The director shall use a variety of methods, including those specified in this section, to assess the status of timber resources, project future demand for these resources and forecast the supply available to meet the projected demands. [PL 1997, c. 720, §11 (NEW).] 1. Forest inventory. The director, in cooperation with the United States Forest Service, shall conduct a forest inventory and analysis program. The inventory must be based on plot data collected annually in a manner that provides for the entire State to be inventoried on a cycle of not more than 5 years. Plot data must be collected and compiled to provide for analysis by ownership class and geographic region. The director shall provide for collection of supplemental plot data when needed to assess the impact of catastrophic events on the State's forests or significant changes in harvesting levels or methods. [PL 1997, c. 720, §11 (NEW).] 2. Remote sensing data. The director shall review data collected using remote sensing technology to determine the area of forest types and gross changes in forest types. [PL 1997, c. 720, §11 (NEW).] 3. Timber supply modeling. The director shall coordinate efforts to project future timber supply using forest models based on growth, harvest and other dynamic factors affecting the forest. The models must allow for statewide projections and projections for geographic regions and landowner classes. [PL 1997, c. 720, §11 (NEW).]
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