Panel Activities
Review of the Physiognomic Levels of a National Vegetation Classification
The Panel participated in reviewing the Federal Geographic Data Committee's (FGDC) Vegetation Subcommittee's vegetation classification standards. The Panel's main contribution was to provide outside review of major concepts, to propose and draft context material, and to provide detailed definitions and numerical standards. Many of the recommendations of the Panel were included in the FGDC standards. On October 22, 1997, Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt, as the Chair of the FGDC, approved the Vegetation Classification and Information Standards. These standards include a complete physiognomic (structural) portion of the vegetation classification (hierarchy and classes), but do not include the floristic taxonomic units that would describe specific plant communities. Developing standards for floristic-level classification is the focus of the Panel's current activities.
Development of Floristic-level Standards
"Description, Documentation, and Evaluation of Associations and Alliances
within the U.S. National Vegetation Classification"
The Panel is currently focusing on the development of standards for the two floristic levels underlying the entire National Vegetation Classification, the alliance and community association type. It is these floristic taxonomic units of plant communities that are particularly crucial to habitat delineation and sound, scientifically-based ecosystems management. Although the FGDC has established standards for classification units appropriate for mapping the structural attributes of vegetation, the ESA Vegetation Classification Panel, in collaboration with the FGDC, the Nature Conservancy, and federal and state agencies, must now do the same for the floristic units. Using The Nature Conservancy Terrestrial Vegetation Classification as a departure point, the ESA Panel on Vegetation Classification undertook the task of developing the proposed standards for these levels in Standards for Associations and Alliances of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification . The document includes:
- the need for floristic-level vegetation classification standards and the scope of the initiative, as well as basic assumptions and requirements needed to establish the standards;
- a review of past approaches to the classification of vegetation in the U.S. showing how the current effort is based on, and is an outcome of, the considerable amount of previous work;
- a discussion of the association and alliance concepts;
- proposed standards for vegetation field plots;
- proposed standards for classifying, describing, and naming floristic units, as well as their proper documentation;
- a process for formal review of existing and proposed vegetation types, publication of monographs, a system for tracking the lineage of types, and dissemination of a national classification database;
- a standardized system for coherently managing related plot data and a process for including plot data in a national plot database; and
- a discussion of the present status of the emerging classification and future challenges including a time-frame and benchmarks by which to measure progress, as well as directions for research.
This document will lay the foundation for an enduring taxonomy of vegetation that can be improved upon, in a collaborative way, as our body of knowledge expands. New versions will be released as the Panel and the vegetation science community test and refine the protocols in it.
FGDC/NSDI Cooperative Agreement
The Panel was awarded a cooperative agreement with the FGDC's National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) to begin development of proposed national standards for the floristic levels of vegetation classification in the United States: associations and alliances. These proposed standards will conform to FGDC procedures and format and will be based on the Panel's work in developing Description, documentation, and evaluation of associations and alliances within the U.S. National Vegetation Classification and Appendices.
Future Tasks
Future tasks identified by the Panel include:
- Develop/refine the peer review and publication process for the vegetation units.
- Chart a course for future implementation of the National Vegetation Classification by advising the FDGC on testing and implementation, helping states carry out and implement the classification, and organizing and participating in implementation workshops.
- Expand the outreach component of the Panel's activities to all vegetation scientists beyond ESA, and to potential users:
- Identify the broader user groups and share our ideas with them
- Through FGDC, develop ties with federal agencies
- Share more with the members of ESA, especially through the Vegetation Section
- Develop and strengthen ties with the Society of American Foresters, the Society for Range Management, International Association of Vegetation Science, Landscape Ecology, Conservation Biology, and Canadian and Mexican vegetation scientists.
- Develop ways to bring the standards into teaching and education through training workshops and curriculum development.
