Key Forest Indicators

Key Forest Indicators

As noted at the beginning of the assessment report, indicators serve as tools to assess the current condition and the progress or trend in the intended directions of the actions. Although reported throughout the assessment, key forest indicators have not been individually highlighted. The following matrix lists key forest indicators, historical conditions, present conditions, and the projected trend in conditions. Trends are indicated as remaining relatively constant (=), showing some increase from past to present (+), or showing a decrease (-).

An indicator is defined as a measurement able to provide quantitative information and, when observed periodically, can demonstrate a trend. As a tool, indicators can show whether the resource is improving or declining. The department felt that this was an opportunity to incorporate indicators in assessing both the existing condition and trends evident in Vermont's forest resource. Where data is unavailable to project trends, an attempt was made to establish a baseline for future analysis or it was identified as needing further work.

Key Forest Indicator	Historical Condition			Present Condition			Trend (+/-/=)
Percent of forest land area and change over time	1948 1983	63% 77%	(3,729,700 ac) (4,544,400 ac)	1997	78%	(4,609,000 ac)	(+) (=)
Net annual growth and removals over time	1983	3.19:1		1997	2.25:1		()
Health and vigor of forests as indicated by changes to average crown condition	1986	78%		1996	89%		(+)
Health and vigor, sugar maple based on crown dieback	1991	81%		1996	89%		(+)
Percent of streams with acceptable water quality and biological indices	Previous data not comparable			1998	79%		(=)
Percent of lakes and streams affected by acidic atmospheric deposition	Previous data not comparable			1998 1998	1% 8%	river miles lake area	(=)
AMP compliance	1989	48 complaints (44 resolved, 4 required enforcement action)		1997	44 complaints (34 resolved, 6 required enforcement action)		(=)
Percent and number of acres under Federal, state,and municipal ownership	1983	9.5% (429,500 acres)		1997	17% (739,300 acres)		(+)
Percent and number of acres with conservation easements or restrictions	No historical data			175,600 acres			(+)
Percent and number of acres of nonindustrial private ownership	1983	81% (3,092,600 acres)		1997	78% (3,494,800 acres)		() (+)
Percent and number of acres in industrial ownership	1983	9% (409,600 acres)		1997	5% (226,800 acres)		()
Percent and number of Natural Heritage sites with conservation restrictions	No historical data			17%	421 sites		(+)
Percent and acres enrolled in Use Value Appraisal Program (UVA)	1983	2.4% (108,000 acres)		1998	23.6% (1,050,767 acres)		(+)
Percent and acres enrolled in forest stewardship program	1994 (129,301 acres)			1997	5% (228,540 acres)		(+)
Percent and number of landowners participating in Forest Stewardship Council	No historical data			31 landowners			(+)
Volume per year harvested (cumulative)	1983 1995	929,700 cords 1,258,400 cords		1997	1,177,184 cords		(+)
Industrial fuelwood	1983 1996	257,206 green tons 350,967 green tons		1997	244,585 green tons		()
Residential fuelwood	1983	500,000 cords		1996	300,000 cords		()
Pulpwood	1983	313,466 cords		1997	438,478 cords		(+)
Sawtimber processed hardwoods, softwoods	1983 1983	97,615 Mbf 105,634 Mbf		1997 1997	158,163 Mbf 138,560 Mbf		(+) (+)
Sawlog export	1983	42,356 Mbf (21% of sawlog harvest)		1997	76,055 Mbf (26% of sawlog harvest)		(+)
Sawlog import	1983	40,249 Mbf (20% of volume processed)		1997	79,298 Mbf (27% of volume processed)		(+)
Acres per year of private land posted	1977	119,112 acres		1997	255,400 acres		(+)
Attendance at state parks	1990	1,000,000		1997	800,000		()
Number of educators trained	No historical data			1997 (1,645PLT; 2,471Wild 2,884Arbor Day)
Number and percent of people enrolled in training programs	No historical data			1997	368 (153 PLP; 215 LEAP)		(+)

Forests, Parks & Recreation | Agency of Natural Resources | Contact Us

For more information, use this e-mail address
This site maintained by ConEd
Site design by Ghostwriters Communications