Cultural Vegetation Classification
The first approximation of the hierarchy for the cultural vegetation types in the standard relies heavily on existing classification systems (FGDC 2008), specifically the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Natural Resource Inventory classification (NRI 2003). The Vegetation Panel plans to continue to work with the federal agencies to refine the classification of cultural types. For those familiar with the 1997 FGDC Standard, the current treatment of cultural vegetation as separate from natural vegetation represents a significant shift. Further work on refining the classification for the cultural types is recognized as a major need by the FGDC Vegetation Subcommittee.
Floristic and physiognomic criteria are the primary properties of cultural vegetation used to define all units of the classification, but assessed in light of human activities that govern these properties. Excluded from these criteria are properties from outside the current vegetation, such as explicit habitat factors (e.g., climate, soil type) or land use activities (e.g., grazed pasture versus ungrazed pasture), except as these are expressed in the vegetation cover. Some types are difficult to place in terms of natural versus cultural vegetation (e.g., forest plantation, pastures), and the user may need to look in both parts of the hierarchy to determine the type’s location. The graphic below provides a general overview of criteria and the levels of the cultural vegetation hierarchy. Specific examples and the criteria used to define the eight levels of the cultural hierarchy are included in the table below.
Criteria and examples of the levels of the revised NVC hierarchy for cultural vegetation
| HIERARCHY FOR CULTURAL VEGETATION | CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA | EXAMPLE 1 | EXAMPLE 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper | Physiognomy and ecology | ||
| Level 1 – Cultural Class | Combination of dominant growth forms adapted to relatively intensive human manipulations, as reflected in relatively rapid changes in structure and/or composition. | Agricultural Vegetation | Agricultural Vegetation |
| Level 2 – Cultural Subclass | combinations and degree of herbaceous versus woody growth forms | Herbaceous Agricultural Vegetation | Woody Agricultural Vegetation |
| Level 3 – Cultural Formation | Canopy structure of dominant growth forms is annually converted or heavily manipulated / harvested. | Cultivated crop | Woody Horticultural Crop |
| Level 4 – Cultural Subformation | spatial structure of the vegetation, including whether in swards, rows, and degree of manipulation to the canopy. | Row Crop | Orchard |
| Mid | Physiognomy and floristics | ||
| Level 5- Cultural Group [optional] | common set of growth forms and many diagnostic plant taxa sharing a broadly similar region and climate, and disturbance factors | Temperate and Tropical Row Crop | Temperate and Tropical Orchard |
| Level 6 – Cultural | common set of growth forms and diagnostic species (taxa) preferentially sharing a similar | Corn | Fruit – Orchards |
| Subgroup | set of regional edaphic, topographic, and disturbance factors. | ||
| Lower | Predominantly floristics | ||
| Level 7 – Cultural Type | dominant or co-dominant species, as well as habitat conditions, and physiognomy. | Sweet Corn | Apple |
| Level 8- Cultural Subtype [optional] | dominant or co-dominant species, in conjunction with a characteristic set of associated species, habitat conditions and physiognomy |
REFERENCE
FGDC 2008 National Vegetation Classification Standard, Version 2. Federal Geographic Data Committee – Vegetation Subcommittee. FGDC-STD-005-2008 (Version 2).
National Resources Inventory (NRI). 2003. Handbook of Instruction for Remote Data Collection, Chapter 13 – Land Cover / Use. Natural Resources Conservation Service. USDA, Washington, DC.
