In Reply Refer To: FWS/RF98-00086 Memorandum To Service Directorate From: Director Subject: Adoption of the Federal Standard for Vegetation Classification On October 22, 1997, Secretary Bruce Babbitt, as Chair of the Federal Geographic Data Committee, signed a memorandum that formally adopted the National Vegetation Classification System as the Federal standard for vegetation classification and data reporting (Attachment 1). Use of this standard can vastly improve our ability to share information within the Service and among other agencies, and enhance our efforts to protect the nation's ecosystems. This memorandum is notification that Service offices should use the National Vegetation Classification System for vegetation classification and mapping done by or for Service offices. The use of Federal standards for the creation of geospatial data is mandated by Executive Order 12906 (Attachment 2). At a Vegetation Workshop recently held in Denver, participants met to discuss the National Vegetation Classification System and additional information on products needed to apply the standard (Attachment 3). The National Conservation Training Center offers a class on the National Vegetation Classification System, but guidelines for mapping vegetation, crosswalks to other classification systems, and references to existing methodologies for field work are examples of products that must also be available for this standard to be easily implemented. A formal charter is being developed to guide creation, review, and modification of these products to better meet Service needs. All offices will be given the opportunity to participate. The National Wildlife Refuge System and National Fish Hatcheries are a natural focus for vegetation classification and mapping, but the classification system must also work for biologists in other ecosystems or with other Service responsibilities. Although the Service and the Federal Geographic Data Committee view wetlands and vegetation mapping standards as supporting two separate and independent layers of data, they are closely related from an overall habitat standpoint. The National Wetlands Inventory provides the Service with an extensive knowledge base for habitat mapping and will play an important role in implementation of the National Vegetation Classification System. Therefore, all offices should consult with their respective Regional NWI coordinator prior to any vegetation mapping to ensure that mapping efforts are both efficient and compatible. The Service also has numerous opportunities to learn from partners in this process. For example, the Ecological Society of America and The Nature Conservancy are developing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Geographic Data Committee to further the development and 2 maintenance of the National Vegetation Classification System, and the Biological Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service, who are implementing the National Vegetation Classification System on National Parks, have offered to provide expertise to the Service. Please distribute this memorandum and the attachments to all Regional and Field Offices so that our staff will be aware of the requirement to apply this standard. Questions regarding participation in the process of creating or reviewing guidelines for implementation should be directed to Nancy Roeper (Division of Refuges 703-358-2389), or Deb Southworth (Division of Information Resources and Technology Management 303-274-3574). Attachments (3) cc: 670RF/CCF 3012/CCU ARW Resource FWS/NRoeper:lem:703/358-1744:7/17/98:G/cores pnd./1998/RF98-00086 Revised:lem:6-19-98; 7/22/98:dc:Revised:gb:7-27-98;Revised:dc:8-4-98 3 Note to Reviewers On October 22, 1997, Bruce Babbit, Chair of the Federal Geographic Data Committee, signed a memorandum that formally adopted the National Vegetation Classification System (NVCS) as the Federal standard for vegetation classification and data reporting. This memorandum serves as notification that Service offices should use the NVCS for vegetation classification and mapping done by or for Service offices. The use of federal standards for the creation of geospatial data is mandated by Executive Order 12906. The NVCS can be used as is, but guidelines and protocols for vegetation classification and mapping will make it easier to apply. The first step towards developing guidelines and protocols for vegetation classification and mapping was taken at a Vegetation Workshop held in Denver on April 28-30. All Service offices will have the opportunity to participate in this process.