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Vegetation Assessment Methods

Description

There are currently many methods for describing and assessing vegetation community types. As decision makers face increasingly complex information on land use and management, it is important to adopt standard methodologies to promote better understanding and communication. The Elkhorn Slough CTP is one of many partners deciminating a new level of standardized vegetation assessment that is being adopted by all major government agencies in California.

There are two versions of this methodoogy, a "Rapid Vegetation Assessmement" and the more detailed "Releve Protocol." Thus far, the CTP has focused on the more widely applicable rapid assessment protocol, a reconnaissance-level method of vegetation and habitat sampling. It may be used to quickly assess and map the extent of all vegetation types in relatively large, ecologically defined regions. The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) has adopted this method to verify locations of known vegetation types, to gain information about new types, and to acquire general information about their composition, habitat, and site quality. Other agencies, such as California State Parks, the Department of Fish and Game, and the U.S. Forest Service, are also adopting this method for documenting vegetation patterns.

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