Vegetation

The mission of the CNPS Vegetation Program is to develop and disseminate quantifiable definitions of all types of vegetation in California. These definitions will be used to promote science-based conservation at the natural community and ecosystem level throughout the State.

The principal goals of the Vegetation Program are to develop, promote, and maintain a uniform vegetation classification that will be adopted by private, state, and federal resource agencies with jurisdiction over land management, and to develop defensible definitions of the rare vegetation of the state.

CNPS Vegetation Program Overview

• Vegetation Program Summary -- What the CNPS Vegetation Program is all about.

A Manual of California Vegetation

CNPS has adopted a definitive system for describing vegetation statewide. This standard vegetation classification has been accepted by state and federal agencies, and the principal unit is called “Alliance” (or series), which is a floristically defined vegetation type identified by its dominant and/or characteristic species.

• A Manual of California Vegetation -- Provides the background for CNPS's prominent scientific publication (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995).
• Online Vegetation Manual -- A web-based version of A Manual of California Vegetation (1995 edition).
• Vegetation Classification (PDF 419k) --List of Alliances and Associations currently recognized by the California Natural Diversity Database and by CNPS.

Vegetation Sampling Methods and Projects

CNPS has adopted a series of methods and data forms for the collection of vegetation data around the state. The link below provides an overview of the current vegetation sampling projects along with links to the standard protocols and field forms.

• Background on Sampling Projects and Protocols
• Instructions and Forms
• Additional Plant Science Data Forms
  • CNDDB Field Survey Form
  • DFG Vegetation Protocols

Vegetation Publications and Presentations

CNPS has developed a variety of reports, publications, and presentations to describe vegetation. The characteristic alliances in certain regions of the state are described in the reports. The importance of and variation in vegetation is explained in complimentary publications and presentations, especially as they associate to regional mapping projects, sampling efforts, and conservation efforts.

• Vegetation Program Reports and Publications -- A link to view the reports from Western Riverside County, San Dieguito River area, Northern and Inner Central Coast, Sierra Nevada foothills, and other localities.
• Sampler Newsletters -- Link to informative newsletters that the CNPS Vegetation committee and staff have developed over more than a decade.
• PowerPoint Presentations -- Link to presentations created by CNPS that explain the importance of integrated and detailed vegetation projects.
• CNPS Vegetation Program - Photo Collection -- The Vegetation Program has a need for photograph submissions to represent the plant communities in California..

Vegetation Workshops

• Vegetation Science Public Workshops -- Announcement for upcoming workshops for professional training in vegetation sampling and mapping.
• Chapter Workshops -- Announcement for upcoming workshops for chapter training in vegetation methods and for upcoming chapter vegetation events.
  

Vegetation Program Initiatives

• Grassland Initiative -- CNPS has launched a collaborative initiative to categorize, map, and conserve California’s grassland vegetation.
• Rare Plant Communities Initiative -- Over 25% of our state’s vegetation types are rare. CNPS proposes a multi-step process to inventory, substantiate, map, and track rare communities throughout the state.

Statewide Vegetation Mapping Links

• Vegetation Mapping Projects -- Links to standardized approaches to vegetation mapping in California.
• Imagery and Maps for Vegetation Mapping (PDF 501k) -- The Department of Fish and Game and California Native Plant Society provides a list of sources for imagery and maps with considerations for vegetation mapping.

Vegetation Program Contacts

• Vegetation Contacts -- How to get in touch with the CNPS Vegetation Program staff and volunteers.