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Vegetation dynamics models: a comprehensive set for natural resource assessment and planning in the United States

A new article published in the journal Ecosphere describes the development of a national set of vegetation dynamics models for the United States. These state-and-transition simulation models, developed with the ST-Sim package for SyncroSim by scientists at the Nature Conservancy, are the first set of comprehensive reference conditions models developed at a national scale. The models and accompanying documentation provide land managers and policymakers with a tool to support vegetation restoration and fuel management activities at regional to national scales. They can be applied to support a variety of land management needs including exploring ecosystem dynamics, assessing current and desired conditions, and simulating the effects of management actions. In an era of rapid ecological change, these products provide land managers with an adaptable tool for understanding ecosystems and forecasting future conditions.