Is the Forest Fragmentation data correct?
A. The procedure used to create the Forest Fragmentation data is based on the latest available research by the U.S., Canadian, and European Forest Service agencies. The 100 meter (300 ft) edge width zone, used in the maps, is often used for general purpose fragmentation analyses but it is not necessarily correct for all applications. Studies in the ecological literature have found edge width zones to range from 25 meters to several hundred meters depending on the species being studied. The appropriateness of the edge width used in the Forest Fragmentation maps should be considered for the species or issue of interest. Maps using different edge widths can be generated using the Landscape Fragmentation Tool. The Forest Fragmentation maps are only as accurate as the land cover data on which they are based.
