Assessment, Conservation and Sustainable Use of Forest Biodiversity

Assessment and Monitoring
Development of the Canadian Forest Ecosystem Classification
The Canadian Forest Ecosystem Classification will employ definitions and conventions that are consistent with
those of the International Classification of Ecological Communities. Based on this compatibility, C-FEC
community types will be synonymous with C-NVC forest and woodland associations and alliances, effectively
constituting the forest and woodland component of the C-NVC. The ICEC system has been endorsed by the
United States federal government as a national standard for vegetation classification, the US National
Vegetation Classification (US-NVC). The C-FEC types will be able to be compared to existing US forest and
woodland associations / alliances that either approach or extend across the international border.
At present, existing provincial / territorial forest ecosystem classifications (FEC’s) identify and describe over
4000 forest and woodland community types across Canada, but because provincial/territorial FEC standards
are only consistent within their jurisdictional boundaries, it is not possible to directly compare FEC
community types across provincial/territorial borders. A Canadian Forest Ecosystem Classification will be
constructed by correlating these systems into a common system, using ICEC standards. Inter-jurisdictional
correlations and review of the resultant C-FEC types will be achieved using provincial/territorial FEC data and
professional ecological expertise. ICEC data, together with ecological expertise from ABI-Canada & US and
regional CDC’s, will be applied to the international correlation of resultant C-FEC types with US forest and
woodland associations/alliances. Thus, C-FEC types will relate to existing provincial / territorial FEC units, as
well as to known US-NVC associations and alliances. Data-based linkages to spatial (mapped) reporting
structures such as the National Forest Inventory (NFI) or satellite-derived landcover schemes will provide the
ability to attribute additional, ground-level ecological information to remotely derived map polygons and
legend classes.
The Canadian Forest Ecosystem Classification will include: 1) a list of nationally standardized, community-level
forest ecosystems that are defined and described in terms of vegetation characteristics in relation to climate,
site, and process factors and will be equivalent to associations of the US- and Canadian National Vegetation
Classifications (both components of the ICEC); 2) a classification database containing summaries of
ecological attributes for the C-FEC units, as well as for their first-order aggregates (alliances), including
information on community species characteristics, habitat and biogeographic attributes, and ecological
process (e.g., successional) relationships; 3) linkages with nationally and regionally mapped ecological
entities, such as the National Forest Inventory, the National Ecological Framework, and other reporting,
conservation, and forest management planning structures.
Partners
This project will be realized as a result of collaboration between the following organizations:
Alberta Community Development; Alberta Environment; Association for Biodiversity - Canada (soon to be
renamed NatureServe - Canada); Association for Biodiversity - US (soon to be renamed NatureServe);
Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre; British Columbia Ministry of Forests; Department of Indian
Affairs and Northern Development -Yukon; Manitoba Conservation; Ministère des ressources naturelles du
Québec; Natural Resources Canada-Canadian Forest Service; New Brunswick Department of Natural
Resources and Energy; Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Forest Resources and Agri-foods; Nova
Scotia Department of Environment and Labour; Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources; Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources; Parks Canada; Prince Edward Island Department of Agriculture and Forestry;
Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management; Yukon Renewable Resources.
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