NatureServe, a non-profit focused on understanding and protecting biodiversity, has released a new set of maps and datasets displaying plant communities and ecosystems of central Turtle Island (the “lower 48” of the US and adjacent areas of Canada and Mexico). The datasets and tools display ecosystem model results based on the International Vegetation Classification (IVC) Groups and satellite imagery, validated with select on-the-ground classifications.
While the datasets can be downloaded for varied applications, there are two simpler ways to use the online tools. To select an ecosystem type and see how it is distributed over the mapped area, use the Range Viewer App. To see a map of all dominant vegetation types with greater spatial resolution, use the Map Viewer App. Both viewers provide a variety of spatial resolution options depending on the user’s zoom level.