| Forest ecosystems provide a copious range of essential services from global climate regulation, the provision of resources such as wood and paper, recreation and conservation, to environmental health and psychological well-being. To compete with other land uses, forest resources must be efficiently managed today and into the future. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing to map the spatial distribution of forest resources provides three main benefits: (1) efficient multi-scalar analysis platform to inform on a broad range of management decisions (i.e., broad to fine scale), (2) capacity for the integration of many data types and sources is well suited for the complexities of ecological phenomena, and (3) temporal availability of data is constantly evolving and increasing our capacity to analyze forest trends, from historical time periods and emerging technologies. In Illinois and Indiana, where the focus of this research is located, forests are fragmented by increasing rates of urbanization, subsequent agricultural development, and changing management objectives. Understanding the spatial distributions of forest resources, especially those in the public holdings, has become essential for effective land resource management. This dissertation portfolio focuses on employing spatial analysis methods to understand the interactions and outcomes between ecosystem components and resource management decisions in the Shawnee and Hoosier National Forests. |
