These value-added, raster-based maps of forest fragmentation were produced using Coastal Change Analysis Program (C-CAP) regional land cover data. The analysis was performed using the Landscape Fragmentation Tool from the University of Connecticut’s Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR).
Intact forests are ecologically important but are becoming increasingly susceptible to development pressures and conversion. Forest fragmentation is the breaking up of large contiguous forest tracts into smaller, or less contiguous, areas. It is important to look at not only the net change in forest area, but also the spatial pattern of the observed changes. In these data, forest fragmentation is classified into four categories: patch, edge, perforated, and core. These categories have been identified as indicators of forest ecosystem quality and can be used to assess the amount of fragmentation present in a landscape and potential habitat impacts.
Dates Available: 1996, 2001, and 2006
Accuracy: Developed to meet an 85 percent overall target accuracy specification but can vary by geography and date.
