National%20Resources%20Inventory

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National Resources Inventory

• by
• Robert N. Jones
• State Conservationist
• USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service

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Seven Decades of Resource Inventories

• National Erosion Reconnaissance Survey of 1934

• Aerial photography is used to collect NRI data in
  modern surveys.

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The National Resources Inventory

• Statistical survey
• Conducted by Natural Resources Conservation
  Service (NRCS)

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About the Inventory Process

• NRI data are collected at selected sample sites
• Sample sites are located in all counties
• Data are collected using photo-interpretation and
  other remote sensing methods
• Results produce estimates

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Alabama Land Use29 Million Acres Non Federal
Rural Land

• 73 Forest
• 12 Pasture
• 10 Cropland
• 2 CRP
• 1 Range land
• 2 Other rural

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Land Use Change in Alabama in acres

• Cropland ? 1,591,400
• Pastureland ? 221,000
• Rangeland ? 16,000
• Developed land ? 766,200
• CRP ? 521,900
• Forestland ? 302,300

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Urbanization and Development

• Alabama Developed land in 1997 2,409,000acres
  (8)

However, from 1992-97 more land was developed
(445,300 acres) than during 1982-92 (320,000
acres)
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Forest Land

• Over 21 million acres
• Between 1982 and 1997, increased by 302,300

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What to Look for in the Future

• To build a database
• To increase the breadth of analyses supported by
  the NRI

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2001 Key Findings

• In Million Acres 1982 2001
• Cropland 420 370
• Pastureland 131 117
• Rangeland 415 405
• Forestland 48 51
• Developed 73 108

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More Key Findings

• Control of erosion rates sustained
• Erosion on cropland ?
• Erosion per acre ?
• HEL ?

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Summary

• Statistical survey
• Provides nationally consistent statistical data
• Culminates in a variety of databases,
  assessments, publications
• Useful for many purposes and at many levels

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Reference

• National Resources Inventory websitehttp//www
  .nrcs.usda.gov/technical/NRI/