stems with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥10 cm are identified, measured, tagged, marked, mapped, and their condition assessed. Stems with a dbh ≥1 cm are identified and measured in each of three microplots. Number of tree seedlings by height class and percent cover of shrubs ≥30 cm tall are also recorded in each of three microplots. Percent cover of all vascular plant species is estimated by species in eight 1 m2 quadrats. Coarse woody debris is measured along three 15 m transects. Data collected by the NETN forest monitoring protocol are used to inform management decisions affecting forested systems in NETN parks. To view all protocol documents, please visit: https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2189099 This data package contains a cumulative record of all forest monitoring data collected at National Park units in the Northeast Temperate Network (NETN) through the most recent field season and is organized into twenty-six (26) datasets: AdditionalSpecies_NETN.csv contains data captured during a 15-minute search for species not observed during other protocol activities on the plot. CWD_NETN.csv contains data captured from Line intercept sampling of coarse woody debris (CWD) along three 15-m transects. EventObservers_NETN.csv contains a list of all observers for each sampling event. Events_NETN.csv contains a list of all sampling events. MicroplotSaplings_NETN.csv contains data for all saplings measured in microplots. MicroplotSaplingsCount_NETN.csv contains data for all saplings that required a count. MicroplotSeedlings_NETN.csv contains counts of tree seedlings by species and height category collected in microplots. MicroplotShrubs_NETN.csv contains data for all shrubs measured in microplots. Plots_NETN.csv contains data regarding forest sampling plots. QuadCharacter_NETN.csv contains data characterizing the substrate of 1-m2 quadrats using standard cover classes. QuadNotes_NETN.csv contains a list of annotations relating to the sampling of quadrats. QuadSpecies_NETN.csv contains data for groundstory vascular plant species collected in 1-m2 quadrats using standard cover classes. SoilHeader_NETN.csv contains event data for soil sampling. SoilLab_NETN.csv contains soil lab results for all soil samples collected. SoilSample_NETN.csv contains sample details for soil sampling. StandDisturbances_NETN.csv contains plot disturbance data for each sampling event. StandForestFloor_NETN.csv contains plot forest floor cover for each sampling event. StandInfoPhotos_NETN.csv contains various plot level metrics for each sampling event. StandPlantCoverStrata_NETN.csv contains plot level plant cover strata for each sampling event. StandSlopes_NETN.csv contains stand slope measurements for each sampling event. StandTreeHeights_NETN.csv contains tree height measurements for each sampling event. Taxa_NETN.csv contains

This data package contains North Coast and Cascades Network (NCCN) Inventory and Monitoring Program prairie vegetation monitoring tabular data collected during 2007-2017 at the American Camp Unit of San Juan Island National Historical Park (SAJH). The protocol, publications, and all other associated links can be found in the NCCN Monitoring Prairie Vegetation project reference at: https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2193720 San Juan Island National Historical Park protects some of the last remaining prairies in Washington state. Over 60% of the American Camp unit is dominated by grasslands that have persisted since the end of the Pleistocene. In 2007, the National Park Service initiated monitoring to document status and trends in cover and ecological condition of vegetation communities using repeatable, rapid assessment of physiognomic class and vegetation quality along line-intercept belt transects. Transect-based sampling was designed to address a hierarchy of monitoring questions linked to management objectives, including the maintenance of the vegetation structure (e.g., forest versus herbaceous) associated with the cultural landscape and the continued ecological integrity of plant communities. The ecological condition of prairies is threatened by persistent, introduced grasses and exotic shrubs. Monitoring objectives included: 1) detect change in the extent of physiognomic cover types, 2) detect change in the proportion of areas dominated by exotic plant species, 3) detect change in the quality of herbaceous cover types, and 4) detect changes in composition and diversity of herbaceous cover types. Monitoring was implemented at the American Camp unit of SAJH, since 90% of all prairies are located within this section of the park. Transects proved to be an economical and reliable method for monitoring long-term trends in landscape cover with transient crews, but detailed vegetation monitoring (i.e., species frequency and relative abundance) is needed to better assess prairie condition over time. Data within this package include point sampling locations, sampling effort and conditions, transect vegetation structure data, and phenological observations. The associated spatial transect lines and segments can be found at https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2305031.

The Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) Division's Mid-Atlantic Network (MIDN) and Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network (NCBN) have identified forest vegetation, and several associated vital signs, as high priority for long-term monitoring. The MIDN and NCBN long-term forest monitoring protocol was adapted from methods developed by the U.S. Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis program and was developed in collaboration with other eastern forest I&M networks. The forest monitoring protocol assesses the status and trends in structure, function, and composition of forested ecosystems, along with the impacts of stressors such as white-tailed deer, invasive exotic plants, exotic pests and pathogens, and effects of acid deposition on forest soils. A set of Standard Operating Procedures are shared with the Northeast Temperate Network's forest vegetation monitoring protocol. The current protocol has been designed to sample 392 plots in forested areas of MIDN and NCBN parks. Plot locations are randomly chosen from a 250-m grid developed for both networks using a spatially balanced design (generalized random-tessellation stratified). Each plot consists of a 20 x 20 m square where all stems with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥10 cm are identified, measured, tagged, marked, mapped, and their condition assessed. Stems with a dbh ≥1 cm are identified and measured in each of three microplots. Percent cover of shrubs ≥30 cm tall are also recorded in each of three microplots. Percent cover of all vascular plant species is estimated by species in eight 1 m2 quadrats. Number of tree seedlings by height class are also counted and assessed for presence or absence of deer browse in the 1 m2 quadrats. Coarse woody debris is measured along three 15 m transects. Data collected are used to inform management decisions affecting forested systems in MIDN and NCBN parks. To view all protocol documents, please visit: https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2189099 This data package contains a cumulative record of all forest monitoring data collected at National Park units in the Mid-Atlantic Network (MIDN) and Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network (NCBN) through the most recent field season and is organized into twenty-six (25) datasets: AdditionalSpecies_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains data captured during a 15-minute search for species not observed during other protocol activities on the plot. CWD_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains data captured from Line intercept sampling of coarse woody debris (CWD) along three 15-m transects. EventObservers_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains a list of all observers for each sampling event. Events_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains a list of all sampling events. MicroplotSaplings_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains data for all saplings measured in microplots. MicroplotShrubs_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains data for all shrubs measured in microplots. Plots_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains data regarding forest sampling plots. QuadCharacter_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains data characterizing the substrate of 1-m2 quadrats using standard cover classes. QuadNotes_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains a list of annotations relating to the sampling of quadrats. QuadSeedlings_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains counts of tree seedlings by species and height category collected in quadrats. QuadSpecies_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains data for groundstory vascular plant species collected in 1-m2 quadrats using standard cover classes. SoilHeader_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains event data for soil sampling. SoilLab_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains soil lab results for all soil samples collected. SoilSample_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains sample details for soil sampling. StandDisturbances_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains plot disturbance data for each sampling event. StandForestFloor_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains plot forest floor cover for each sampling event. StandInfoPhotos_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains various plot level metrics for each sampling event. StandPlantCoverStrata_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains plot level plant cover strata for each sampling event. StandSlopes_MIDN_NCBN.csv

The Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) Division's Mid-Atlantic Network (MIDN) and Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network (NCBN) have identified forest vegetation, and several associated vital signs, as high priority for long-term monitoring. The MIDN and NCBN long-term forest monitoring protocol was adapted from methods developed by the U.S. Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis program and was developed in collaboration with other eastern forest I&M networks. The forest monitoring protocol assesses the status and trends in structure, function, and composition of forested ecosystems, along with the impacts of stressors such as white-tailed deer, invasive exotic plants, exotic pests and pathogens, and effects of acid deposition on forest soils. A set of Standard Operating Procedures are shared with the Northeast Temperate Network's forest vegetation monitoring protocol. The current protocol has been designed to sample 392 plots in forested areas of MIDN and NCBN parks. Plot locations are randomly chosen from a 250-m grid developed for both networks using a spatially balanced design (generalized random-tessellation stratified). Each plot consists of a 20 x 20 m square where all stems with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥10 cm are identified, measured, tagged, marked, mapped, and their condition assessed. Stems with a dbh ≥1 cm are identified and measured in each of three microplots. Percent cover of shrubs ≥30 cm tall are also recorded in each of three microplots. Percent cover of all vascular plant species is estimated by species in eight 1 m2 quadrats. Number of tree seedlings by height class are also counted and assessed for presence or absence of deer browse in the 1 m2 quadrats. Coarse woody debris is measured along three 15 m transects. Data collected are used to inform management decisions affecting forested systems in MIDN and NCBN parks. To view all protocol documents, please visit: https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2189099 This data package contains a cumulative record of all forest monitoring data collected at National Park units in the Mid-Atlantic Network (MIDN) and Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network (NCBN) through the most recent field season and is organized into twenty-six (25) datasets: AdditionalSpecies_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains data captured during a 15-minute search for species not observed during other protocol activities on the plot. CWD_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains data captured from Line intercept sampling of coarse woody debris (CWD) along three 15-m transects. EventObservers_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains a list of all observers for each sampling event. Events_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains a list of all sampling events. MicroplotSaplings_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains data for all saplings measured in microplots. MicroplotShrubs_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains data for all shrubs measured in microplots. Plots_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains data regarding forest sampling plots. QuadCharacter_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains data characterizing the substrate of 1-m2 quadrats using standard cover classes. QuadNotes_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains a list of annotations relating to the sampling of quadrats. QuadSeedlings_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains counts of tree seedlings by species and height category collected in quadrats. QuadSpecies_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains data for groundstory vascular plant species collected in 1-m2 quadrats using standard cover classes. SoilHeader_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains event data for soil sampling. SoilLab_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains soil lab results for all soil samples collected. SoilSample_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains sample details for soil sampling. StandDisturbances_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains plot disturbance data for each sampling event. StandForestFloor_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains plot forest floor cover for each sampling event. StandInfoPhotos_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains various plot level metrics for each sampling event. StandPlantCoverStrata_MIDN_NCBN.csv contains plot level plant cover strata for each sampling event. StandSlopes_MIDN_NCBN.csv