Proposal for collaboration between Mexico NVC and International Vegetation Classification (IVC) Workshop Meeting held in conjunction with the ESA Meeting Mérida , Mexico , January 9, 2006 Alejandro Velazquez, D. Faber-Langendoen Principal Organizer Name Alejandro Velazquez Address Unidad Académica de Geografía IGg-UNAM Aquiles Serdán 382 City Morelia State Michoacán Zip 58000 Fax 52 443 3179425 Phone 52 443 3179424 Email avmontes@igg.unam.mx Co-Organizer Name Don Faber-Langendoen Address NatureServe 3467 Amber Road City Syracuse State NY Zip 13215 Fax 315-673-0921 Phone 315-673-0921 Email don_faber-langendoen@natureserve.org Alternate Contact Name Francisco Bautista Zúñiga   Address Departamento de Ecología, Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán km 15.5 Carretera Mérida-Xmatkuil City Mérida State Yucatán Zip Fax 52 999 9423205 Phone 52 999 9423206 Email Background: The Ecological Society of America (ESA) is convening a conference in Mérida , Mexico , January 10-12, 2006 . One of the standing committees of the ESA is the Vegetation Classification Panel, which in partnership with federal agencies and NatureServe, has authored the guidelines document for describing associations and alliances of the US National Vegetation Classification (USNVC). In the U.S. , the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC), which sets agency standards for the USNVC, is promoting an integrated physiognomic-floristic vegetation classification that is international in scope. Revisions to the overall hierarchy are being completed by a Hierarchy Revisions Working Group that includes representatives from international partners, including Mexicans, in support of an overall International Vegetation Classification (IVC). Members of the Working Group would like to hold a scoping meeting with representatives from Mexico to be updated on Mexican vegetation classification developments, the possibility of a Mexican NVC partnership, and to discuss matters of international cooperation and standardization with the USNVC and IVC. In the last six months, a revision to the USNVC and IVC has been made available, and a proposed structure for the Mexican NVC has been drafted. There is much that is compatible between the two systems.  Attachments are available. The Opportunity: The members of the Hierarchy Revisions Working Group, with partners, would like to use the ESA meeting in Mérida as a basis for assessing the possibility of collaborating on national and international vegetation classification standards. Proposal: To hold a workshop that will encourage contacts between Mexican NVC partners and members of the IVC Hierarchy Revisions Working Group, especially with respect to discussions of internationally standardized protocols. A workshop is proposed that is designed to emphasize interactive discussion between members of the Mexican vegetation community and members of the IVC / USNVC vegetation working group. The workshop would have 2 components; first, a presentation / discussion session on current activities in Mexico for vegetation classification and on activities internationally, both from a USNVC and an IVC perspective. Second, we would have discussion topics that could include international standards (e.g., classification methods, data management, etc.) and prospects for collaborating on development of national and international vegetation types. The maximum threshold should be kept low (perhaps a maximum of 20-25).  Contact the principal organizer (listed above) for further information. Workshop Advertisement A Mexican National Vegetation Classification (Mexican NVC) is desirable, in that it would help standardize classification of plant communities occurring in Mexico . It seeks to integrate knowledge of vegetation in relation to multiple environmental gradients and various scales, and to assist in standardized vegetation maps. The Mexican NVC is separate from, but could be linked to, existing state, regional, and international classifications. Currently, work is underway to define and describe the overall structure of a Mexican NVC hierarchy, from formation to associations, subassociations, and facies. This workshop is intended to offer the opportunity for participants in Mexican vegetation classification to engage with other vegetation classification practitioners in Mexico, the United States and elsewhere, in order to promote a Mexican NVC and collaboration with an International Vegetation Classification. The workshop will include an all-day session for presentations and discussion of Mexican, U.S. , and international vegetation classifications, followed by a discussion of internationally standardized protocols for vegetation classification and data management, as part of an International Vegetation Classification. Prospects for a follow-up workshop will be discussed, including discussion of classification and mapping applications. Logistics: Breaks : Lunch on your own Date and time : January 9, 2006 in Mérida. Contact Alejandro Velazquez for details on location. Mexican National Vegetation Classification: Mérida Workshop Monday, January 9, 2006 Workshop Agenda Introductions and Workshop Objectives 9:00 – 9:30 Alejandro Velazquez / Don Faber-Langendoen ( IVC Hierarchy Revisions Working Group members ) Introduction to Mexican Vegetation and its Classification 9:30 – 10:00 To be determined Overview of Current Mexican Classification Projects: 10:00 – 10:30 Alejandro Velazquez and others?    • critical classification concepts Break : 10:30 – 10:50 Introduction to International Vegetation Classification 10:50 – 11:30 Don Faber-Langendoen ( NatureServe ) Introduction to proposed Mexican NVC hierarchy 11:30 – 12:00 Alejandro Velazquez, others?   LUNCH : 12:00 – 1:15 Introduction to collaborations on Mexican NVC and coordination with IVC 1:15 – 2:00 Alejandro Velazquez, Don Faber-Langendoen, and others. • discussion of classification approach proposed in morning session General Discussion 2:00 – 4 :00 • current activities • partners • projects • funds • classification Conclusions and Next Steps 4 :00 – 4 :30