MDC Research Portal

LiDAR Applications Project

Light Range and Detection, which is more commonly referred to as LiDAR, is remote sensing technology that has become increasingly available and used for a wide range of purposes in the last 10-15 years. LiDAR sensors measure distances and are often used to map topographic relief by generating a mass of elevation points. With the advancement in computer processing, additional information collected with LiDAR sensors pertaining to forest structure (e.g., tree height and density) have also begun to be analyzed.

Missouri Bat Habitat Conservation Plan

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has developed a Bat Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) to address the potential for covered forest management activities to cause incidental take of five listed or otherwise at-risk bat species over a period of 50 years. The plan covers Indiana, gray, northern long-eared, little brown, and tricolored bats.

The primary goal of the MDC Bat HCP is to obtain authorization for incidental take of the five covered species for specific management and monitoring activities as administered by MDC.

Ground Flora and Soft Mast

This project evaluates the impacts of forest management on the richness, diversity, abundance, and composition of ground flora plant species and soft mast abundance.

Woody Vegetation

This project evaluates the impacts of forest management on the composition and structure of woody trees, saplings, sprouts, and seedlings.

Forest Economics in Missouri

What is the economic impact of Missouri’s forest products? To answer this, MDC undertakes periodic assessments of the economic impact of the forest products industry on the state as a whole by working with data collected by the Federal government

Recent Project Updates

LiDAR Applications Project

Missouri Bat Habitat Conservation Plan

MOFEP

The Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project (MOFEP) is a long-term, landscape-level experiment measuring the living (i.e. birds, plants, trees) and non-living (i.e. soil, water, weather) parts of a forested ecosystem.

Ground Flora and Soft Mast

This project evaluates the impacts of forest management on the richness, diversity, abundance, and composition of ground flora plant species and soft mast abundance.