Pacific Northwest Research Station

The Forest Landscape Assessment Tool (FLAT) is a set of procedures and tools used to rapidly determine forest ecological conditions and potential threats. FLAT enables planners and managers to understand baseline conditions, determine and prioritize restoration needs across a landscape system, and conduct ongoing monitoring to achieve land management goals. The rapid assessment process presents a cost-effective opportunity for landowners - including local governments, private owners, and nongovernmental organizations - to use ecological data to guide decision-making and improve environmental outcomes on their lands.

An introduction to FLAT, providing an overview of its purpose, methods, and implications for land management, potentially for a variety of ecosystems. FLAT is executed in three sequential phases: Phase 1—Forest Cover Type Mapping, Phase 2—Field Assessment, and Phase 3—Management Prioritization. Overall, FLAT consists of on-site visual estimation (aided by remote sensing) of ecological conditions by a trained field team to produce a forest inventory. In addition to providing baseline data and a framework to prioritize actions, FLAT can be used as a monitoring tool to evaluate changing conditions and inform adjustments in management strategies and priorities.

To illustrate FLAT implementation, the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks case study details a pilot project conducted on 24,700 of the more than 26,000 acres of county lands. King County is using the results from FLAT to develop and implement forest stewardship plans and target restoration efforts of its volunteer program. Although the tool was initially used in lowland forests in the Puget Sound region, in concept, FLAT could be expanded and adapted for use in a wide variety of ecosystem types.