Forests in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley Lacking Sufficient Conservation Protection

Based on forest patch area, location, and hydrologic influence, we ranked the purported need of forest patches for additional conservation-protection. Qualities for higher ranking included forest patches with & greater than 2000 ha of core-forest that was more than 250 m from an edge, forest patches within high priority areas for reforestation, and forest patches with less propensity for flooding. Digital data are provided for: 1. Boundary of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley study area. 2. Forest cover (circa 2015) used to for determination of forest area in need of conservation protection. 3. The conservation estate (circa 2019) that had conservation protection by virtue of ownership, easement, or servitude. 4. Reforestation priority areas used to identify location of forests with increased need for forest protection. 5. Priority of forest areas for increased conservation protection.