Pacific Southwest

Title: Ecological type classification for California: the Forest Service approach

Author: Allen, Barbara H.

Date: 1987

Source: Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-98. Berkeley, Calif.: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. 8 p

Station ID: GTR-PSW-098

Description: National legislation has mandated the development and use of an ecological data base to improve resource decision making, while State and Federal agencies have agreed to cooperate in standardizing resource classification and inventory data. In the Pacific Southwest Region, which includes nearly 20 million acres (8.3 million ha) in California, the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, has begun a long term project to develop an ecosystem type classification system. It will identify and describe vegetation/soil/ physiographic units called ecological types, which are site-specific units distinguished from each other by significant differences in species composition, soils, productivity, and expected response to management; and which are identifiable in the field in any seral stage. The classification will provide resource managers a useful tool for organizing complex arrays of resource information, a common labeling system and site-specific ecological information to improve predictions of site productivity and expected response to management. Methodology described for classification development includes reconnaissance and intensive sampling. An ecological type description developed on the Cleveland National Forest is an example of the products that will be available to users.

Keywords: classification, ecological type, ecosystem, Forest Service, California

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Citation

Allen, Barbara H.  1987.  Ecological type classification for California: the Forest Service approach.   Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-98. Berkeley, Calif.: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. 8 p.