Working Groups
The subject matter working groups are to subdivide the forest analysis of the statewide forest assessment required within the 2008 Farm Bill. Each group will use GIS (Geographic Information System) overlays to track trends, risks and threats to the forest resource in an effort to delineate priority rural and urban forest landscapes within a nine month timeframe (draft GIS layers and report are due on 8/31/2009 with completed assignment due by 10/31/2009).
The groups will be comprised of interested partners, stakeholders and agency personnel with expertise and commitment to seeing the process through to completion. Group reports and output will comprise the basis of the Statewide Forest Assessment for North Carolina. They will be expected to analyze the forest resource trends and conditions within their sphere of study and assign priority rural and urban landscape areas that will form the basis of program efforts in the coming five year cycle. The hope of each group is to combine the collective wisdom of members to identify priority areas where programs and future efforts can be focused. In that quest, group members are encouraged to build upon existing analyses, strategic plans and the like, to arrive at consensus on where collective resource agencies and non-profits can focus future efforts for maximum protection and supply of public benefits from working lands.
Groups will access and weight GIS layers germane to their subject matter and construct GIS layers that illustrate their collective opinion on where priority focal areas should be within North Carolina. A report of the process, final GIS layers and outcomes will be delivered by the group in print and presentation format to the Assessment Coordinators by 10/31/2009.
The following six topic areas have been established for analysis within the NC Statewide Forest Assessment: Socio-economic Threats to Working Forests; Ecosystem Services; Forest Sustainability; Threats to Forest Health; Protecting Forests and Communities from Wildfire Risk; and Maintaining Viable Urban Forests.
Successful groups begin with strong leadership and a group leader or co- leaders will be selected from the group membership. The leader(s) may logically be a NC Division of Forest Resources employee but needn't be if a partner or stakeholder agrees to accept the assignment and can manage the time commitment. In the case of a partner leader, a NC DFR liaison or co-leader will be named to assist each group in the process and to be sure that needed GIS support and resources are available to complete the group tasks. Each group will also require a GIS resource person to assist in the creation, compilation and facilitation of maps, weighting and identification of priority forests for the specific subject matter group. The GIS Resource person will work with the leader and group to ensure that needed maps are in place for meeting discussion, posted on the Forest Assessment Website, and available for drafts of the statewide assessment document. The GIS resource person may likely come from the agency or non-profit responsible when conservation or other action plan comprise a significant portion of the group's analysis.
The Assessment coordinators will prepare an outline and document format for use by subject matter groups for the final assessment document. NCDFR GIS Lead, Andrew Bailey, (919) 857-4812 will likely set the format requirements for GIS Overlays so that compatibility and scale are consistent. The format will likely be set organically as groups reach various milestones and encounter problems that a common format can overcome.