Introduction to the U.S. National Vegetation Standard
2014 National Military Fish and Wildlife Association
Natural Resources Monitoring and Vegetation and Classification
Denver, Colorado
March 12, 2014
Alexa McKerrow, Biologists
Implementation Manager USNVC
USGS Core Science Analytics, Synthesis, & Libraries
USNVC
Objectives
 Describe the US NVC Standard.
 Provides examples of the use of the USNVC in
applications in support of Natural Resource
Management.
 Provide a brief overview of the
accomplishments, and vision of the FGDC
Vegetation Subcommittee in implementing the
USNVC Standard.
USNVC
The Partnership
 Federal Geographic Data Committee Vegetation Subcommittee
members*
 U.S. Forest Service (Lead Agency)
 U.S. Geological Survey, Core Science Analytics, Synthesis & Libraries
(Implementation Management)
 Ecological Society of America (Panel on Vegetation Classification)
 NatureServe
Subcommittee Members







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Natural Resources Conservation Service
U.S. National Park Service
U.S. Bureau of Land Management
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Department of Defense
Environmental Protection Agency
USNVC
Objectives of the Vegetation Standard
Because vegetation represents a synthetic
surrogate for landscape level processes our
objectives include:
1. Providing mechanisms for developing uniform
federal statistics for vegetation in the U.S.
2. Encouraging partners to use a common system
when working with federal agencies
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Guiding Principles of the FGDC
Vegetation Classification Standard 2008
 The classification standard will be dynamic, allowing for
refinement as additional information becomes available.
The NVCS is of existing, not potential, vegetation.
 The NVCS is hierarchical.
 Upper levels of the NVCS are based primarily on physiognomy
(life form, cover, structure, leaf type) of the vegetation (not
individual species).
 Lower levels of the NVCS are based on actual floristic
(vegetation) composition and supported by field data.
The classification is applicable over extensive areas.
USNVC Hierarchy
Vegetated Areas Natural Vegetation
Cultural Vegetation
Upper
1 - Formation Class
1 - Cultural Class
2 - Formation Subclass
2 - Cultural Subclass
3 - Formation
3 - Cultural Formation
4 - Cultural Subformation
Middle
4 - Division
5 - Cultural Group
5 - Macrogroup
6 - Cultural Subgroup
6 - Group
Lower
7 - Alliance
7- Cultural type
8 - Association
8 - Cultural subtype
How does the USNVC Classify Natural Vegetation?
• The NVC vegetation classification is
based on a combination of:
• growth forms, as these respond to
climate, elevation, substrates, etc,
and
• species, both dominant and
diagnostic, as these reflect
biogeographic and ecologic
relations.
• The classification is hierarchical and incorporates the
physiognomic (top 3 levels), general floristic-biogeographic
(mid 3 levels), and detailed floristic (lowest 2 levels) criteria,
guiding all criteria by ecological considerations.
Table 1. Summary of USNVC hierarchy levels for natural vegetation
Level
Concept
Upper - Physiognomic
Broad combinations of general dominant growth forms that are
L1 – Formation Class
adapted to basic temperature (energy budget), moisture, and
substrate/aquatic conditions.
of general dominant and diagnostic growth forms
L2 – Formation Subclass Combinations
that reflect global macroclimatic factors driven primarily by
latitude and continental position, or that reflect overriding
substrate/aquatic conditions.
L3 – Formation
L4 – Division
L5 – Macrogroup
L6 – Group
L7 – Alliance
L8 – Association
Example
Shrubland& Grassland
[mesomorphic]
Temperate & Boreal
Shrubland
& Grassland
Temperate Grassland
&Shrubland
Combinations of dominant and diagnostic growth forms that
reflect global macroclimatic factors as modified by altitude,
seasonality of precipitation, substrates, and hydrologic
conditions.
Middle – Physiognomic, Biogeographic and Floristic
Combinations of dominant and diagnostic growth forms and a
Great Plains Grassland
broad set of diagnostic plant species that reflect biogeographic
differences in composition and continental differences in
&Shrubland
mesoclimate, geology, substrates, hydrology, and disturbance
regimes.
Combinations of moderate sets of diagnostic plant species and
diagnostic growth forms, that reflect biogeographic differences in Tallgrass Prairie Grassland
composition and subcontinental to regional differences in
&Shrubland
mesoclimate, geology, substrates, hydrology, and disturbance
regimes.
Combinations of relatively narrow sets of diagnostic plant species
Tallgrass Mesic Prairie
(including dominants and co-dominants), broadly similar
composition, and diagnostic growth forms that reflect regional
Grassland
mesoclimate, geology, substrates, hydrology, and disturbance
regimes.
Lower – Floristic
Diagnostic species, including some from the dominant growth
Big Bluestem – Indian grass
form or layer, and moderately similar composition that reflect
regional to subregional climate, substrates, hydrology,
Grassland
moisture/nutrient factors, and disturbance regimes.
Diagnostic species, usually from multiple growth forms or layers, Big Bluestem – Indian grass /
and more narrowly similar composition that reflect topo-edaphic
climate, substrates, hydrology, and disturbance regimes.
Gayfeather Grassland
Forest & Woodland
(Mesomorphic)
Semi-Desert Vegetation
(Xeromorphic Vegetation)
Shrubland & Grassland
Aquatic Vegetation
(Hydromorphic Vegetation)
Nonvascular
Vegetation
(Lithomorphic
Vegetation)
Loiseleuria
procumbens
Polar and High Mountain Vegetation
(Cryomorphic Vegetation)
Agricultural Vegetation; Developed Vegetation
Orchards and
Treed Lawns
Plantation
Forests
Northern cherry orchard
Poplar plantation
Beech - maple northern hardwood forest,
Apple orchard (Empire)
Douglas fir plantation (40 yr)
- mature & partially logged
Lawn with trees (Thomas
Jefferson home)
Red pine plantation
Red pine forest
Cultural Vegetation
Natural Forests
Semi-natural, Plantation and Native Vegetation
USNVC
Extent and Mapping Resolution
The hierarchical structure of the USNVC allows
agencies to apply the classification in synoptic
planning.
Characterizing the vegetation at the appropriate scale
to address their management questions.
Regional – changes in state
(formations, divisions, macrogroups)
Watersheds or landscapes – changes in pattern
(groups, alliances)
Individual stands – changes in composition
(alliance, associations)
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USNVC
Is the use of the USNVC Mandatory?
 Federally-funded vegetation classification projects must collect,
record, and classify data and information in a manner that allows
others to “crosswalk” the project vegetation classes to some level
of the USNVC.
 In one sense, this means that descriptions from a given project
classification should be relatable to descriptions within the USNVC.
 At the most fundamental level, field data collected to support a
federal agency project should meet the minimum standards for
vegetation data collection set forth in the standard
(http://usnvc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/NVCS_V2_FINAL_2008-02.pdf;
FGDC 2008 for more information).
All-Lands Approach
USFS 2012 Planning Rule
• Land management
planning in FS is done in
the context of the larger
landscape
• Planners consider
conditions beyond the
plan area and how
resources within and
outside boundaries affect
each other
16
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All-Lands Approach
.
Proposed Planning Directives
• Ecological Integrity
– Sustainability
– Diversity
• Listed Species
– Threatened &Endangered
– Proposed, Candidate
• Social and Economic
Sustainability
– Cultural
– Economy of communities
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USNVC
Linking Forest Service Data to the USNVC
• FIA Objectives: Crosswalk plot data to USNVC Groups.
 Key to all USNVC types down to Group for the eastern U.S.
 All FIA plots linked to USNVC types across the U.S.
Benefits: New possibilities for partnership among FIA clients.
National trends in forest data will be displayed with USNVC
types.
• Region 8 Objectives: Characterize National Forest vegetation
using the USNVC.
 List of USNVC Types for each National Forest.
Benefits: Regionally consistent classification and map products
allowing for cross-forest and cross boundary analyses.
• Revised Vegetation Technical Guide Objectives: update
and revise previous Technical Guide to make it consistent
with FGDC standards
Benefits: Agency vegetation classification will be aligned
with OMB Circular A-16 direction. All-lands approach can
18 be used in land management planning.
USNVC
National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring
 Objectives: Develop vegetation
classifications for national park
units; support consistent &
accurate mapping of the
vegetation using a stable /
evolving standard.
 Major Deliverables
Association or Alliance-level
classifications;
descriptions (local & global);
field keys
o Ecologically meaningful
mapping legends
o
 Benefits: High quality vegetation
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maps to support natural resource
management, ability to efficiently
and effectively share data,
information, and approach across
agencies.
USNVC
Bureau of Land Management – Guidance to Field Offices
 Objectives: Encourage the
application of the NVC
Standard in all field offices
throughout the bureau.
Land Use Plans required to
report at Macrogroup level.
NVCS classification categories related to planning use scales. These are only general examples;
assessment and planning needs and purposes should dictate the degree of vegetation description
needed.
Broad-Scale
 Timeframe Ongoing
 Benefits: Standardized map
legends for use in land use
management planning at a
variety of scales. Facilitate
the all lands approach to
inventory and monitoring.
Examples
NVCS Classification
Categories
Global
Climate Change
Assessments
Class
Continental / National
National Trend
Assessments
Sub-class
Trend Assessments
Formation
Scale
National /Regional
Regional
Regional Plans & Tread
Assessments
Division
Sub-regional, State & Subbasins
State-level Conservation
Assessments & Plans,
RMP's, Sub-basin
Assessments
Macrogroup
Activity Plans / Project
Plans
Watershed Assessments,
County Plans/ BLM Activity
Plans / Project Plans
Group
Project Plans
Project Assessments &
Plans / Special Area Plans
(e.g. ACEC's)
Alliance
Site Plans
Site Descriptions and Plans
Association
Mid-Scale
Fine Scale
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USNVC
California classification and mapping projects that
meet national standards
 As of August 2013, 1/3 of
non-urban and nonagricultural portions of the
state- covered (tan and
blue bordered portions are
in progress)
 represents not only data
collection and analysis, but
areas are mapped using
results of the classification
 Most map units are
Alliance level, but some to
Group level, and some
Association level
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USNVC Proposed Data Flow
NVC Web Viewer
Legacy NVC classification
Extraction
NVC Database
Classification Mgt.
US-NVC Panel
Proposal submission
Analysis & Synthesis
Screening
NVC Proceedings
Peer Review
Key
External Action
Internal Action
VegBank & other plot archives
Software Entity
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Status of the USNVC Natural Vegetation Hierarchy , March 2014
Upper Levels
Formation Class
Formation
Subclass
Formation
Concepts & descriptions by HRWG, reviewed by ESA Panel. Ready for
Induction
Conterminous U.S.
Middle Levels
Division
Macrogroup
Group
Alaska
Hawai’i
Caribbean
Concepts drafted, descriptions needed by HRWG to be completed in FY 2014.
Concepts drafted by Concepts
Concepts drafted Concepts drafted
NVC partners*;
drafted; by NVC
by NVC partners; by NatureServe;
Reviewed by ESA
partners;
Descriptions
Descriptions
panel; FY2014
Reviewed by ESA
needed
needed
Panel; FY 2014
Concepts and
Descriptions Drafted Concepts drafted
by NVC partners;
by NVC partners; Concepts drafted Concepts
Reviewed by ESA
Reviewed by ESA by NVC partners; incomplete;
Panel;
Panel;
Descriptions
descriptions
Final Revisions to be Descriptions
needed.
needed.
complete in FY2015; needed.
QA/QC needed.
Status of the USNVC Natural Vegetation Hierarchy (cont.), March 2014
Conterminous U.S.
Alaska
Hawai’i
Caribbean
Alliance
Draft concepts
completed by
NatureServe;
Reviewed by ESA
Panel;
Full descriptions
FY2014; Screening
and QAQC needed.
Concepts drafted
by Alaska
Heritage
Program;
Review and
integration with
USNVC needed.
Concepts
incomplete;
Review and
integration work
needed.
Concepts
incomplete;
integration work
needed
Association
Concepts and
Concepts drafted Descriptions
Screening completed by Alaska HP;
drafted by state
by NatureServe;
Review and
partners;
Ready for Induction. integration with Review and
USNVC needed. integration with
USNVC needed.
Lower Levels
Concepts
incomplete;
integration work
needed
USNVC
Resources for accessing USNVC content
NatureServe.org
Detailed association level descriptions
http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?init=Ecol
USNVC
Resources for accessing USNVC content
USNVC.org
Currently - Hierarchy Browser provides an overview of the classification.
Soon a searchable database of all levels of the hierarchy
www.usnvc.org