IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
FOR THE
U.S. NATIONAL VEGETATION CLASSIFICATION
Federal Geographic Data Committee,
Vegetation Subcommitee
Draft of 29 November 2007
Version 7.1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... ii
A. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 3
B. VISION ...................................................................................................................................... 3
C. THE FUNDAMENTAL PARTNERSHIP.............................................................................. 4
FEDERAL GEOGRAPHIC DATA COMMITTEE (FGDC), VEGETATION SUBCOMMITTEE .............................. 4
U.S. FOREST SERVICE .......................................................................................................................... 5
NATIONAL BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE (USGS-NBII) ................................................ 5
FEDERAL AGENCY MEMBERS................................................................................................................ 5
ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA...................................................................................................... 5
NATURESERVE ..................................................................................................................................... 6
D. STAKEHOLDERS AND APPLICATIONS .......................................................................... 6
E. IMPLEMENTATION GOALS AND ROLES ....................................................................... 8
F. CORE IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES ....................................................................... 10
F1. MAINTENANCE AND DISSEMINATION OF THE DYNAMIC CONTENT .....................................................10
F2. MAINTENANCE AND DISSEMINATION OF SUPPORTING DATA ...........................................................11
F3. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS FOR REVISION OF THE CONTENT .........................................................12
F4. PEER REVIEW OF PROPOSALS FOR CHANGE IN THE NVC CONTENT ................................................12
F5. REPORTING AND DOCUMENTING THE RESULTS OF THE REVIEW PROCESS ........................................13
G. SUPPLEMENTARY IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES .............................................. 13
G1. LINKING ALL THE PIECES IN AN NVC WEB PORTAL .........................................................................13
G2. CROSSWALKING METHODS FOR THE NVC .....................................................................................14
G3. DIRECT USE OF THE NVC ............................................................................................................14
G4. OUTREACH AND TRAINING ............................................................................................................14
G5. COMPATIBILITY WITH OTHER VEGETATION CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS .......................................15
H. LONG-TERM OPERATION ................................................................................................ 15
I. NEXT STEPS AND TIME LINES ........................................................................................ 16
I.1. THE FIRST YEAR (2008) ................................................................................................................16
I.2. CONTINUING ON AN ANNUAL BASIS (STARTING 2009) .....................................................................18
J. INITIAL BUDGET ................................................................................................................ 19
J.1. FIRST YEAR BUDGET....................................................................................................................19
J.2. CONTINUING BUDGET .................................................................................................................20
K. RELEVANT REFERENCES ................................................................................................ 21
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This implementation plan guides development and use of the revised U.S. National
Vegetation Classification (NVC) Standard. Interagency Federal use of the Standard will
produce uniform federal statistics about vegetation resources across the nation and will
provide encouragement to non-Federal partners to use a common system for vegetation
classification when working with their Federal partners. The Standard and this
implementation plan have been developed by Federal and non-governmental partners,
including the Federal Geographic Data Committee Vegetation Subcommittee members,
U.S. Forest Service, National Biological Information Infrastructure, Ecological Society of
America, and NatureServe.
The Standard is a dynamic content standard, which means that it creates a process for
adopting and improving individual vegetation classification types over time. The
implementation plan brings together five core components to achieve this dynamic
process: 1) maintenance and serving of content, 2) maintenance and distribution of
supporting data, 3) preparation and submission of proposals for revising the content, 4)
peer review and evaluation of proposals for revising content, and 5) publication of peer
review results and incorporation of approved changes into the public record of the
classification content. Supplementary activities include dissemination of guidelines on
how to directly use the NVC and how to crosswalk other classifications to the NVC,
outreach and training, and international collaboration. The implementation plan includes
a prioritized list of activities and tools, based on the requirements of the NVC specified in
the Standard.
The dynamic nature of this Standard requires that the Standard receive base funding to
ensure its effective operation, including funding for program management, vegetation
plot data management and distribution, classification management and maintenance,
website development, peer review, and outreach and training. The U.S. Forest Service,
acting through the Vegetation Subcommittee and working closely with the partners, is the
lead federal agency tasked to oversee acquisition of adequate funding and effective
partnership operation of the components.
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A. INTRODUCTION
The Vegetation Subcommittee of the Federal Geographic Data Committee has
revised the National Vegetation Classification Standard by redefining the structure and
naming of the upper levels of the vegetation classification hierarchy, defining the nature
of the lower, floristic levels of the hierarchy, and restructuring the classification from a
content standard to a dynamic process standard (FGDC 2007). In recommending this
revised standard to the Federal Geographic Data Committee, the Subcommittee identified
the need for an implementation plan that would accompany the new standard and include
steps needed for implementing both cultural and natural vegetation classification
standards. Implementation that began in 1997 with adoption of the original standard
needs to take new steps to realize and take advantage of the dynamic content approach.
This Implementation Plan describes the implementation steps for vegetation classification
in terms of a number of core activities that are needed to a) disseminate and archive the
classification content, b) document the vegetation plot data that form the basis for the
recognized types, c) propose revisions to vegetation types or adopt new types, d) conduct
peer review for new and revised types, and e) report the results of the peer review process
in a public proceedings and through incorporation of approved changes into the public
record of the classification content. The intent is that all interested parties be able to
participate in the process of type definition and that the types recognized be defined in
such a way as to facilitate federal agency decision-making through coordinated agency
understanding, description, reporting, and management of vegetation classifications. The
implementation plan also identifies the need for a number of supplementary activities,
including tools for both crosswalking and direct use of the classification, outreach and
training, and long-term maintenance of the classification. Together these activities will
provide the needed support for successful implementation of the revised National
Vegetation Classification Standard.
B. VISION
The overall purpose of this Implementation Plan for the revised National
Vegetation Classification Standard (hereafter referred to as the “Standard”) is to guide
development and use of the Standard to achieve a consistent but evolving national
vegetation classification (hereafter referred to as the “NVC”). Having and applying such
a consistent classification will permit federal agencies to produce uniform statistics about
vegetation resources across the nation, facilitate interagency cooperation on vegetation
management issues that transcend jurisdictional boundaries, and encourage non-Federal
partners to utilize and contribute to a common system when working with their Federal
partners.
This Standard and its Implementation Plan do not preclude Federal agency use of
alternative classification approaches and systems that address their particular, agencyspecific needs. Nor do they hamper local Federal efforts designed to meet specific
purposes, such as site-specific inventory, monitoring, and mapping. The Standard and
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Implementation Plan are intended to facilitate orderly development of a national
vegetation classification, interagency coordination and cooperation, and collaboration
with international vegetation classification activities.
C. THE FUNDAMENTAL PARTNERSHIP
The land cover of the U.S. is currently undergoing rapid change, related to
increased demand for, and conflict over, goods and services derived from diminishing
natural resources. To evaluate and manage these resources, substantial work to inventory,
classify, and map vegetation is underway by public, private, and professional
organizations. The efficacy of this work depends on a national vegetation classification
standard that promotes the complementary capabilities of all engaged partners.
Cooperative efforts built on the strengths of the respective organizations serve the
national interest better than the efforts of any individual organization alone and assure
greater participation and acceptance across all interested parties. Such cooperative efforts
to date have promoted cooperation, coordination, and collaboration in developing
vegetation classification activities that have minimized duplication of effort, ensured that
information produced by each of the partners is made available and used to the maximum
extent possible, and led to development of the proposed Standard and Implementation
Plan.
In keeping with this history of the partnership that helped established the
Standard, the Implementation Plan provides for, and depends on, continuing cooperation
and collaboration among partners. Working under the umbrella of the Vegetation
Subcommittee, these partners include the U.S. Forest Service as lead agency for the
FGDC Vegetation Subcommittee, the other Federal members of the Subcommittee, the
USGS National Biological Information Infrastructure, the Ecological Society of America,
and NatureServe.
Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC), Vegetation Subcommittee
The FGDC was established in 1989 through the Office of Management and
Budget Circular A-16 and under Executive Order No.12906 (1994). It is charged with
coordinating various surveying, mapping, and spatial data activities of federal agencies in
order to meet the needs of the nation. Major FGDC objectives include promoting
efficiencies in mapping and spatial data activities, establishing geospatial standards,
providing wider access to geospatial data, and coordinating geospatial data-related
activities among the public, private, and academic sectors. The FGDC Vegetation
Subcommittee is charged with developing standards of accuracy and currency in
vegetation data, the exchange of information on technical improvements for collecting
vegetation data, and standards for the classification of vegetation. The Vegetation
Subcommittee brings to this Implementation Plan partnership the representation of
federal government interests and a focus on achieving consensus and acceptance of a
nationwide vegetation classification standard within the federal agency community.
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U.S. Forest Service
The U.S. Forest Service, in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, accepted FGDC
delegation of the lead Federal responsibility for developing the national vegetation
classification standard under the aegis of the FGDC. In this role, the Forest Service has
provided the Subcommittee chairperson, Subcommittee scribe, and mechanisms for funds
to be consolidated and obligated to accomplish Subcommittee business.
National Biological Information Infrastructure (USGS-NBII)
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) leads a broad, multi-organizational
cooperative effort to develop the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII).
The NBII is a distributed federation of organizations that maintain biological data,
information, and analytical tools. The NBII federation includes government agencies,
non-government organizations, academic institutions, and others throughout the U.S. and
the world. The objectives of the NBII are to make it easier to locate, exchange, and
integrate biological data and information from many different distributed sources, and to
apply information to natural resources management decisions. The NBII program also
promotes development and adoption of standards and protocols needed to support more
effective collection, management, exchange, integration, and application of biological
data. As a partner in this Implementation Plan, the NBII will make the NVC system and
its associated data and information products broadly accessible by incorporating them
into the NBII federation. The NBII also will promote adoption and implementation of the
NVC Standard and system by the federal community and among the broad network of
NBII partners, both nationally and internationally.
Federal Agency Members
Working under the leadership of the U.S. Forest Service, many affected Federal
agencies have contributed and are expected to continue to contribute to the development
and implementation of the NVC. During the course of development of the Standard and
the associated implementation plan, the following agencies at one time or another have
participated: U.S. Department of Agriculture (Forest Service, National Agriculture
Statistical Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service), U.S. Department of
Commerce (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – National Marine
Fisheries Service), Department of Defense (Tri-Service Technology Center, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers), U.S. Department of the Interior (Bureau of Land Management,
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Biological Service,
National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey-BRD/NBII), Environmental Protection
Agency, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Ecological Society of America
The Ecological Society of America (ESA) is a non-partisan, nonprofit
professional organization of scientists founded in 1915 to stimulate sound ecological
research, clarify and communicate the science of ecology, and promote the responsible
application of ecological knowledge to public issues. ESA's many members conduct
research, teach, and work to provide ecological knowledge, knowledge which often is
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used to solve environmental problems. ESA has supported a Panel on Vegetation
Classification since 1995 to facilitate development of a standardized, scientifically
credible North American vegetation classification system. The Panel has conducted its
work in close coordination with the FGDC Vegetation Subcommittee (Jennings et al.
2006, Jennings et al. 2008).
ESA brings to the partnership a forum for debate of scientific issues relating to
vegetation science and taxonomy, and the capabilities of professional ecologists spanning
academic, agency, and non-government sectors. ESA has developed extensive experience
with methods for professional evaluation and peer review of scientific research and has
identified mechanisms for applying this experience to operation of a dynamic content
standard. ESA also has facilitated development of a database (VegBank) for information
and data derived from vegetation plots and has identified mechanisms for applying this
database to operation of a dynamic content standard.
NatureServe
NatureServe is a non-profit, non-governmental conservation group dedicated to
providing the scientific information and technology needed to guide effective
conservation action. NatureServe represents a network of 75 natural heritage programs
and conservation data centers in the United States, Canada, and Latin America that
collect and analyze information on plants, animals, and ecosystems. NatureServe is a
leading source for detailed scientific information about rare and endangered species and
threatened ecosystems.
Over twenty years ago, staff of NatureServe, at that time a part of The Nature
Conservancy, identified the need to implement a standard vegetation classification
system and, together with Natural Heritage Program scientists, began development and
implementation of vegetation classification standards and types that today form the basis
of the NVC and the International Vegetation Classification (IVC). As part of this work,
NatureServe developed data systems to manage and serve vegetation classification
information. NatureServe also collaborated with ESA to develop a vegetation plot
database (VegBank) that can archive plot data that provide the scientific basis for NVC
types. NatureServe conducts its scientific activities through a well-developed network of
vegetation scientists who are strategically placed across the U.S. in state agencies and
offices.
D. STAKEHOLDERS AND APPLICATIONS
Federal agencies are expected to use this Standard appropriately in their work and
are encouraged to participate in the ongoing development of the NVC through the
proposed implementation of this Standard. Non-federal organizations might find it useful
to use the Standard to increase the compatibility of their efforts with those of partner
federal land managers, to make their efforts more compatible with activities that involve
federal agencies, and more generally to increase compatibility with other efforts that
require characterization of vegetation composition. Examples of organizations and
groups that could benefit from using the Standard include:
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
Federal regulatory agencies (e.g., Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, NOAA, etc),

Federal resource management and science agencies (e.g., BLM, NPS, USFWS,
USFS, USGS, etc.),

Other Federal agencies that impact or study vegetation (e.g., DOD, NASA, etc.),

State and Tribal governments that manage and regulate vegetation (e.g., state
Natural Heritage Programs),

Local governments,

Conservation organizations (e.g., The Nature Conservancy, NatureServe, Land
Trusts, etc.)

Research scientists (especially those who need to characterize the vegetation
context within which their work is conducted),

Private stakeholders with an interest in vegetation management, conservation and
stewardship,

Industry, particularly those needing to report to federal agencies on land impacts
and uses (e.g., ranchers, tourism, developers, etc.), and

International agencies or programs (e.g., CEC, IABIN, UNESCO, IUCN, etc.).
This Standard is intended to be used for information sharing by federal agencies
and other stakeholders, including those engaged in land use planning or management,
such as county and state governments, teaching or research institutions, and the private
sector. Widespread use of these standards will facilitate integration of existing vegetation
data collected by diverse users to address national and regional information needs. Each
Federal agency is required to collect enough data to permit crosswalking to the Standard,
while also being free to develop vegetation classification systems that meet their own
information and business needs.
The ecological characteristics of such local vegetation types can help guide the
design of map legends (sets of map units) to address varying land management issues at
multiple spatial scales. The NVC is expected to provide the common link to compare and
relate these various map legends to each other and facilitate information sharing between
federal agencies and other organizations.
Examples of uses of the NVC include but are not limited to (1) cross boundary
land management, (2) inventory, e.g. U.S. Forest Inventory and Analysis Program, (3)
mapping, e.g., National Park Service/U.S. Geological Survey vegetation mapping
program, (4) State Heritage Programs, e.g. inventory and management of natural areas,
(5) creation of a national set of consistent plot data, (6) setting national vegetation
policies, e.g., biofuels, carbon markets, ecosystem services, (7) research plots and
networks, e.g., Long Term Ecological Research stations, Research Natural Areas,
experimental forest and rangelands, National Earth Observation Network (NEON) sites,
(8) inventory, management and assessment of state parks, forests, wildlife areas, (9) state
wildlife action plans, (10) documenting the ecological context within which research was
conducted, (11) inventory, mapping and assessment by large private landowners, e.g.,
forest industry, ranches, The Nature Conservancy, megafarms, (12) developing national
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cropland statistics, e.g., National Agricultural Statistic Services, and (13) site assessments
by consulting firms.
E. IMPLEMENTATION GOALS AND ROLES
Goals
It is important that as agencies map or inventory vegetation they collect sufficient
core data to translate it for national reporting, aggregation, and comparisons. The ability
to crosswalk other vegetation classifications and map legends to the NVC will facilitate
the compilation of regional and national summaries. The overall purpose of this standard
encompasses five broad objectives:
1. To facilitate and support the development of a standardized vegetation
classification for the United States and its use for information sharing.
2. To maintain and disseminate the classification content.
3. To define and adopt standards for vegetation data collection and analysis used in
maintenance and revision of the classification.
4. To maintain scientific credibility of the national classification through peer review
of proposed changes.
5. To facilitate inter-agency collaboration and inter-agency product consistency.
This standard requires that when Federal efforts are conducted, they are conducted in ways
that, whatever else they do, they provide the minimum data needed to integrate plot data and
crosswalk vegetation types and map units to the Standard (the NVC). Individual plots
should be assignable to one vegetation type at the level of the NVC hierarchy that is
reasonably attainable from the collected plot data. Local vegetation types and map units may
crosswalk to one or more NVC vegetation types at a similar level of the NVC hierarchy.
Details on the scope, applicability, related standards, standards development procedures,
guiding principles, and maintenance authority are specified in the Standards document
(FGDC 2007).
Governance
As lead agency for the subcommittee and working closely with subcommittee
member agencies and partners, the USDA Forest Service will oversee both maintenance
and updating of the Standard through periodic review, and also maintenance, updating,
dissemination, and implementation of the NVC content that derives from implementation
of this Standard. Future revision of this Standard shall follow the standards development
process described in the FGDC Standards Reference Model (FGDC 1996). The dynamic
content of the NVC shall be updated at appropriately prescribed intervals under the
direction of a national review board as authorized and overseen by the USDA Forest
Service acting on behalf of the Subcommittee and its partners. The Subcommittee will
maintain the implementation plan and ensure that tasks specified in the plan are assigned
to specific work groups for development of detailed plans and implementation, and will
review those plans and monitor their implementation.
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Content requirements
The vegetation classification process described in this standard cannot succeed
without careful and explicit rules for information flow and data management. The
classification process requires three dynamic and interacting datasets: (1) the actual
content of the classification at all classification levels, (2) documented vegetation field
plots that provide the scientific basis specifically for the association- and alliance-level
types of the classification, and (3) the botanical taxonomy including not only the
nomenclature but also the concepts behind that nomenclature and their relationships to
the concepts behind the taxa recognized in the USDA PLANTS standard list. It is the
synthesis of these datasets that will allow development and evolution of a consistent
classification of the vegetation of the United States and its Trust Territories.
Components of a dynamic content standard
An FGDC data standard maintained as a dynamic content standard presents
challenges not confronted by other data standards, and these challenges must be
addressed in plans for short-term implementation and long-term maintenance of the
Standard. In particular, five core activities must be addressed: 1) maintenance and
dissemination of current and previous versions of the dynamic content of the Standard, 2)
maintenance and dissemination of supporting data that form the basis for decisions on
content, 3) preparation and submission of proposals for revising the content, 4) review
and evaluation of proposals for revision of the classification content, and 5)
dissemination in the public record of both the results of the review process and also the
approved changes incorporated into the classification content. This implementation plan
for the vegetation standard is described in terms of these five sets of activities. In
addition, supplementary activities are needed, including development of tools for both
crosswalking and direct use of the classification, outreach and training, and long-term
maintenance of the classification. The appendices provide detailed lists of anticipated
tasks for both core and supplemental activities. Together these core and supplemental
activities will provide the needed support for successful implementation of the National
Vegetation Classification Standard and dynamic development of its content.
Administration
Coordination and development of the processes central to the vegetation standard
require dedicated staff to address three essential functions: Program Management,
Training and Outreach Coordination, and Website and Database Management. Without
personnel dedicated to each of these functions, the implementation of the standard is
likely to stall for lack of individuals who have sufficient available time to keep the core
components running smoothly. In addition, these individuals need to have a physical
home, preferably associated with one of the key partners in the implementation. Logical
partners to house personnel include the Science Office of the Ecological Society of
America, the NatureServe Headquarters, NBII, and the Forest Service. Selection of the
appropriate home will be a responsibility of the Lead Agency, to be undertaken in
consultation with the Subcommittee.
Communication
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The five core activities involved in developing and adopting the dynamic content
for the vegetation standard require a mechanism for communication among the
participating partners as well as for their communication with other parties ranging from
agency personnel to the general public. An NVC web portal would optimally serve this
purpose. The portal would provide a single location for viewing or linking to the current
and past versions of the dynamic content, vegetation plots that support the content,
records of proposals for changes in the content and their supporting documentation, tools
for preparing, submitting, and reviewing proposals for changes in the content,
applications and tools for applying the content in various contexts, and training materials
for those wishing to apply the standard or to teach the standard. Such a portal should have
versions designed for users with different backgrounds and needs, such as a general
public version and an experienced user version.
F. CORE IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES
The five core implementation activities addressed in this section include: 1) maintenance
and dissemination of current and previous versions of the dynamic content of the
Standard, 2) maintenance and dissemination of supporting data that form the basis for
decisions on content, 3) preparation and submission of proposals for revising the content,
4) review and evaluation of proposals for revision of the classification content, and 5)
dissemination in the public record of both the results of the review process and also the
approved changes incorporated into the classification content. For each of these core
activities the goals are described first followed by the proposed assignment of roles and
responsibilities.
F1. Maintenance and dissemination of the dynamic content
Goals
The Standard requires a process for adopting and improving individual vegetation
classification types over time, which requires that the partners construct and maintain a
database where confirmed and provisional NVC types and supporting documentation
are managed and maintained. The database must function as the dynamic classification
content record, allow content editing, and be easily searched and flexibly viewed by the
user community. Initial content should be provided by carefully screening provisional
types developed since 1997. A web resource that is efficiently searchable, viewable, and
citable provides appropriate public access to the NVC types, content, and supporting
documentation and serves as the primary access point for viewing and retrieving
information on the NVC. Data types and domain ranges of data attribute values should
be specified, where possible, for all attributes (fields) of the data base. The data
exchange schemas will comply, to the extent practical, with other national and
international data exchange standards.
Roles and Responsibilities
Maintenance of the dynamic classification content including data editing and entry
currently resides with staff from NatureServe. Further development of the database
system and web portal will be guided by the NVC Manager in consultation with the
partners. Maintenance of the software and public dissemination through the web
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portal could be done by NBII, NatureServe, USFS, or others. Oversight and review of
data maintenance and distribution will be the responsibility of the NVC Manager in
consultation with the Subcommittee.
Communication with peer reviewers and collaborating ecologists on classification
changes surrounding proposed upgrades currently resides with NatureServe. Data
analysis focused on reconciling and integrating new and revised content received
from collaborators currently resides with NatureServe.
Creating the initial dynamic content of the upper and mid-level natural types currently
resides with the FGDC Vegetation Subcommittee’s Hierarchy Revisions Working
Group. Overseeing the screening of provisional NVC natural vegetation alliances and
associations for incorporation as initial content currently resides with NatureServe.
Providing an initial dynamic content for cultural types resides with the FGDC
Vegetation Subcommittee in consultation with NRCS and BLM.
F2. Maintenance and dissemination of supporting data
Goals
Plot data used to define and document NVC types must be archived in freely and
publicly accessible and searchable databases that meet the requirements specified in the
Standard, such as that all fields needed for a type description be supported, that plots be
linked to descriptions of vegetation types in the vegetation classification database, and
that databases used to archive plot data documenting the NVC have assured data
permanency and be able to export plot data in a consistent and well-documented format
(Standard 3.4.1.b.). A permanent database of plant taxon concepts; nonstandard,
idiosyncratic identifications; and their relationships must be available and include at least
the concepts used by USDA PLANTS, and preferably concepts used by others, as well.
The data import and export formats for both plot and plant taxa data should be
compliant with widely recognized international data exchange standards. An explicit
schema for the type and domain range of data attribute values for the supporting
databases will be created and made available, so that contributors may design their own
databases and/or data export functions that are compliant with the NVC databases.
Roles and Responsibilities
The ESA Vegetation Panel currently is responsible for VegBank (see Section K), a
vegetation plot database that meets all the requirements of the Standard, currently
serves as the primary vegetation plot archive and database for the NVC, and could be
maintained in the future by either ESA or NBII with appropriate assistance from the
participating parties.
For plant taxonomy standards, short term needs can be addressed by using VegBank
and NatureServe’s Biotics database. In the long term, upgrading the USDA
PLANTS database to support plant concepts, show plant concept relationships, and
provide dynamic versioning will be vital.
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F3. Submission of Proposals for revision of the content
Goals
The NVC Standard requires a process whereby investigators can prepare and submit
proposals for revisions to NVC content in an efficient manner. To that end,
submission of proposals for change in the content of the NVC would be through an
online tool that provides a template that contains all required and optional fields, and
which supports submission of supplementary documentation. The submission tool
would provide links to VegBank (and other approved plot databases), the content
database, and the Proceedings of the NVC (see F5).
Roles and Responsibilities
The Ecological Society of America Vegetation Panel is responsible for a prototype
online submission, peer-review and proceedings software system (see section K). The
NVC Manager, working with NatureServe and the ESA Vegetation Panel, would be
responsible for evaluating functionality of the submission portion of this software and
system and prescribing any needed changes. NBII could assume responsibility for
additional development and long-term maintenance of this software system.
F4. Peer review of Proposals for Change in the NVC content
Goals
A key function of the entire NVC Standard is to permit any investigator opportunity
to review and propose changes to the NVC set of vegetation types, with proposed
changes being evaluated by an independent peer-review board. This authoritative
peer-review process maintains the consistency, credibility, orderly change, and rigor
of the classification (see Standard 3.3.1, 3.3.2) by ensuring compliance with
classification, nomenclature, and documentation standards and quality and sufficiency
of the vegetation data and other supporting documentation.
Roles and Responsibilities
The peer review process (see Standard 3.3.2) shall be administered by the NVC Peer
Review Board, a responsibility which, for natural vegetation, currently resides with
the ESA Vegetation Panel. Partners, such as NRCS and BLM, would be relied on to
help oversee the peer review process for cultural types
As a first step to upgrading the necessary digital tools for peer review of proposals,
the NVC Manager would coordinate a collaborative evaluation by NatureServe, the
ESA Vegetation Panel and NBII of the existing peer-review component of the
prototype peer review tool and proceedings software developed by the ESA
Vegetation Panel (see Section K). Follow-on developmental steps and long-term
maintenance of the peer-review software could become the responsibility of NBII.
The Peer Review Board would consist of vegetation classification specialists
appointed by the Subcommittee with the advice of the ESA Vegetation Panel.
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The Training and Outreach Coordinator would oversee development of training
materials, demonstrations, and tests of both the software used in peer review and the
conduct of the peer-review process itself.
F5. Reporting and documenting the results of the review process
Goals
An open, peer-reviewed process requires that the results of that process be made
freely and publicly available. Thus, accepted proposals for change in the NVC
content would be published in a web-distributed Proceedings of the NVC or
equivalent publication. The Proceedings would constitute the primary literature
underpinning the content of NVC, document key attributes of both new and revised
types as detailed in the standard, and describe the rationale for changes made in the
NVC. The Proceedings would also contain supporting material justifying proposals
and decisions submitted as part of the proposal.
Roles and Responsibilities
The prototype digital proceedings and peer-review tool developed by the ESA
Vegetation Panel (see F3 & F4 above) will provide the NVC Manager a valuable
starting point for working with partner organizations to develop the data exchange,
publication standards, and web functionality of the Proceedings of the NVC. Longterm maintenance of the software system for the Proceedings could be the
responsibility of NBII (experienced in the dissemination of biological data and
information over the web) or of ESA (experienced in creation and maintenance of
scholarly journals and data repositories).
G. SUPPLEMENTARY IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES
Supplementary activities include developing tools for both crosswalking and direct use of
the classification, outreach and training, and collaborating with other national and
international vegetation standards.
G1. Linking all the pieces in an NVC web portal
Goals
An NVC web portal is needed to provide a single access point for viewing or linking
to current and past versions of the dynamic content, vegetation plots that support the
content, records of proposals for changes in the content and their supporting
documentation, tools for preparing, submitting, and reviewing proposals for changes
in the content, applications and tools for applying the content in various contexts, and
training materials for those wishing to apply the standard or to teach the standard.
Such a portal should have versions designed for users with different backgrounds and
needs, such as a general public version and an experienced user version
Roles and Responsibilities
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The NVC Manager would work with all the partners to develop a design for the NVC
web portal. The development and maintenance of this portal could be the
responsibility of NBII.
G2. Crosswalking Methods for the NVC
Goals
The NVC standard is a crosswalk standard providing both methods and tools to
facilitate accurate and efficient crosswalking of plots, types, and polygons for which
vegetation has been classified according to alterative classifications.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Subcommittee, in collaboration with the ESA Vegetation Panel, will oversee the
review, publication, and dissemination of protocols and software tools to facilitate
crosswalking alternative vegetation classification systems to the NVC. These
protocols and tools would be distributed through the NVC Web portal.
G3. Direct Use of the NVC
Goals
In addition to being a crosswalking standard, the NVC also offers a standardized,
widely applicable, scientifically credible vegetation classification system applicable
in many contexts. Use of the NCV can in many circumstances be far more efficient
for inventory, assessment, and management of the nation's ecosystems than
development of an alternative classification.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Subcommittee, in collaboration with the ESA Vegetation Panel, would oversee
the review, publication, and dissemination of protocols, software tools, and training
materials for the direct application of the NVC. These protocols and tools would be
distributed through the NVC Web portal.
G4. Outreach and Training
Goals
Availability of training and outreach materials and activities will enable agency
personnel and partners to effectively employ and further develop the dynamic content
mandated by the standard and to incorporate these products into their ongoing
training and information programs. In addition, agencies and partners will be enabled
to develop and maintain mechanisms that ensure that feedback from trainees and
other users is provided to the Subcommittee.
Roles and Responsibilities
14
The NVC Manager, with the assistance of the Training and Outreach Coordinator,
would develop marketing and communication plans, which would be reviewed by the
Subcommittee. The Training and Outreach Office would take the initiative for general
training and education in vegetation classification, in consultation with the ESA
Vegetation Panel. The Subcommittee and Federal partners would promote training
and education in use of the Standard, referring interested parties to the Training and
Outreach Coordinator for assistance. All Subcommittee partners would have a role in
informing stakeholders about how best to use the Standard and in obtaining feedback
about the utility and ease of use of the Standard for use in improving and refining
informational materials and the Standard, itself.
Some Subcommittee partners would be involved in outreach to and interaction with
vegetation classification activities in other countries. In reaching out to other
countries, the Subcommittee partners could use training and outreach materials
developed for domestic purposes and could transmit feedback received from partners
in other countries to the NVC Manager for use in domestic efforts to maintain the
Standard and inform users about the Standard.
G5. Compatibility with Other Vegetation Classification Standards
Goals
Collaborations between the NVC and other national and international vegetation
classification initiatives, especially those in Mexico and Canada, would help build a
vegetation classification framework that would provide a basis for developing
standards and compatible data layers for vegetation both nationally and
internationally.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Subcommittee would encourage individuals to maintain formal collaborative
relationships with individual country classification initiatives, especially with those of
Mexico and Canada, as well as with broader hemispheric initiatives, especially
NatureServe’s International Vegetation Classification (IVC). These collaborations
would be encouraged to develop protocols for collaboration on content development
that spans international boundaries.
Subcommittee partners would keep the Subcommittee and staff informed of
international classification and standards initiatives and exemplary national
vegetation classification programs.
The NVC Manager, together with ESA Panel members, would assure NVC
representation at critical international meetings where data exchange standards
relevant to the NVC are evaluated or established.
H. LONG-TERM OPERATION
Goals
15
The Lead Agency, collaboratively with partner agencies, must seek and provide
appropriate levels of predictable base funding as needed to implement the core
processes of the NVC as defined in this implementation plan. The Lead Agency or its
designee must develop and maintain cooperative agreements or other business
arrangements between Federal partners and non-Federal partners. The Subcommittee
should continue to develop and regularly update the implementation business plan so
as to provide the necessary structure for refining maintenance cost estimates over
time, formulating and allocating budgets, assigning personnel, and initiating and
renewing the needed procedural arrangements among Federal and non-Federal
partners.
Guided by periodically updated provisions of the implementation business plan,
Federal Subcommittee members will need to provide statements of support for future
budget requests of the lead funding agency and/or partner agencies. Federal
Subcommittee members also will need to seek their own future budget increases to
obtain funds they either might spend directly or might appropriately transfer to
another agency for implementation of the Standard. Federal agencies also will need
to document their plans for in-kind contributions to implementing the Standard, either
through memoranda to the Subcommittee or through interagency memoranda of
understanding or interagency agreements.
Federal agencies will need to develop and amend, as appropriate, agency direction
relating to the Standard (as mandated by OMB Circular A-16).
Partner members of the Subcommittee may find it beneficial to their own programs to
develop individual or coordinated fund-raising strategies to strengthen their
contributions to implementing the Standard. The Federal members may have
supportive roles in these efforts, either through providing statements of support for
Partner contributions to maintaining the Standard or through offering cooperative
funds.
Roles and Responsibilities
U.S. Forest Service, as Lead Agency for the Subcommittee, will be responsible for
long-term maintenance of the Standard. Federal agencies will need to develop and
amend, as appropriate, agency direction relating to use of the Standard as per OMB
Circular A-16. The Subcommittee will advise the Lead Agency on how to best assure
the long-term maintenance of the vegetation standard and its content.
I. NEXT STEPS AND TIME LINES
I.1. The First Year (2008)
First six months, Lead Agency responsibilities, in collaboration with the Subcommittee

Acquire initial funding to initiate implementation of the vegetation standard.

Develop a workplan for the various core and supplementary activities.
16

Select an administrative home for the office and staff. For example, this could be
located in the Science Office of the Ecological Society of America or the
Headquarters of NatureServe, or within the facilities of a federal agency.
Affiliation with one of the non-federal partners would reinforce the collaborative
partnership that forms the basis of the core implementation activities.

Develop an appropriate contract or MOU with the unit that will house the NVC
office and staff.

Develop a workplan for the various core and supplementary activities

Develop a description of website and database development needs

Identify staff needs and job descriptions for:
o
o
o
o
o
o
NVC Project Manager (and advertise in the first six month).
vegetation plot data staff needs.
website development needs.
classification management staff needs.
staff needs for initial peer review.
outreach and training staff needs.
First 6 months –Subcommittee responsibilities

Construct a preliminary NVC web portal.

Assemble demonstration peer review panel.

Establish a framework and implementation process for the initial screening of the
NVC types (upper, mid and lower level units).

Submission of demonstration proposals for testing and development of the peer
review process.

Review of the current Peer Review and Proceedings software by NatureServe
staff.

Hire the Project Manager.
Second 6 months – Subcommittee, ESA Panel, and NVC staff responsibilities

Establish the office of the NVC.

Hire or contract the staff needed to address the core activities of the NVC.
o
o
o
o
Vegetation plot database development and management.
Website development.
Classification management.
Peer review and editing needs.
17

Develop and submit a draft multi-year but short-term business plan and budget,
which will be reviewed by the Subcommittee, revised as appropriate, and
submitted to the Lead Agency.

Establish a suitable peer review body for the initial screening of the NVC types
(upper, mid and lower level units) (e.g, NatureServe Staff, Hierarchy Revisions
Working Group members, state Heritage/agency staff, federal agency staff, etc).

Peer review of demonstration proposal.

First meeting of the peer review panel.

Formal design specifications for NVC portal, in collaboration with NBII.

Develop a job description and advertise for a Training and Outreach Coordinator
(TOC).
I.2. Continuing on an Annual Basis (starting 2009)

Hire, in consultation with the Program Manager, the Vegetation Training and
Outreach Coordinator (TOC).

The TOC will develop, in consultation with the Subcommittee and Director, a
marketing plan.

The TOC will develop, in consultation with the ESA Vegetation Panel, a longrange training and outreach plan.

Other ongoing activities as needed to achieve the goals described in Sections F
and G.
18
J. INITIAL BUDGET
J.1. First Year Budget
NVC BUDGET: YEAR 1
Tools Start-Up Costs
Classification Website & NVC Portal
Review and Revision of VegBank and Proceedings
GS13
GS13
SALARY
RATE
88,000
88,000
Programmatic Personnel
Program Manager
GS13
88,000
0.375
33000
9900
42,900
Training & Outreach Coordinator
GS11
62,000
0
0
0
0
Type Data Management
GS10
56,000
0.5
28000
8400
36,400
Coordination of Classification Changes
GS12
74,000
0.5
37000
11100
48,100
Analysis (documenting legacy types etc)
GS12
74,000
0.5
37000
11100
48,100
Plot Databases
GS11
62,000
0.25
15500
4650
20,150
Taxon Databases
GS9
51,000
0
0
0
0
Classification
Management (Screening)
Supporting Management
Peer Review Board
FTE
0.7
0.7
Actual
Salary
61600
61600
Benefits
(@30%)
18480
18480
Total
80,080
80,080
Travel for peer review
20,000
-
20,000
Temporary personnel to serve on peer review board
20,000
-
20,000
Travel for ESA Panel meeting
15,000
-
15,000
Reporting
NVC Proceedings Database
GS9
51,000
0
0
0
0
Website & Help Desk
IT Officer (website and portal)
GS13
88,000
0.1
8800
2640
11,440
Help Desk (support data requests, etc)
GS11
62,000
0
0
0
0
Office
Office
Total
15,000
-
15,000
437,250
(overhead not
included)
19
J.2. Continuing Budget
NVC BUDGET YEARS 2 AND ONGOING
SALARY
RATE
Programmatic
Personnel
Classification
Management
Supporting
Management
Peer Review
Board
Reporting
Website & Help
Desk
FTE
Actual
Salary
Benefits
(@30%)
Total
Program Manager
GS13
88,000
0.75
66000
19800
85800
Training & Outreach Officer
GS 11
62,000
0.5
31000
9300
40300
Type Data Management
GS10
56,000
0.5
28000
8400
36400
Coordination of Classification Changes
GS12
74,000
0.5
37000
11100
48100
Analysis (documenting legacy types etc)
GS12
74,000
0.5
37000
11100
48100
Plot Databases
GS11
62,000
0.25
15500
4650
20150
Taxon Databases
GS9
51,000
0.1
5100
1530
6130
Travel for peer review
20,000
-
20,000
Temporary personnel to serve on peer review board
20,000
-
20,000
Travel for ESA Panel meeting
15,000
-
15,000
NVC Proceedings Database
GS9
51,000
0.1
5100
1530
6630
IT Officer (website and portal)
GS13
88,000
0.1
8800
2640
11440
Help Desk (support data requests, etc)
GS11
62,000
0.1
6200
1860
8060
Office
Total
15,000
-
15,000
381,610
(overhead not
included)
20
K. RELEVANT REFERENCES
1. Federal Geographic Data Committee.
Federal Geographic Data Committee. 2007. National Vegetation Classification
Standard, Version 2 – Working Draft. FGDC-STD-005 (version 2), October 30,
2007. Vegetation Subcommittee, Federal Geographic Data Committee, FGDC
Secretariat, U.S. Geological Survey. Reston, VA. 57p (+ Appendices).
This classification standard is a revision to the 1997 NVC Standard of the U.S. National
Vegetation Classification.
2. ESA Panel Guidelines
Jennings, M.D., D. Faber-Langendoen, R.K. Peet, O.L. Loucks, D.C. Glenn-Lewin,
A. Damman, M.G.Barbour, R. Pfister, D.H. Grossman, D. Roberts, D. Tart, M.
Walker, S.S. Talbot, J. Walker, G.S Hartshorn, G. Waggoner, M.D. Abrams, A.
Hill, M. Rejmanek. 2006. Description, Documentation, And Evaluation Of
Associations And Alliances Within The U.S. National Vegetation Classification,
Version 4.5. Ecological Society of America.
Jennings, M.D., D. Faber-Langendoen, O.L. Loucks, R.K. Peet, and D. Roberts.
2008. Characterizing Associations and Alliances of the U.S. National Vegetation
Classification. (Submitted to Ecological Monographs).
These guidelines, available in both report form and journal form, summarize the major
recommendations to the FGDC Vegetation Subcommittee on how to develop standards
for the alliance and association levels of the NVC hierarchy. They substantially shaped
version 2 of the NVC Standard (FGDC 2007).
3. VegBank
VegBank is the vegetation plot database of the Ecological Society of America's Panel
on Vegetation Classification. VegBank consists of three linked databases that contain
(1) vegetation plot records, (2) vegetation types recognized in the U.S. National
Vegetation Classification and other vegetation types submitted by users, and (3) plant
taxa recognized by USDA PLANTS as well as all other plant taxa recorded in plot
records. Vegetation records, community types and plant taxa may be submitted to
VegBank and may be subsequently searched, viewed, annotated, revised, interpreted,
downloaded, and cited. There are direct links from plots to taxonomic information in
PLANTS and to vegetation types of the NVC as reported in NatureServe Explorer.
http://www.vegbank.org/vegbank/general/info.html
4. NatureServe Databases
21
NatureServe Explorer is the NatureServe web portal to the 70,000 plants, animals,
ecosystems, and vegetation types that it tracks in its Biotics database. As such it is
the current official public copy of the content of the vegetation. The Vegetation types
in Explorer have direct links to the supporting plots in VegBank. This content is
expected to move to the formal NVC portal as described in section E above.
http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/
Biotics 4 is NatureServe's biodiversity data management software. The system
incorporates custom applications for spatial data management, tabular data
management, data import/export and reconciliation, and reporting. It is the primary
tool for maintaining the current content of the NVC.
http://www.natureserve.org/prodServices/biotics.jsp
5. The Proceedings of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification is a fully functional
demonstration prototype of the proposed system for formulating, receiving, peer
reviewing and ultimately publishing proposals for revision of the NVC.
http://herbarium.unc.edu:8080/nvcrs/
22