Revised Page: Annual Update 2003
  Introduction to the Urban and Suburban Areas Chapter
Download This Page

Note that the data published in the 2002 State of the Nation’s Ecosystems Report as well as the 2003 and 2005 Web-Only Updates have been superseded by the 2008 Report and thus should be used with caution. For the most recent data, purchase the 2008 Report from Island Press.

Can we report trends? Are there other useful reference points?

System Dimensions Updated
Data Available Area of Urban and Suburban Lands How much land do “urban and suburban areas” occupy? How much of this land is developed, and how much is forest, grasslands and shrublands, wetlands, and croplands? Current data only, regional comparison  
Indicator Development Needed Suburban/Rural Land Use Change How are patterns of development changing at the boundary between suburban and rural areas? No data reported  
Data Available Patches of Forest, Grassland and Shrubland, and Wetlands How large are urban/suburban forests, grasslands and shrublands, and wetlands, which provide green space and wildlife habitat? Current data only, regional comparison  
Data Inadequate Total Impervious Area How much urban/suburban land is covered with buildings, concrete, asphalt, and other “hard,” or impervious, surfaces? No data reported  
Indicator Development Needed Stream Bank Vegetation What fraction of urban/suburban stream banks are vegetated? No data reported  

Chemical and Physical Conditions Updated
Data Available Nitrate in Urban and Suburban Streams How much nitrate is found in urban/suburban streams? Current data only, federal standard  
Data Available Phosphorus in Urban and Suburban Streams How much phosphorus is found in urban/suburban streams? Current data only, federal goal  
Data Available Air Quality (High Ozone Levels) How common are air pollution levels that exceed federal guidelines in urban/suburban areas? Trends, federal standard 2003
2005
Partial Data Available Chemical Contamination What levels of artificial compounds and heavy metals are found in water and soil? Current data only, federal standards and guidelines  
Indicator Development Needed Urban Heat Island How much hotter are urban/suburban areas than lessdeveloped areas nearby? No data reported  

Biological Components  
Data Inadequate Species Status How many of the plants and animals that once inhabited areas that are now urban/suburban are locally at risk or absent? No data reported  
Data Inadequate Disruptive Species Are there more or fewer “disruptive species” such as white-tailed deer and Scotch broom in urban/suburban areas? data reported  
Data Inadequate Status of Animal Communities in Urban and Suburban Streams What is the condition of fish and bottom-dwelling animals in urban/suburban streams? No data reported  

Human Uses Updated
Data Inadequate Publicly Accessible Open Space Per Resident How much public open space is there per urban/suburban resident? No data reported  
Indicator Development Needed Natural Ecosystem Services What other important ecosystem services are provided by urban/suburban areas? No data reported  

Data Available All necessary data Available Partial Data Available Partial data available Data Inadequate Data not adequate for national reporting Indicator Development Needed Indicator development needed
Previous Page Next Page >
Table of Contents/Downloads Background & Summary Data Availability and Gaps Technical Notes
National Coasts & Oceans Farmlands Fresh Waters Forests Grasslands  & Shrublands Urban &  Suburban Areas
Home Updates Errata
Last Revised: Friday, 25-Apr-2008 11:34:24 EDT