Eastern redcedar percent canopy cover in the central Great Plains (1985-2018)

This data publication contains percent eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) tree canopy cover estimates for three separate study areas: two in Nebraska ("Custer" and "SENE" study areas) and one in Kansas ("Kansas"). These data are derived from airborne lidar data and 30-meter Landsat imagery. There is a separate file for each study area for every year from 1985-2018. Data are intended for use in treed areas outside of urban centers. A value of 0 has been assigned to urban areas according to the 2016 National Land Cover Database and to areas with a tree cover value of less than 0.1% as determined from lidar data.
These data were created to support geospatial analyses of the current status of eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) tree cover and encroachment over time. Eastern redcedar is a species of special concern due to its encroachment into rangelands of the Great Plains. Management actions to control eastern redcedar are density dependent and thus require spatial information on the relative density or percent canopy cover of redcedar trees, which can coexist with deciduous trees in this landscape. A time series of spatial information on eastern redcedar cover can also aid in understanding rates of encroachment and infilling, and can improve understanding of the factors that contribute to risk of future encroachment when paired with other geospatial data.