There is copious documentation on the USFS's definitions regarding LULC,
including crosswalks to the various international definitions intended to
support global statistics. The USFS's own definition of forest is fairly
low bar (10%) and they manage not just for traditional forest production,
but to 'best possible public use' (recreations, conservation, agriculture,
etc.). Some entire USFS are entirely grasslands and other would be regarded
as completely urban. Ditto with Europe.
Definitions of land categories by agency
Forest

*USFS*: The USFS defines forest as land at least 120 feet wide and 1 acre
in size with at least 10 percent cover (or equivalent stocking) by live
trees of any size, including land that formerly had such tree cover and
that will be naturally or artificially regenerated. Forestland includes
transition zones, such as areas between forest and nonforest lands that
have at least 10 percent cover (or equivalent stocking) with live trees and
forest areas adjacent to urban and built-up lands. Roadside, streamside,
and shelterbelt strips of trees must have a crown width of at least 120
feet and continuous length of at least 363 feet to qualify as forest land.
Unimproved roads and trails, streams, and clearings in forest areas are
classified as forest if they are less than 120 feet wide or an acre in
size. Tree-covered areas in agricultural production settings, such as fruit
orchards, or tree-covered areas in urban settings, such as city parks, are
not considered forest land.

*BLM*: BLM defines forest as lands where the potential natural community
contains 10 percent or more tree canopy cover. BLM defines woodlands as a
forest in which the trees are often small, characteristically short-boled
relative to their crown depth, and forming only an open canopy with the
intervening areas being occupied by lower vegetation, commonly grass.
_______________________________________________
Talk-us mailing list
Talk-us@openstreetmap.org
https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us

Reply via email to