Forest Data Modernization Act of 2025

This bill modernizes the national program that measures the health and use of America’s forests. It adds tracking of forest carbon, sets clear, consistent definitions (including what counts as a “forest”), and requires two regular studies: a timber products output study and a national woodland owner survey. It aims to make forest data easier to compare across the country and clearer for the public to understand.

The bill tells the agency to update its strategic plan within 180 days to improve data accuracy, report changes in forest carbon (including below ground), use new tools like remote sensing and machine learning, and work with other agencies and private partners. It also calls for more detailed local data, regular progress updates each year, a national forest statistics report every two years, and an office or platform to handle complex data requests (with fees allowed to cover costs). Data should be easy to access but must protect private details like exact plot locations and individual landowner information. Remote sensing examples include microwave, LiDAR, hyperspectral, and high‑resolution data .

• Who is affected: Forest agencies, researchers, forest companies, woodland owners, and communities that use forest data for planning and conservation.
• What changes: Adds carbon tracking; standardizes terms; requires regular studies; adopts new tech; increases transparency; sets up an office/platform for complex data requests; and protects privacy while improving public access to data .
• When: Strategic plan update due in 180 days; plan updated every 5 years; annual progress reporting; national statistics compiled every 2 years .