New York Natural Heritage Program: Classification of Natural Areas Conservancy’s Ecological Assessment Plots

The New York Natural Heritage Program (NYNHP), with the support of NAC, initiated a study to classify 1,183 vegetation plots sampled in 2013 and 2014 as part of the NAC’s citywide assessment of natural area parkland in New York City. The project produced a digital collection of the plots used for this classification effort, in database format, annotated with the vegetation. USNVC assigned and created a list and described each vegetation association documented to be in natural areas based on the plot data, developed a dichotomous field key to the vegetation, describing the process used to assess, analyze, and categorize each plot. These forest and wetland plot data are a tremendous resource for strategic planning and management of New York City’s natural resources. Having them classified to a consistent, robust, internationally recognized vegetation classification system greatly increases their utility.

• Author(s): Gregory J. Edinger, Timothy G. Howard, Matthew D. Schlesinger
• Date Published: June 30, 2016