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Canadian National Vegetation Classification

Understanding and conserving the complex array of the world’s biological diversity—from species to communities, ecosystems, and landscapes—is a great challenge for those confronted with land use and conservation decisions. A standardized framework for the description of Canada’s ecological communities is one of the tools that scientists and decision-makers need to deal with these challenges.

The Canadian National Vegetation Classification (CNVC) initiative was launched in 1998 as part of the International Vegetation Classification. This worldwide classification system provides a valuable structure for framing and answering important scientific and applied inquiries about vegetation patterns and ecological processes. A consistent classification of ecological communities based on vegetation enables the exchange of ecological information regardless of political boundaries.

The CNVC project has begun by addressing the classification of forest communities. This model for cataloguing forests has prompted initiatives for similar work to be completed for prairie ecosystems. The trinational Commission for Environmental Cooperation is a strong supporter of a common grasslands classification standard across the continent. Other building blocks of the CNVC will also be developed for tundra and wetlands.

  Benefits of the CNVC

• A common national and international naming system for ecological communities.
• A useful link with information and geographic information systems (GIS) technologies.
• An encyclopedia of ecological community information.
• An integrated link among different mapping projects.
• A standardized reporting method on the status of Canadian ecosystems.
• A systematic process for inventory and monitoring of terrestrial ecosystems.
• An essential tool to facilitate conservation and land use planning decisions.

  Partners in Vegetation Classification

This initiative would not be possible without the cooperative efforts of many partners from both government and non-government sectors. Representatives from the Canadian Forest Service and provincial forestry departments, Parks Canada, Nature Conservancy of Canada, and the NatureServe Canada network are currently involved to oversee strategy and implementation of the classification process. Additional interested partners are actively sought. Completion of the Canadian National Vegetation Classification can only be achieved with the collaborative efforts of a wide range of parties at federal, provincial, regional, municipal, and local levels.

The CNVC is supported by funding from the Richard Ivey Foundation and the Canadian Information System for the Environment. This project is also integrated and in partnership with the Canadian Forest Ecosystem Classification of the Canadian Forest Service.