Elevated FIA Nonresponse Rates in Wilderness: Investigating Barriers and Potential Solutions

Author

• Cici Conroy, University of Montana, MissoulaFollow

Year of Award

2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Name

Forestry

Department or School/College

W.A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation

Committee Chair

Andrew Larson

Commitee Members

Laurie Yung, George C. Gaines III, David L. R. Affleck

Keywords

Forest Service Inventory and Analysis (FIA), wilderness, nonresponse, collaboration, natural resources management, United States Forest Service

Subject Categories

Forest Management

Abstract

Large-scale inventory and monitoring programs that represent all landscapes, regardless of ownership or protected status, inform critical land management decisions. The US Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program monitors and reports on the status, condition, and trends across the nation's forests, including wilderness areas. National forest inventory (NFI) plots in wilderness are delayed or skipped (i.e., nonresponse) at higher rates than those on other public lands, introducing potential bias in estimates and reducing precision. Understanding the root causes of elevated nonresponse is essential to improving wilderness response rates. This research investigated factors contributing to elevated nonresponse and strategies to improve wilderness operations through interviews with FIA personnel, state agency partners, and contractors across the western US. Identified barriers included organizational and administrative constraints, physical access, crew willingness and ability, and logistical complexities. Recommended solutions emphasized improvements to hiring, compensation, collaboration, field operations, and sampling methods. I present insights into which strategies are implementable within FIA and which require broader, agency-wide reforms such as hiring structures and budgetary frameworks. FIA could provide greater support for alternative access, implement more backcountry-specific training, and improve recruitment strategies, while also exploring alternative sampling designs. However, participants indicate that increasing capacity is essential to improving FIA wilderness operations.

Recommended Citation

Conroy, Cici, "Elevated FIA Nonresponse Rates in Wilderness: Investigating Barriers and Potential Solutions" (2026). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 12703.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/12703