Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) is a “survey” or “census” of the forest resources of Virginia to assess trends in land use, forest composition, forest utilization, and more. FIA is conducted in partnership with the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station and is part of a nationwide forest assessment program.
The first FIA report on Virginia’s forest resources was published in 1940, with subsequent reports in 1957, 1966, 1977, 1985, 1992, 2001, 2007, 2011, and 2016.
- The FIA program consists approximately 5,000 forest inventory research plots across the Commonwealth.
- Each forest inventory plot represents approximately 6,000 acres of the landscape.
- Data collected on FIA plots – ownership, forest type and origin, stand size, site quality, age, treatments and disturbances, invasive plants, and downed woody material are recorded.
- Data collected on individual trees tallied on the plot – species, diameter, height, tree quality, crown (top) information, tree grade, rot, and damage are recorded.
- Forest inventory plots are re-measured at approximately 5-year intervals.
- Updated, rolling average forest inventory data is made available online annually.
- Forest inventory summary tables are updated annually online, with an overview report published every 5 years – the latest forest inventory reports are published by the USDA Forest Service.
Read more about Virginia’s forest composition.
Additional Resources
- Learn more about the forest inventory in Virginia and read forest inventory analysis reports.
- Learn more about the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station forest inventory program.
- Learn more about the USDA Forest Service national forest inventory program.
- View the USDA Forest Service online application EVALIDator to query forest attributed across the United States, including Virginia.
| Image | Title | ID | Description | Content Type | hf:tax:document-category | hf:tax:Media | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | A Forested Tract-Size Profile of Virginia’s NIPF Landowners | SRS-001 | Report provides a profile of non-industrial private forest landowners, the decrease in tract size, increase in number of landowners and impacts of fragmentation on forest management. | Publication | View | forest-inventory-analysis resource-information | publication |
 | Virginia’s Forests – A Reliable Resource | FT0022 | Forestry topic information sheet provides an overview of the status and reliability of the forest resource in Virginia. | Publication | View | administration | publication |
 | Virginia’s Forests, 2001 | SRS-120 | This summary report provides data collected through the Forest Inventory Analysis Program. These data are used to provide an overview of forest resources that may include, but is not limited to, forest area, forest ownership, forest type, stand structure, timber volume, growth, removals, mortality, management activity, down woody material, carbon storage and sequestration, and invasive species. | Publication | View | forest-inventory-analysis resource-information | publication |
 | Virginia’s Forests, 2007 | SRS-159 | This summary report provides data collected through the Forest Inventory Analysis Program. These data are used to provide an overview of forest resources that may include, but is not limited to, forest area, forest ownership, forest type, stand structure, timber volume, growth, removals, mortality, management activity, down woody material, carbon storage and sequestration, and invasive species. | Publication | View | forest-inventory-analysis resource-information | publication |
 | Virginia’s Forests, 2011 | SRS-197 | This summary report provides data collected through the Forest Inventory Analysis Program. These data are used to provide an overview of forest resources that may include, but is not limited to, forest area, forest ownership, forest type, stand structure, timber volume, growth, removals, mortality, management activity, down woody material, carbon storage and sequestration, and invasive species. | Publication | View | forest-inventory-analysis resource-information | publication |
 | Virginia’s Forests, 2016 | SRS-223 | This summary report provides data collected through the Forest Inventory Analysis Program. These data are used to provide an overview of forest resources that may include, but is not limited to, forest area, forest ownership, forest type, stand structure, timber volume, growth, removals, mortality, management activity, down woody material, carbon storage and sequestration, and invasive species. | Publication | View | forest-inventory-analysis resource-information | publication |
 | Virginia’s Timber Industry – An Assessment of Timber Product Output and Use, 1995 | SRS-019 | Report contains the findings of a canvas of all primary wood-using plants in Virginia and presents changes in product output and residue use.It complements the Forest Inventory and Analysis periodic inventory of volume and removals from Virginia’s timberland. | Publication | View | marketing-and-utilization | publication |
 | Virginia’s Timber Industry – An Assessment of Timber Product Output and Use, 1999 | SRS-074 | Report contains the findings of a canvas of all primary wood-using plants in Virginia and presents changes in product output and residue use.It complements the Forest Inventory and Analysis periodic inventory of volume and removals from Virginia’s timberland. | Publication | View | marketing-and-utilization | publication |
 | Virginia’s Timber Industry – An Assessment of Timber Product Output and Use, 2001 | SRS-095 | Report contains the findings of a canvas of all primary wood-using plants in Virginia and presents changes in product output and residue use.It complements the Forest Inventory and Analysis periodic inventory of volume and removals from Virginia’s timberland. | Publication | View | marketing-and-utilization | publication |
 | Virginia’s Timber Industry – An Assessment of Timber Product Output and Use, 2003 | SRS-108 | Report contains the findings of a canvas of all primary wood-using plants in Virginia and presents changes in product output and residue use.It complements the Forest Inventory and Analysis periodic inventory of volume and removals from Virginia’s timberland. | Publication | View | marketing-and-utilization | publication |
 | Virginia’s Timber Industry – An Assessment of Timber Product Output and Use, 2005 | SRS-125 | Report contains the findings of a canvas of all primary wood-using plants in Virginia and presents changes in product output and residue use.It complements the Forest Inventory and Analysis periodic inventory of volume and removals from Virginia’s timberland. | Publication | View | marketing-and-utilization | publication |
 | Virginia’s Timber Industry – An Assessment of Timber Product Output and Use, 2009 | SRS-179 | Report contains the findings of a canvas of all primary wood-using plants in Virginia and presents changes in product output and residue use.It complements the Forest Inventory and Analysis periodic inventory of volume and removals from Virginia’s timberland. | Publication | View | marketing-and-utilization | publication |
 | Virginia’s Timber Industry – Timber Product Output and Use, 2011. | SRS-098 | Publication | View | marketing-and-utilization | publication | |
 | Virginia’s Timber Industry – An Assessment of Timber Product Output and Use, 2007 | SRS-155 | Report contains the findings of a canvas of all primary wood-using plants in Virginia and presents changes in product output and residue use.It complements the Forest Inventory and Analysis periodic inventory of volume and removals from Virginia’s timberland. | Publication | View | marketing-and-utilization | publication |
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