These value-added, raster-based maps of forest fragmentation were produced using Coastal Change Analysis Program (C-CAP) regional land cover data. The analysis was performed using the Landscape Fragmentation Tool from the University of Connecticut’s Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR).
Intact forests are ecologically important but are becoming increasingly susceptible to development pressures and conversion. Forest fragmentation is the breaking up of large contiguous forest tracts into smaller, or less contiguous, areas. It is important to look at not only the net change in forest area, but also the spatial pattern of the observed changes. In these data, forest fragmentation is classified into four categories: patch, edge, perforated, and core. These categories have been identified as indicators of forest ecosystem quality and can be used to assess the amount of fragmentation present in a landscape and potential habitat impacts.
Data Specifications
- Area of Coverage: Coastal intertidal areas, wetlands, and adjacent uplands of the contiguous U.S.
- Dates Available: 1996, 2001, and 2006
- Format: IMG, GeoTIFF
- Resolution/Scale: 30 meter pixels (1:100,000)
- Minimal Mapping Unit: 30 meter pixels (1/4 acres)
- Accuracy: Developed to meet an 85 percent overall target accuracy specification but can vary by geography and date.
Details
- Produced through documented, repeatable procedures using standard data sources and standard quality-control review procedures
- Includes four categories of forest fragmentation
- Based on research done by Vogt et al (2007)
Notes and Limitations: C-CAP data sets are not jurisdictional or intended for use in litigation. While efforts have been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of current technology, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) cannot assume liability for any damages or misrepresentations caused by inaccuracies in the data, or as a result of the data used in a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.
The intended use is for identifying regional landscape patterns and major functional niches (habitat), and for environmental impact assessment, urban planning, and zoning applications. C-CAP data will not identify individual species. This is a national and regional data set that should be used only as a screening tool when used for very local or site-specific management decisions. Small features and changes should be verified with a higher-resolution data source.
Support
Frequent Questions about Forest Fragmentation and How the Data Are Mapped
Provides an overview of forest fragmentation and identifies the classes of fragmentation that are mapped in the Land Cover Atlas
A National Assessment of Green Infrastructure and Change for the Conterminous United States Using Morphological Image Processing
Discusses the use of spatial pattern analysis as a way to map green infrastructure and incorporate land change information