The best statistic for determining the quality and timeliness of the forest cover data used for the IWAP is Reference Year. This value affects such statistics as Year Logged, and Stand Height. This was the most recent data available to Carmanah Research at the time the IWAP was undertaken.

Reference Year- The calendar year for which the time dependent attributes in the layer are most reliable. For example, if time dependent attributes such as age and height are determined in a specific year (e.g. 1991), then that year is recorded as the reference year.

The reference year forms the base from which time dependent attributes within the layer are projected.