Linking Landscape Pattern to Social Process
A Multi-Scale Analysis of Farm Woodlots in Northern Indiana
Shannon Donnelly

The current forest landscape of Northern Indiana is composed of small, discrete, privately owned woodlots. The only remaining forest habitat in this predominantly agricultural region, these woodlots are the result of interactions between social and biophysical processes. This research examines the land use and land cover dynamics of these woodlots by incorporating social and biophysical data across spatial and temporal scales. Using geographic information systems, the results of a household survey have been linked to landcover outcomes derived from remotely sensed data at the parcel level. The results of this analysis show that in the context of a slight decrease in the total amount of forest land over the past 25 years, non-economic motivations have led to the retention of woodlots. A decision tree generated from household survey data shows that characteristics associated with agricultural use, such as large parcel size and lack of subdivision, are positively related to the presence of woodlots.

 

DeKalb County, Indiana, (land cover derived from GAP 1993)

 

Example of Woodlot Location

 

Decision tree of factors affecting the presence of woodlots

408 North Indiana Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47408-3799
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Last Updated: May 11, 2005
Comments: cipec@indiana.edu 
Copyright 2005, The Trustees of Indiana University.