Strategic Planning Meeting
Vegetation Classification and the ESA Vegetation Panel
April 26-27, 2001
National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
Santa Barbara, California
Attendees: Michael Barbour, Dennis Grossman, Michael Jennings, Don Faber-Langendoon, Robert Peet, Marilyn Walker, Alan Weakley
Meeting goal: Chart a future course and implementation plan North American vegetation classification (NAVC) including assessment of the appropriate roles for the various participating institutions.
Supporting documents:
1. A vision for implementation and documentation of a Vegetation Classification System for the United States. April22, 2001. (attached)
2. Letter from Gary Waggoner, April 2001 (attached)
3. Letter from Tom Owens, March 2001 (attached)
3. Initiative document, version 6.0 (http://esa.sdsc.edu/initv60.htm)
4. MOU (attached)
Definition: Herein we make reference to the “US National Vegetation Classification.” This reflects the partnership articulated in the Memorandum of Understanding signed by FGDC, ESA, TNC & USGS. Specifically this is our vision for a classification system we hope and expect FGDC to support . It may grow to be of larger geographic extent than the US, but we will focus on the US in the initial implementation. Moreover, NVC should not be taken to indicate precisely the ABI International Classification of Ecological Communities (ICEC), with which it does broadly overlap for the US. Many floristic units (associations and alliances) recognized at present by ABI will likely not initially conform to standards adopted for the NVC, and ABI may or may not have the resources or inclination to bring them into conformance. Definition of the relationships among the NVC, ICEC and other related classification efforts form part of the focus of this meeting
Agenda
Thursday, 26 April ; Chair = Peet
8:30 Welcome
8:45 Review of agenda & desired products:
1. Draft a vision document to be directed to the Panel to form the basis of a proposal to the ESA Governing Board with respect to the future of the Panel and its role in vegetation classification in North America.
2. Draft a vision statement & implementation plan for operation of a peer review process for quantitatively described vegetation associations.
3. Draft a charter and bylaws for the Panel (including membership prescription).
4. Draft a vision statement for the operation and management of the Vegetation Plots Database.
5. Develop a strategic plan for regularizing the Vegetation Panel within ESA.
6. Develop a strategic plan for obtaining funding for the long-term maintenance of the Vegetation Plots Database and for Vegetation Panel operations.
7. Develop an outline for a revised standards document and a plan for its expeditious completion.
8. Draft a vision statement & implementation plan for creation and operation of an e-journal to support the NVC.
9:00 Progress reports:
9:00 Progress report: Plots Database project – Peet
(More detail at 3:00)
9:10 Progress report: ABI & HDMS – Grossman
9:20Progress report: USGS & NBII – Jennings
9:30-12:15 Assessment of institutional roles, and evaluate the draft document to be directed to the Panel to form the basis of a proposal to the ESA Governing Board with respect to the future of the Panel and vegetation classification in North America. (To be based on the attached document “A vision for implementation and documentation of a Vegetation Classification System for the United States.”)
(10:30-10:45 Break)
Evaluation of possible roles of various parties.
Definitions
Initial assumptions
Roles.
Setting standards
Review and authenticate proposed communities
Building and managing databases
12:15 Lunch
1:30 Draft a vision statement & implementation plan for operation of a peer review process for quantitatively described vegetation associations.
2:45 Break
3:00Presentation on Plots Database project – John Harris
4:00 Draft a vision statement for operation and management of the Plots Database.
5:30Adjourn
Friday, 27 April; Chair = Jennings
8:30 Draft a charter and bylaws for the Panel (including membership prescription).
The charter and bylaws should probably address the following:
- Long-term mission (hinges on roles)
- Structure and process; bylaws
- How should the process be codified?
- How should membership be determined?
- What additional roles should the Panel have, such as outreach?
The current mission statement: The ESA Panel on Vegetation Classification provides impartial scientific expertise to public, professional and private partners in support of the development and use of a scientifically credible national vegetation classification system. The Panel’s goals are to (1) Advance the standardization of the national vegetation classification; (2) Advance quality assurance of the data in the national vegetation classification; (3) Support the application of the national vegetation classification to management and conservation objectives; (4) Foster and coordinate research in vegetation classification; and (5) Promote understanding of North American vegetation classification information and its importance to the national and international community.
10:00 Break
10:15 Develop a strategic plan for regularizing the Panel within ESA.
11:15 Develop a strategic plan for obtaining funding for the long-term maintenance of the Plots Database and for Panel operations.
12:15 Lunch
1:30 Develop an outline for a revised standards document and a plan for its completion
2:30 Break
2:45 Draft a vision statement & implementation plan for creation and operation of an e-journal to support the NVC.
3:45Concluding discussion
4:00Adjourn