2024 geospatial Ecosystem Condition (ECO) Score layer for Utah, USA

This raster dataset provides estimated ecosystem condition scores, representing the difference between current conditions and reference/baseline conditions, for Utah, USA for the year 2024. The data are analogous to LANDFIRE's Vegetation Departure Scores (which are calculated using LANDFIRE Succession-Class raster data, and LANDFIRE Biophysical Settings raster data), but we used custom processing of the underlying LANDFIRE data to generate scores at higher resolution. LANDFIRE Succession Class (S-Class) maps at 30 m resolution were summarized within 300 m analysis cells. Each 300 m cell contains the proportional cover of seven vegetation classes: A (early development), B (mid-development closed), C (mid-development open), D (late-development open), E (late-development closed), UN (uncharacteristic native), and UE (uncharacteristic exotic). S-classes for each ecosystem type consider the type, cover, and height of vegetation, and whether the vegetation is characteristic of ecosystem type. The dominant LANDFIRE Biophysical Setting in each 300 m cell was used to identify reference-condition expectations. The Ecosystem Condition score raster provides a single, integrated departure score ranging from 0 to 100, where larger values indicate greater departure from reference conditions. The score is based on the same ecological departure framework used by the LANDFIRE Vegetation Departure product and the Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) methodology. To calculate the score, vegetation conditions within each 300 m grid cell are first summarized across seven LANDFIRE Succession Classes (S-Classes): A, B, C, D, E, UN, and UE. Current proportions of each S-Class are compared with the proportions expected under reference conditions for the corresponding ecosystem type. Individual S-Class departures are then combined into a single aggregate Ecosystem Condition score that represents the overall degree of departure from the ecosystem's expected reference condition. ECO Score: 100 - sum(Ci - Ri) Where Ci = The current percentage of the 300m resolution landscape in successional/structural class i. And Ri = The historical reference percentage of the landscape in successional/structural class i.