Research Natural Areas of the Pacific Northwest Ecotone Vegetation Monitoring Data

Natural areas are tracts of wildlands that serve as prime examples of distinct natural features and ecosystems. They are established for three primary purposes—conservation, research, and education. Natural areas are managed for their ecological processes, and in some cases, to help protect rare or threatened species. Natural areas of the Pacific Northwest range in size from tens to thousands of acres. The current regional network includes >580 sites, encompasses >1,450,000 acres, and is managed by 20 different agencies and organizations. The network continues to grow with the formal designation of new natural areas each year. The data in this set is vegetation monitoring data collected on Research Natural Areas in the Pacific Northwest. The data were collected along ecotone transects, starting in one vegetation type and ending in another. The data includes measurements of trees, shrubs, herbs, and coarse woody detritus.