Overview

LANDFIRE is a collaboration between the USDA Forest Service, the Department of the Interior, and The Nature Conservancy to produce seamless national mapping products that inform conservation and land management. It comprises a collection of data, ecological models and tools representing vegetation, fire and fuel characteristics for the United States and insular islands. Spatial data is delivered as 30m and includes reference ecosystems (called Biophysical Setting, BpS), Existing Vegetation Height (EVH), Cover (EVC) and Type (EVT), current succession classes (s-classes), Vegetation Departure (represents difference between current and reference conditions), current fuel and fire behavior models, and historic fire regime data. The Ecological Models represent how the BpS’s would have functioned and appeared across large landscapes under natural disturbance regimes. The models run in ST-Sim, and are highly customizable, easily adapted to represent current and potential future management, climate change and vegetation dynamics.  Additionally there are several tools available that aid in the use and adaptation of LANDFIRE data including:

• LANDFIRE Data Access Tool, which aids downloading of LANDFIRE data into Arc GIS;
• Area Change Tool, which facilitates LANDFIRE data editing; and
• Mulit-Raster Classification Tool, which can be used to synthesize multiple ArcGRID into a single classified output Arc GRID.

LANDFIRE was initiated based on U.S. federal agencies’ needs for seamless mapped data that support prioritization of hazardous fuel reduction and ecological conservation activities and also to support strategic resource management initiatives such as the Healthy Forests Restoration Act, Community Wildfire Protection Plans, the National Fire Plan, fire management planning, stewardship of public and private lands, and natural resource management.

LANDFIRE products are designed to be used at a landscape‐scale, across boundaries, in so as to support strategic planning regarding land management activities. LANDFIRE data products also facilitate national‐ and regional‐level planning activities, and reporting of wildland fire and natural resource management actions. 

LANDFIRE National products are delivered at a 30‐meter pixel resolution, and are most effectively used at landscape scale. Thus, applying LANDFIRE data at an individual pixel level or in small groups of pixels is not recommended. Landscape‐scale analysis includes

• nationwide (all states) strategic planning,
• regional (single large states or groups of smaller states) strategic planning, and
• strategic/tactical planning for large sub‐regional landscapes.

Using LANDFIRE products to support analysis in smaller areas may result in outcomes that vary in quality by product, location, and specific use.  Therefore, LANDFIRE data application is more likely to be helpful when users are familiar with LANDFIRE metadata and local area landscape characteristics.

LANDFIRE products are not intended to replace local‐scale data products. However, LANDFIRE data products can serve as a back‐up reference data by providing gapless cross‐boundary products that span the U.S.

For tutorials, resources, and examples of how LANDFIRE is being used in the field, visit the Conservation Gateway. The LANDFIRE YouTube channel also offers tutorials, case studies, and workshop presentation videos.

 

Websites:

• LANDFIRE Program home for data and program information
• Conservation Gateway for learning, example applications, tutorials
• NIFTT for tools

Audience

Land managers, natural resource manangers, researchers, scientists, conservationists, local authorities, policy makers