Phase II - Classification and Description of Vegetation Associations in Arctic Regions
Project Reference Number: 2010-05
Project Status: Complete
Led by: Will MacKenzie, Research Ecologist, Ministry of Forests and Range, Smithers
Research Assistance: Adrian de Groot, Drosera Ecological Consulting, Smithers; Irene Ronalds, Smithers
Funded by: Environment Yukon, Government of Yukon
Photo: Arctic Poppy (Agriculture Canada)
This is an International Polar Year (IPY) project, funded by the IPY Federal Program office. The project lead is Environment Yukon, Government of Yukon; project partner is the Canadian Forestry Service, Natural Resources Canada. Technical expertise will be further provided by the Canadian National Vegetation Classification (CNVC) Technical Committee.
The objective of this project is to extend the CNVC to include the vegetation associations of the artic. A standardized artic vegetation classification will provide a benchmark for monitoring climate change, species at risk, biodiversity, permafrost and wildlife habitat, and will support land use planning and conservation areas management.
The CNVC is being developed by a multi-agency partnership, including federal, provincial and territorial governments as well as non-governmental organizations. The goal of the CNVC is to develop a nationally standardized classification of natural vegetation conditions for Canada. The CNVC is a data-driven classification system using existing ecological plot data as its foundation. The IPY project will expand the CNVC to include artic vegetation associations, by acquiring vegetation consistent with CNVC standards.
When harmonized with similar systems in other artic regions, this classification will be part of a standardized taxonomy of circumpolar arctic plant communities and contribute to a common international nomenclature for arctic vegetation.
Phase II is to produce a classification of arctic vegetation associations and sub-associations for Canada, applying CNVC standards, using the plor/releve database of vegetation and ecological data that was developed during Phase I of this project.