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Summary
This raster layer is the result of a mapping analysis by
GFW Canada to assess the limitations to commercial forestry
within Canada's Commercial Forest Zone. GFW Canada's
analysis is based on the Canada Land Inventory (CLI), a
detailed assessment of the ability of land to support
commercial forestry based on soils, climate, landform, and
vegetation. The ... CLI was developed by the federal government
to provide a basis for land use planning and covers
approximately 25% of Canada's landbase. The CLI uses 7 land
classes based on the physical limitations of the land to
grow trees. The productivity associated with each class is
based on the mean annual increment of the native tree
species best adapted to the site at or near rotation age.

Accessed / Unaccessed Forests
A. LABEL / CATEGORY DEFINITIONS
1. ACCESSED LANDS: Lands that are within one kilometer of a
known access corridor. Access corridors include roads,
trails, railways, pipelines (oil/gas), hydroelectric and
telephone transmission lines, seismic lines, and known
motorized backcountry routes (e.g. ski-doo trails).
2. LAND COVER OF CANADA (Unaccessed): Lands that are
further than one kilometer from a known access corridor.
Subclasses are defined according to the Canadian Center for
Remote Sensing 1995 Land Cover of Canada (LC95) classes as
follows:
- Southern Boreal and Other Forests: All forest classes,
excluding "Northern Forest" (boreal) medium and low-density
evergreen needleleaf forest, plus "Burns" classes. (LC95
classes 1-2,4,6-12)
- Northern Boreal Forest: "Northern Forest" (boreal) medium
and low-density evergreen needleleaf forest classes. (LC95
classes 3,5)
- Open Land (Wetland/Shrubland): All "Open Land" (tree
crown density of less than 10%) classes. (LC95 classes
13,14,15)
- Grassland: LC95 class 16.
- Barren Land: All "Barren Land" classes. (LC95 classes
17-22)
- Snow/Ice: LC95 class 31.
- Freshwater: LC95 class 30.
B. METHODOLOGY / TECHNICAL NOTES
GENERAL METHODOLOGY
1. Access corridors include linear vector or raster data
for transportation (roads, trails, railways, abandoned
railways), utilities (oil/gas, hydro, telephone), and
exploration (seismic lines) themes.
2. Access data (transportation and utility corridors) was
obtained by province/territory from federal, provincial and
territorial governments at the highest obtainable quality
(resolution, currency and completeness) within the SOF
project budget. These factors (content, quality and cost)
vary considerably between provincial/federal agencies
themselves, such that input datasets differ in their scale,
currency, coverage, features and feature attributes. (See
Data Sources for more details).
3. The analysis resolution was set to 1 km2 to match the
CCRS 1995 Land Cover of Canada (LC95) data that is used as
a base layer for land and forest cover in Canada. This
resolution also corresponds to the lowest resolution found
in the input access datasets.
4. Lambert Conformal Conic, NAD27, was used as the standard
SOF projection for analysis and presentation. This was
found to be the most common data projection for federal
agency national datasets, although no official standard
exists.
5. Due to the variability of data features and feature
attributes across Canada (e.g. seismic line data obtained
only for Alberta and Northeast BC; winter roads found only
in certain datasets, etc.), no attempt was made to
differentiate between the different types of access
corridors. The impact extent for all linear corridors was
modeled as 1 km in width.
6. Input vector data was rasterized using a 1 km resolution
grid relative to the origin of the LC95 data. Grid output
cells (1 km2) were classified as accessed if any input
corridor feature was present within a cell.
7. Input raster data was first buffered at its original
resolution to a width of 1 km before resampling (nearest
neighbor) to 1km resolution. This resulted in minimal loss
of combined access features (foreground cells) by area
during the resample procedure. This method was verified
against the vector rasterization process using Yukon vector
data (250m resolution). The two methods differed in total
access area by less than 0.1%.
8. A resulting access corridor grid was produced for each
province/territory. Provincial data was trimmed to exclude
any data that was not under its respective jurisdiction,
and then merged to produce a national access corridor grid.
9. The national access corridor grid was merged with the
LC95 land cover data. Any LC95 cell (excluding water) that
corresponded to an access grid cell was reclassed as
accessed. In addition, all LC95 Developed classes
(cropland, cropland/woodland, woodland/cropland,
cropland/other, and urban classes - 23 to 29) were
reclassed as accessed. This assumes that these classes
would be accessible by nature of being developed in whole
or in part.
10. Finally, the resulting accessed/unaccessed land cover
grid was merged with a national 1:1,000,000 populated
places dataset to ensure that small northern communities
that are fly-in only were considered within the analysis.
DISCUSSION present analysis likely underestimates accessed
land (define as within 1 km of an access corridor) in
Canada due to:
- relatively old provincial inventories for transportation
themes (estimated average age of data of 10 - 20 years);
- missing data (e.g. seismic line data for the Northwest
Territories and Saskatchewan);
- coarse scale of certain input datasets
(e.g. Newfoundland
1:1,000,000 scale).
Certain provinces were analyzed using different methods
than described above due to the nature of available data.
This includes:
- British Columbia (BC): Due to the exorbitant cost of
provincial access data (approx. $4,000,000 for 1:20,000
TRIM roads data), and the availability of an existing 1989
BC Ministry of Forests Recreation Opportunity Spectrum
(ROS) roadless area analysis, accessed land was determined
using ROS roaded class. The ROS roaded class corresponds to
lands within 1 kilometer of transportation features.
- Quebec (QC): Recent high-resolution digital data was
either not available, or cost-prohibitive, for use in this
analysis. However, 1994 satellite imagery (125m resolution)
was obtained and used as a proxy indicator for access in
Quebec. The image data (.tiff format) was imported into
ERDAS IMAGINE software as a RGB file. 50 initial classes
were reduced to water, forest, burns, and non-forest areas
using an unsupervised classification. Non-forest areas
include urban, rural, recently cut, and regenerating forest
land. Non-forest land within tenured forest management
areas were reclassified as accessed land. This assumes that
such lands, including harvested forests, are within 1 km of
an access corridor used to develop or log these areas.
- Alberta (AB) and Northeast BC: These areas were analyzed
for linear disturbance density using 1:20,000 to 1:50,000
input data (See Alberta case study). Lands with densities
greater than zero were reclassified as accessed. As the
original road density analysis was conducted using an
approximate buffer of 600 meters, the AB/NEBC access data
includes some lands that are up to 1.2 km from an access
corridor. Therefore, the extent of accessed lands is
slightly overestimated in AB and NEBC. The high proportion
of accessed lands in AB and NEBC is related to the
extremely high density of oil and gas seismic lines within
these areas. (See Alberta case study).
The sharp distinction between accessed land in Alberta and
certain unaccessed land along the AB/Saskatchewan (SK) and
AB/NEBC/North West Territories (NWT) borders reflects the
lack of seismic line data for both SK and NWT.
Accessed lands within Newfoundland are likely greatly
underestimated due to limited input data (1:1,000,000
scale).
C. SOURCE DATA
THEME 1: ACCESSED LANDS
Unless otherwise stated, data processing followed the
general methodology described above.
Newfoundland VMAP0_R4 (Digital Chart of the World)
transportation and utility vector data
PROVIDER: Geogratis,
Geomatics Canada
Canadian Center for Remote Sensing, NRCAN
Average 1990.
SCALE: 1:1,000,000.
PROCESSING: See general methodology
Nova Scotia
DATA: 1:50,000 roads, railways and utilities database.
PROVIDER: Scotia Geomatics Center
to early 90s. Highways more recently updated than secondary
roads.
SCALE: 1:50,000
PROCESSING: See general methodology
New Brunswick
DATA: Digital Topographic Database of New Brunswick.
PROVIDER: New Brunswick
SCALE: 1:10,000
PROCESSING: See general methodology
Quebec "Le Quebec forestier meridional" (LANDSAT satellite
image composite of Quebec commercial forest zone).
PROVIDER: Direction de la gestion des stocks forestiers
Ministere des Ressources naturelles du Quebec
SCALE: 125 meter resolution
PROCESSING: See Discussion notes.
- Non-forest lands may be overestimated in northern
portions of the Quebec commercial forest zone due to higher
level of bog land cover during classification.
NAME: VMAP0_R4 (Digital Chart of the World) transportation
and utility vector data
PROVIDER: See
above.
Ontario Raster summary grid file of access corridors.
Original source data includes:
- Ontario Base Map 1:20,000 roads, railway, and
transmission line data;
- Ontario logging roads from Landsat imagery;
- Ontario roads from the Digital Topographic Database
1:600,000 scale;
- Ontario Provincial Snowmobile Trails.
PROVIDER: Ministry of Natural Resources.
SOURCE DATE: Variable - estimated between mid-80s to
mid-90s.
SCALE: 200m resolution raster grid
PROCESSING: Projected to SOF LCC
- 200m data buffered to 1km access corridor.
- Resampled to 1km resolution.
- Reclassed to single access class.
Manitoba Manitoba Road Network (from Forest Resources
Inventory data) roads data.
PROVIDER: Natural Resources, Forestry Branch
SOURCE DATE: Quoted average age "10-20 years old".
SCALE: 1:20,000
PROCESSING: See general methodology
Notes: Limited metadata provided, therefore there was no
ability to verify data content.
- The Manitoba road network consists of the provincial
trunk highways and municipalities roads. This network does
not include all roads constructed by the forestry and
mining sectors or all the winter roads used to access some
of the northern communities.
NAME: VMAP0_R4 (Digital Chart of the World) railway and
utility vector data
Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Road Network road and railway
data (forested region only)
PROVIDER: Saskatchewan Property Management Corporation
SCALE: 1:20,000
PROCESSING: See general methodology
Notes: No oil/gas seismic data.
NAME: VMAP0_R4 (Digital Chart of the World) transportation
and utility vector data (grassland region)
See above.
Alberta Alberta Case Study (forested region only)
NAME: VMAP0_R4 (Digital Chart of the World) transportation
and utility vector data (Alberta grassland region)
DATA: Recreation Opportunity Spectrum
PROVIDER: data from BC Ministry of Forests, Recreation
Branch.
ARC/INFO data obtained from Earthlife Canada Foundation
Vancouver, BC
CREATION DATE: 1989
SCALE: 1:2,000,000
PROCESSING: Roaded land reselected from ROS data.
Rasterized at 1km2, reclassed, and projected to SOF LCC.
Notes: Original data rubber-sheeted to BC coastline, with
resulting inaccuracies.
Northeast BC was analyzed using Alberta methodology. See
Alberta case study.
DATA: 1:1m VMAP transportation (Northwest BC only) and
utility data.
Yukon Territory
DATA: 1:250,000 topographic data (includes roads, trails,
seismic lines and utility lines).
PROVIDER: Government, Department of Renewable Resources
SOURCE DATE: Variable. Original data 1970-1990. Partially
updated 1995.
SCALE: 1:250,000
PROCESSING: See general methodology
Notes: Data extends into portions of Northwest Territories.
Northwest Territories
DATA: VMAP0_R4 (Digital Chart of the World) transportation
and utility vector data
Notes: Missing oil/gas data.
- VMAP0_R4 data confirmed with Ministry of Tourism road
map.
Nunavut VMAP0_R4 (Digital Chart of the World)
transportation and utility vector data
National Data
DATA: VMAP0_R4 (Digital Chart of the World) populated
places point data.
THEME 2: LAND COVER OF CANADA (Unaccessed)
DATA: Land Cover of Canada Version 1.1 raster data
PROVIDER: Center for Remote Sensing (CCRS), EMS Section.
SCALE: 1 km raster grid
PROCESSING: Projected to SOF Lambers Conformal Conic
standard projection, NAD 27.
[Summary provided by WRI]

Geographic Coverage Spatial coordinates   

N: 67.05

S: 41.4

E: -63.07

W: -135.18

Data Set Citation

Dataset Creator: World Resources Institute Dataset Title: Ecological Limitations to Commercial Forestry Dataset Release Date: 2001-02-26 Dataset Release Place: Washington, D.C. Dataset Publisher: World Resources Institute Data Presentation Form: map coverage Online Resource: http://www.globalforestwatch.org/english/datawarehouse/index.asp#

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 1967-01-01 Stop Date: 2000-01-01

Location Keywords

CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > CANADA

Science Keywords

HUMAN DIMENSIONS > LAND USE/LAND COVER > LAND MANAGEMENT HUMAN DIMENSIONS > ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS > ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS HUMAN DIMENSIONS > BOUNDARIES AGRICULTURE > FOREST SCIENCE > FOREST MANAGEMENT AGRICULTURE > FOREST SCIENCE > FOREST PRODUCTS/COMMODITIES

ISO Topic Category

FARMING ECONOMY BOUNDARIES ENVIRONMENT IMAGERY/BASE MAPS/EARTH COVER PLANNING CADASTRE

Quality
GFW and its collaborators have collected data from sources believed
to be reliable. Furthermore, all GFW data has undergone a formalized
review process. GFW and its collaborators provide the data "as is" and
do not guarantee the accuracy of the data. The data is provided
without warranties expressed or implied and GFW and its collaborators
do not accept ... responsibility for errors or omission in the data or in
the documentation accompanying the data. GFW and its collaborators are
not responsible for any consequence of the use of the data by any
organization or individual.

The boundaries, colors, denominations and other information shown in
any map or data set on the GFW WebPage do not imply on the part of GFW
and its collaborators any judgment on the legal status of any
territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries.

Access Constraints
None

Use Constraints
These data are copyrighted by WRI on behalf of GFW and its
collaborators. Use and reproduction of these data is authorized for
educational or other non-commercial purposes without prior permission
from the copyright holders. Also, we encourage news media to reproduce
the information and maps, as long as GFW is acknowledged as the
source. You may make as many ... copies of the data as you wish; give
exact copies of the original data to anyone; and distribute the data
in its unmodified form via electronic means. There is no charge for
any of the above. You are specifically prohibited from charging, or
requesting donations, for any such copies, however made; and from
distributing the data with other products (commercial or otherwise)
without prior written permission.

Ancillary Keywords

GIS map coverage forest forestry forest management commercial forest

Data Set Progress

COMPLETE

Originating Center

World Resources Institute

Data Center

World Resources Institute Data Center URL: http://www.wri.org/ Data Center Personnel Name: WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE Phone: 202-729-7600 Fax: 202-729-7610 Email: lorih at wri.org Contact Address: World Resources Institute 10 G Street, NE (Suite 800) City: Washington Province or State: DC Postal Code: 20002 Country: USA

Distribution

Distribution Media: electronic Distribution Size: 3655 KB Distribution Format: shapefile Fees: no fees

Personnel

TYLER B. STEVENS Role: DIF AUTHOR Phone: (301) 614-6898 Fax: 301-614-5268 Email: Tyler.B.Stevens at nasa.gov Contact Address: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Global Change Master Directory City: Greenbelt Province or State: MD Postal Code: 20771 Country: USA

Related URL

Link: VIEW RELATED INFORMATION Description: Homepage of Global Forest Watch (GFW) which provides and uses the Cameroon Concession data in their forest monitoring network. Additional information on the GFW is also provided here. Link: VIEW RELATED INFORMATION Description: Global Forest Watch, Canada which provides information on their history, partners, and current research.

Creation and Review Dates

DIF Creation Date: 2002-09-10 Last DIF Revision Date: 2006-08-08

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