Land Cover Monitoring
Importance / IssuesLandscape spatial structure resulting from natural processes, and its variation through time, underlies the diversity and integrity of ecosystems. The composition (types and amounts of different land cover), configuration (spatial arrangement of land cover types), and connectivity determine habitat availability, the movements of organisms, and energy and material flows on a landscape. Substantive changes in landscape structure occur in response to natural and anthropogenic processes. The latter are of particular concern and relevance for vital signs monitoring. For example, the area on the eastside of Whiskeytown is experiencing rapid suburban and rural development. Less severe, but potentially significant development pressure also affects some areas adjacent to Redwood. In addition, Redwood, Crater Lake, Lassen, Oregon Caves, and Whiskeytown all adjoin lands managed for timber production. Existing imagery shows intensive forest cutting adjacent to Crater Lake’s southeastern border that has greatly altered landscape patterns and habitat connectivity. Following fire in 2004, burned forest habitat near Whiskeytown was clearcut logged and further denuded by subsequent erosional processes. In both cases, habitat near the parks was fragmented and degraded in a manner that could affect park wildlife, visual resources, etc. Monitoring current and future influence of global scale changes like climate and its effects on natural disturbances in landscapes are crucial to understanding changes in ecosystem structure, function, and composition, which are all considered integral to monitoring vitality of the KLMN park ecosystems. Also, discerning between natural and anthropogenic forcing of change is critical to effective mitigation action. Management actions seldom can influence natural processes, but they can be effective in mitigating human-induced changes. ParksCrater Lake National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lava Beds National Monument, Oregon Caves National Monument, Redwood National and State Parks, and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. Protocol Development & StatusThrough a cooperative agreement, protocol development is being done by the GIS specialist (Lorin Groshong) and vegetation ecologist Dennis Odion from Southern Oregon University.
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 Preliminary Monitoring Objectives
Potential MeasuresPatch Size, Connectivity, Fragmentation, and Land Cover Classification Change. Contact InformationNetwork Contact Sean Mohren
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