Maps of Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands forest functional groups, biomass, height, and species counts (2001-2008) and satellite image composites (1980-2000)

This data publication contains 49 ERDAS IMAGINE (IMG) raster images representing modeled distributions using Cubist, PGNN or both, of native, endemic and introduced tree species counts, relative basal areas of functional groups, species basal areas, and forest biomass from forest inventory data, satellite imagery and environmental data for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Mapped outputs represent the years 2001-2008 (dates of inventory). Also included are raster data of generalized geology digitized from paper maps. Imagery include time series (1980-2000) of Landsat composites and SPOT panchromatic, and scene extents for the composites.
Until global wall-to-wall remote sensing data from more specialized sensors are available, maps from multispectral image time series and predictor data should help with running ecosystem models and as sustainable development indicators. Our purpose here is to paint a picture for the Caribbean islands of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands (PRVI), of the outcome for tropical forests of large-scale clearing and regrowth given variable climate, topography, soil substrates and disturbance history; of colonization by several exotic species; and of protected areas established at different times. Towards that goal, we first assemble a database of tree species functional traits and other characteristics. Secondly, we apply two approaches to modeling and mapping several attributes of forests including: a) counts and relative basal areas of introduced, native and endemic tree species; b) relative basal areas of selected functional groups; c) forest structure and biomass; and d) individual tree species distributions. Helmer et al. (2018) briefly discusses the relative advantages of the two modeling methods. Our purpose was also to evaluate spatial patterns of disturbance history, protection, climate, geology and topography and address the implications of these and related results for Earth System Models (ESMs) and forest sustainability, specifically, forest-related aspects of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UN SDG) 15, particularly Target 15.2, Indicator 15.2.1: Progress towards sustainable forest management.
For more information about these data, see Helmer et al. (2018). These data were published on 07/25/2023. On 11/13/2023 we removed "modeled" from the title to eliminate potential confusion that maps were simpled modeled data. Maps were generated using field data and remote sensing together with statistical models.