The Forest Analysis and Inventory Branch (FAIB) is responsible for coordinating and managing data collection and analyses from a range of different ground sampling programs that collect data on ground plots. This layer shows ground plots from the PSP and VRI programs. **Vegetation Resource Inventory (VRI):** ground samples primarily used to audit and verify key inventory attributes estimated during photo interpretation. These samples are not protected because they will not be revisited. **Permanent Sample Plots (PSP):** subjectively located fixed-area permanent plots, valued for their long-term re-measurement data to support development of growth-and-yield models in unmanaged stands across a range of stand and ecosystem types. Actual GPS coordinates are provided as protection is necessary. - Active PSPs = plot and buffer are protected from harvesting - Inactive PSPs = not protected from harvesting

This layer is the authoritative source for locating Active Status Growth and Yield plots also known as Permanent Sample Plots (PSPs). These plots are protected and require an additional minimum windfirm buffer of 50m radius in the interior and 100m radius on the coast. These are generally 16m radius fixed area. Therefore, protected areas need to be a minimum of 66m radius around the plot centre in the interior and 116m radius on the coast. Best practices are to locate the plot centre on the ground. Coordinate accuracy varies. Please contact Anya Reid (Anya.Reid@gov.bc.ca) with questions or updated coordinates for plots. NOTE: Accuracy of the coordinates are variable. Coordinates for plots with a more recent (since 2000) last measurement are generally quite accurate (3m). However, plots measured in the 1990's have a wide range of coordinate accuracy. In all cases, it is necessary to ground truth plot location before block layout. In this spatial layer, low accuracy coordinates are buffered 300m to ensure they do not get missed from development planning. This layer replaces the [Growth and Yield Samples – Active Status](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/0ca49478-5d0f-44e8-b6af-3fd6e387803c) layer with more accurate and current information from the Inventory Sample Management Consolidation (ISMC) database.