Vegetation Surveys
Vegetation surveys gather information on roadside vegetation, fuel sampling, rare species, threatened species abundance of species present, heritage agreements, grazing impacts, weed distribution assessment and more. Essentially, it is a detailed survey of the area’s flora and fauna. The information might be used for a vegetation management plan, like conservation and wilderness assessment, environmental impact assessment, fire and weed control and regional planning. The survey can be used for governmental purposes, or by research and academic institutions, land care groups or private consultants.
Conducting a Pre-Vegetation Survey
Whoever conducts the vegetation management plan should allow for their data entry in estimations of completion time, as well as activities that might add additional time like editing and updating corrections for printouts. The overall initial assessment will include the total number of species per site, number of introduced species per vegetation survey site, and conservation significance based on weighted criteria like species diversity and degree of significance, block size, conserved status, rare and threatened plant species and more.
Mapping Out Your Vegetation
Data that might be included in the vegetation survey may include floristic vegetation mapping, roadside vegetation mapping, a cover or abundance of species, remnant vegetation and tree cover, user-specified species distribution, site locations and more. Mapping is subject to the weather and therefore the season. Special considerations with the staff should be discussed well in advance, so everyone is on the same page. The initial planning stage should allocate time for analysis as well as any plot production that might be involved.
Processing a Survey of Vegetation
Before the vegetation management plan begins, its goals must be clearly defined. All the necessary permits must be pulled. The ultimate goals of those funding the survey should also be clearly defined, and should discuss the scope, timetabling, use of resources and all the required funding. Additional funding might be required for specimen handling and identifications. The selection of sites should also come with proof of site ownership, so access to the land can be obtained.
