National Capital Region Network 2009 Forest Vegetation Monitoring Report

This report presents a summary of the forest monitoring data collected in 2009 by the National Capital Region Network Inventory and Monitoring Program. The data collected is used for reporting on three vital signs: forest condition, exotic invasive plant species, and forest pests and diseases. Monitoring was conducted on 100 forest plots randomly located throughout the parks in the National Capital Region Network. This data is part of a long term forest monitoring effort that includes 400 forest plots. One hundred plots are monitored each year, and any particular plot will be monitored once every four years. As this is the first time that this particular set of one hundred plots has been monitored, only status data is available. Trend data will become available once repeat monitoring of the plots begins.