Historical Open Range - 1963-1994

Historical Open Range - 1963-1994 is a polygon layer that depicts grasslands and shrublands (originally designated as 'on land deemed with no potential for growing trees'). Data were derived from a (retired) Provincial Forest Cover Polygon dataset which was interpreted from air photos. Photograph and interpretation dates range from 1963 to 1994. This dataset has value as temporal snapshots of ecosystems under siege from human and natural processes. Data is useful for identification and analysis of forest ingrowth into grasslands from fire suppression. Encroachment can shift over time, for example from changing climate and disturbance events, and this data provides one measure of that shift. Data may also inform location of wildfire safety buffers around communities.