Quantifying the Representation of Plant Communities in the Protected Areas of the U.S.: An Analysis Based on the U.S. National Vegetation Classification Groups

Plant communities represent the integration of ecological and biological processes they serve as an important component for protection diversity. To measure progress towards ecosystems in United States various stated conservation targets we need datasets at appropriate thematic, spatial, temporal resolution. The recent release LANDFIRE Existing Vegetation Data Products (2016 Remap) with a legend based on U.S. National Classification allowed us to assess status plant map is Group level USNVC, which characterizes regional differences dominant diagnostic species. By combining Protected Areas Database (PAD-US Ver 2.1), quantified representation each Group. If mapped vegetation assumed be 100% accurate, using Aichi Biodiversity target (17% land by 2020) found that 159 265 natural Groups have less than 17% GAP Status 1 & 2 lands 216 fail meet 30% target. Only four twenty ecoregions >17% their extent lands. Sixteen are dominated under-represented. Most many hectares or ruderal could contribute future efforts this analysis helps identify specific opportunities across