Summary of a National-Scale Assessment of the Ecological Site Description (ESD) Database

Abstract

• Ecological Site Descriptions (ESDs) and underlying state-and-transition models are part of a move toward a more dynamic platform of range management, but this movement is happening without evaluation of weaknesses or logical pitfalls in the ESD database. • We conducted a national-scale evaluation of the ESD database and in this paper summarize the results with particular attention on the implementation of the state-and-transition model concept within the ESD database. • We discuss the weaknesses and logical holes we identified and provide recommendations that can be used to organize efforts to improve, adapt, or discard certain elements of ESD state-and-transition models.