What is Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping?
Ecosystem mapping is the stratification of a landscape into map units, according to a combination of ecological features, primarily climate, physiography, surficial material, bedrock geology, soil, and vegetation. Ecosystem mapping provides: • a biological and ecological framework for land management; • a means of integrating abiotic and biotic ecosystem components on one map; • basic information on the distribution of ecosystems from which management interpretations (e.g., broad-scale landscape planning, site-specific interpretations) can be developed; • a basis for rating values of resources or indicating sensitivities in the landscape; • a historic record of ecological site conditions that can be used as a framework for monitoring ecosystem response to management; and • a demonstration tool for portraying ecosystem and landscape diversity. Ecosystem maps, along with associated interpretations, supply valuable information for many uses, particularly planning resource allocation. The
