Regional monitoring with plot networks

The national Forest Health Detection Monitoring Program, was initiated first in the eastern United States, in partial response to findings from the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program. This paper presents an overview of that program as it is extended from its focus in the eastern United States to a national program. The paper describes the basic concerns driving the program; presents a summary of the sampling design; emphasizes the importance of proper planning, beginning with an information needs assessment with the various data and information users; and discusses the process of selecting data elements and indicators of change to monitor.