The National Vegetation Classification Standard
Introduction
The National Vegetation Classification Standard establishes a consistent national approach to the classification of existing vegetation. It is intended to facilitate collaboration between state and federal agencies engaged in the collection of vegetation data, and to support vegetation map consistency (although it is not a map standard). It will foster accuracy, compatibility, and clarity in the structure, labeling, definition and application of vegetation for the U.S and its Trust Territories. The National Vegetation Classification Standard (NVC) also defines and adopts standards for vegetation data collection and analysis. These minimum metadata requirements ensure consistent reporting on the nation's vegetation resources.
The NVC has been implemented by federal, state, tribal, and non-profit agencies as well as academic researchers and private environmental consulting firms who see the value in sharing their vegetation data with other agencies and groups. We have also implemented the NVC into our Ecological Systems Field Guide.
The Classification
The National Vegetation Classification is a hierarchical system designed to classify existing vegetation (i.e. plant cover, floristic composition, and vegetation structure occurring in a specific place at a specific time) on the basis of both physiognomic and floristic criteria. The upper levels of the classification are physiognomic, defined primarily on the basis of growth form, structure, and cover, while the lower levels are floristic, based primarily on species composition and abundance. The middle-tiered levels are based on a combination of physiognomic and floristic characteristics. Explore the Classification on the Nature Serve website.
The NVC also differentiates between natural and cultural vegetation, with separate classification hierarchies for each. Natural (and semi-natural) vegetation is vegetation in which species and site characteristics are determined primarily by ecological processes. By contrast, when the structure, composition, and development of vegetation are determined by regular human activity, such as land clearance, grazing, and/or fire regime management/fuels treatments, the vegetation is defined as cultural vegetation. Natural vegetation may be influenced to varying degrees by human activity. Vegetation that has been shaped by both anthropogenic disturbances and ecological processes (e.g. reclaimed cropland or rangeland) is defined as semi-natural vegetation. The NVC encompasses all areas having one percent or more of their surface area covered with live vegetation. Non-vegetated lands and open water are excluded from classification.
| NVC Hierarchy | Natural Vegetation | Cultural Vegetation |
| Upper Level | ||
| Level 1- Class | Level 1- Cultural Class | |
| Level 2- Subclass | Level 2- Cultural Subclass | |
| Level 3- Formation | Level 3- Cultural Formation | |
| Level 4- Cultural Subformation Row Crop | ||
| Mid Level | ||
| Level 4-Division | Level 5-Cultural Group | |
| Level 5-Macrogroup | Level 6-Cultural Subgroup | |
| Level 6-Group | Level 6-Cultural Subgroup | |
| Lower Level | ||
| Level 7-Alliance | Level 7- Cultural Type | |
| Level 8-Association | Level 8- Cultural Subtype (optional | |
Upper Level Units
With Natural Vegetation, the upper-level units consist of three classes defined on the basis of physiognomic and ecological factors.
- Class: A broad combination of dominant general growth forms that correspond to global moisture and temperature regimes and/or substrate or aquatic conditions.
- Subclass: A combination of general dominant and diagnostic growth forms reflecting global macroclimatic factors driven primarily by latitude and continental position or reflecting the overriding substrate or aquatic conditions.
- Formation: A combination of general dominant and diagnostic growth forms reflecting global macroclimatic factors including by elevation, seasonality of precipitation, and soil moisture conditions.
Mid Level Units
The mid-level units consist of three classes defined on the basis of both physiognomic and floristic units.
- Division: A combination of dominant and diagnostic growth forms and a broad set of diagnostic plant taxa reflecting biogeographic differences in composition, and continental differences in mesoclimate, geology, substrates, hydrology, and disturbance regimes.
- Macrogroup: A combination of moderate sets of diagnostic plant species and diagnostic growth forms reflecting biogeographic differences in composition and sub-continental to regional differences in mesoclimate, geology, substrates, hydrology, and disturbance regimes.
- Group: A combination of relatively narrow sets of diagnostic plant species (including dominants and co-dominants), with broadly similar composition, and diagnostic growth forms reflecting biogeographic differences in mesoclimate, geology, substrates, hydrology, and disturbance regimes.
Lower Level Units
The lower-level units consist of two classes defined on the basis of floristic units.
- Alliance: A characteristic range of species composition, habitat conditions, physiognomy, and diagnostic species, typically at least one of which is found in the uppermost or dominant stratum of the vegetation layer, and reflecting regional to subregional climate, substrates, hydrology, moisture/nutrient factors and disturbance regimes. An alliance consists of one or more associations.
- Association: A characteristic range of species composition, with diagnostic species occurrence, habitat conditions, and physiognomy reflecting topo-edaphic conditions, climate, substrates, hydrology, and disturbance regimes.
Examples of the NVC Natural Vegetation hierarchy with an upland and wetland community. |
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| Natural Vegetation Hierarchy | Example: Upland | Example: Wetland |
| Upper Level | ||
| Level 1- Class | Mesomorphic Tree Vegetation Class (Forest & Woodland) |
Mesomorphic Shrub and Herb Vegetation (Shrubland and Grassland) |
| Level 2- Subclass | Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland | Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland |
| Level 3- Formation | Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland | Temperate to Polar Bog & Fen |
| Mid Level | ||
| Level 4-Division | Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland | North American Bog & Fen |
| Level 5-Macrogroup | Rocky Mountain Subalpine- High Montane Conifer Forest |
North American Boreal & Sub-boreal & Acidic Fen |
| Level 6-Group | Rocky Mountain Lodgepole Pine Forest & Woodland |
Rocky Mountain Acidic Fen |
| Lower Level | ||
| Level 7-Alliance | Rocky Mountain Woodland Alliance (Pinus contorta Rocky Mountain Woodland Alliance) | Acidic Sedge Graminoid Fen Alliance (Carex lasiocarpa - Carex livida - Dulichium arundinaceum Acidic Graminoid Fen Alliance) |
| Level 8-Association | Lodgepole Pine / Common Juniper Woodland (Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Woodland) | Slender Sedge Fen ( Carex lasiocarpa Fen) |
Supporting Documents and Presentations
For a detailed explanation of the National Vegetation Classification Standard, refer to the documents and presentations listed below.
Documents
- Full Montana NVC Hierarchy
- National Vegetation Classification Version 2 Guide
- Full Text of the National Vegetation Classification Standard, Version 2
- This Web Page as a PDF Document
