- Metric Name:  Giant Sequoia Stands

- Data Vintage:  2022

- Unit Of Measure: Resolution dependent 

--	Vector – Tabular attributes

--	Raster – Binary, 0/1

The population of giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum [SEGI]) trees is an irreplaceable heritage to be studied, protected, and preserved as it faces increased threats from drought and fire.- Creation Method:  The Giant Sequoia grove locations are well described, and their approximate delineations have been used for analysis work for years with the Administrative Grove Boundary (AGB) dataset. These AGB polygons were exaggerated for a variety of reasons and led to erroneous analysis results. An explicit delineation of SEGI populations was needed, especially as the range of the tree is exposed to increased threats instigated by a mega-drought not seen in the region in over a millennia. This dataset addressed that need across the entire range of SEGI.

While some 70+ “Groves” are recognized with the AGB dataset; the historic naming conventions of groves lost to generalization have been reapplied for this work, referencing each distinct area as a “Map Unit.” Consider ‘Grove’ a general term with ‘Map Unit’ a distinct population distribution for a unique SEGI population. There are 94 Map Units as of 2022 covering 26,270 acres. To create the Map Unit linework, individual SEGI pints were identified, both remotely and in the field, to inform the boundary line work. In the case of the National Park Map Units, the historic Sequoia Tree Inventory (STI) dataset dictated the boundary shape. Elsewhere, the Observed Tree Inventory (OTI) points guided the boundary formation.

For this effort, the giant sequoia stand polygons were subsequently converted to a raster grid at 30m resolution based on existence/non-existence.

- Credits:  Region 5, MARS Team
USDA Forest Service - Region 5 and Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW)