LANDFIRE's (LF) 2022 update (LF 2022) Existing Vegetation Cover (EVC) represents the vertically projected percent cover of the live canopy for a 30-m cell. EVC is produced separately for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms. Training data depicting percentages of canopy cover are obtained from plot-level ground-based visual assessments and lidar observations. These are combined with Landsat imagery (from multiple seasons), to inform models built independently for each lifeform. Tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms each have a potential range from 10% to 100% (cover values less than 10% are binned into the 10% value). The three independent lifeform datasets are merged into a single product based on the dominant lifeform of each pixel. The EVC product is then reconciled through QA/QC measures to ensure lifeform is synchronized with Existing Vegetation Height (EVH). Urban and developed areas are derived from the National Land Cover Database (NLCD), and the latest available Microsoft Building Footprint dataset. Agricultural lands originate from the 2022 Cropland Data Layer (CDL) and the 2019 California Statewide Crop Mapping layer. Disturbance events after 2016 are accounted for by incorporating transition rulesets using LF 2022 Fuel Disturbance (FDist). LF uses EVC as an input for LF 2022 Fuel Vegetation Cover (FVC).

LANDFIRE's (LF) 2022 update (LF 2022) Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) represents the current distribution of the terrestrial ecological systems classification developed by NatureServe for the western hemisphere. In this context, a terrestrial ecological system is defined as a group of plant community types that tend to co-occur within landscapes with similar ecological processes, substrates, and/or environmental gradients. EVT also includes ruderal or semi-natural vegetation types within the U.S. National Vegetation Classification [(NVC) https://usnvc.org/]. See the EVT product page (https://www.landfire.gov/evt.php) for more information about ecological systems and NVC classifications. EVT is mapped using decision tree models, field data, Landsat imagery, topography, and biophysical gradient data. Decision tree models are developed separately for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms which are then used to produce a lifeform specific EVT product. These models are generated for each Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Level III Ecoregion (https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/ecoregions). Riparian, alpine, sparse, and other site-specific EVTs are constrained by predetermined masks. Urban and developed areas are derived from the National Land Cover Database (NLCD), and the latest Microsoft Building Footprint dataset. Agricultural lands originate from the 2022 Cropland Data Layer (CDL) and the 2019 California Statewide Crop Mapping layer. Burnable developed classes are identified from building footprint dataset thresholds. LF 2022 retains circa 2016 EVT labels except where shifts in urban, agriculture, and developed classes occur. While Existing Vegetation Cover (EVC) and Height (EVH) are updated using transition rulesets with ST-Sim to account for disturbances, EVT remains unchanged, therefore EVT lifeform is not synchronized to the EVC/EVH lifeform as in some previous versions. LF uses EVT as an input for LF 2022 Fuel Vegetation Type (FVT).

LANDFIRE's (LF) 2022 update (LF 2022) Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) represents the current distribution of the terrestrial ecological systems classification developed by NatureServe for the western hemisphere. In this context, a terrestrial ecological system is defined as a group of plant community types that tend to co-occur within landscapes with similar ecological processes, substrates, and/or environmental gradients. EVT also includes ruderal or semi-natural vegetation types within the U.S. National Vegetation Classification [(NVC) https://usnvc.org/]. See the EVT product page (https://www.landfire.gov/evt.php) for more information about ecological systems and NVC classifications. EVT is mapped using decision tree models, field data, Landsat imagery, topography, and biophysical gradient data. Decision tree models are developed separately for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms which are then used to produce a lifeform specific EVT product. These models are generated for each Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Level III Ecoregion (https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/ecoregions). Riparian, alpine, sparse, and other site-specific EVTs are constrained by predetermined masks. Urban and developed areas are derived from the National Land Cover Database (NLCD), and the latest Microsoft Building Footprint dataset. Agricultural lands originate from the 2022 Cropland Data Layer (CDL) and the 2019 California Statewide Crop Mapping layer. Burnable developed classes are identified from building footprint dataset thresholds. LF 2022 retains circa 2016 EVT labels except where shifts in urban, agriculture, and developed classes occur. While Existing Vegetation Cover (EVC) and Height (EVH) are updated using transition rulesets with ST-Sim to account for disturbances, EVT remains unchanged, therefore EVT lifeform is not synchronized to the EVC/EVH lifeform as in some previous versions. LF uses EVT as an input for LF 2022 Fuel Vegetation Type (FVT).

LANDFIRE's (LF) 2023 update (LF 2023) Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) represents the current distribution of the terrestrial ecological systems classification developed by NatureServe for the western hemisphere. In this context, a terrestrial ecological system is defined as a group of plant community types that tend to co-occur within landscapes with similar ecological processes, substrates, and/or environmental gradients. See the EVT product page (https://landfire.gov/vegetation/evt) for more information about ecological systems and NVC classifications. EVT is mapped using decision tree models, field data, Landsat imagery, topography, and biophysical gradient data. Decision tree models are developed separately for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms which are then used to produce a lifeform specific EVT product. These models are generated for each Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Level III Ecoregion (https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/ecoregions). Riparian, alpine, sparse, and other site-specific EVTs are constrained by predetermined masks. In LF 2023 Conterminous United States (CONUS) extent, LF will map the lifeform, cover, and height of existing vegetation in areas that were mapped as disturbed over the last twenty years (see LF Annual Disturbance products) using machine learning methods. These disturbed areas were the focus because they are the areas that have changed the most since LF 2016 Remap. To learn more about this new methodology for LF EVC, EVH, and Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) go to https://landfire.gov/data/lf2023.

LANDFIRE's (LF) 2023 update (LF 2023) Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) represents the current distribution of the terrestrial ecological systems classification developed by NatureServe for the western hemisphere. In this context, a terrestrial ecological system is defined as a group of plant community types that tend to co-occur within landscapes with similar ecological processes, substrates, and/or environmental gradients. See the EVT product page (https://landfire.gov/vegetation/evt) for more information about ecological systems and NVC classifications. EVT is mapped using decision tree models, field data, Landsat imagery, topography, and biophysical gradient data. Decision tree models are developed separately for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms which are then used to produce a lifeform specific EVT product. These models are generated for each Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Level III Ecoregion (https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/ecoregions). Riparian, alpine, sparse, and other site-specific EVTs are constrained by predetermined masks. In LF 2023 Conterminous United States (CONUS) extent, LF will map the lifeform, cover, and height of existing vegetation in areas that were mapped as disturbed over the last twenty years (see LF Annual Disturbance products) using machine learning methods. These disturbed areas were the focus because they are the areas that have changed the most since LF 2016 Remap. To learn more about this new methodology for LF EVC, EVH, and Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) go to https://landfire.gov/data/lf2023.

LANDFIRE's (LF) Existing Vegetation Cover (EVC) represents the vertically projected percent cover of the live canopy for a 30m cell. EVC is produced separately for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms. Training data depicting percentages of canopy cover are obtained from plot-level ground-based visual assessments and lidar observations. These are combined with Landsat imagery (from multiple seasons), topographic, climate, and other geospatial data sets to inform models built independently for each lifeform. Tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms each have a potential range from 10% to 100%. The three independent lifeform datasets are merged into a single product. The EVC product is then reconciled through QA/QC measures to ensure lifeform is synchronized with both Existing Vegetation Height (EVH) and Type (EVT) products. Disturbance events not visible in the source imagery are accounted for by incorporating LF Remap Annual Disturbance products. LF uses EVC as an input for LF Remap Fuel Vegetation Cover (FVC).

LANDFIRE's (LF) Existing Vegetation Cover (EVC) represents the vertically projected percent cover of the live canopy for a 30m cell. EVC is produced separately for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms. Training data depicting percentages of canopy cover are obtained from plot-level ground-based visual assessments and lidar observations. These are combined with Landsat imagery (from multiple seasons), topographic, climate, and other geospatial data sets to inform models built independently for each lifeform. Tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms each have a potential range from 10% to 100%. The three independent lifeform datasets are merged into a single product. The EVC product is then reconciled through QA/QC measures to ensure lifeform is synchronized with both Existing Vegetation Height (EVH) and Type (EVT) products. Disturbance events not visible in the source imagery are accounted for by incorporating LF Remap Annual Disturbance products. LF uses EVC as an input for LF Remap Fuel Vegetation Cover (FVC).

LANDFIRE's (LF) 2022 update (LF 2022) Existing Vegetation Cover (EVC) represents the vertically projected percent cover of the live canopy for a 30-m cell. EVC is produced separately for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms. Training data depicting percentages of canopy cover are obtained from plot-level ground-based visual assessments and lidar observations. These are combined with Landsat imagery (from multiple seasons), to inform models built independently for each lifeform. Tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms each have a potential range from 10% to 100% (cover values less than 10% are binned into the 10% value). The three independent lifeform datasets are merged into a single product based on the dominant lifeform of each pixel. The EVC product is then reconciled through QA/QC measures to ensure lifeform is synchronized with Existing Vegetation Height (EVH). Urban and developed areas are derived from the National Land Cover Database (NLCD), and the latest available Microsoft Building Footprint dataset. Agricultural lands originate from the 2022 Cropland Data Layer (CDL) and the 2019 California Statewide Crop Mapping layer. Disturbance events after 2016 are accounted for by incorporating transition rulesets using LF 2022 Fuel Disturbance (FDist). LF uses EVC as an input for LF 2022 Fuel Vegetation Cover (FVC).

LANDFIRE's (LF) 2022 update (LF 2022) Existing Vegetation Cover (EVC) represents the vertically projected percent cover of the live canopy for a 30-m cell. EVC is produced separately for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms. Training data depicting percentages of canopy cover are obtained from plot-level ground-based visual assessments and lidar observations. These are combined with Landsat imagery (from multiple seasons), to inform models built independently for each lifeform. Tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms each have a potential range from 10% to 100% (cover values less than 10% are binned into the 10% value). The three independent lifeform datasets are merged into a single product based on the dominant lifeform of each pixel. The EVC product is then reconciled through QA/QC measures to ensure lifeform is synchronized with Existing Vegetation Height (EVH). Urban and developed areas are derived from the National Land Cover Database (NLCD), and the latest available Microsoft Building Footprint dataset. Agricultural lands originate from the 2022 Cropland Data Layer (CDL) and the 2019 California Statewide Crop Mapping layer. Disturbance events after 2016 are accounted for by incorporating transition rulesets using LF 2022 Fuel Disturbance (FDist). LF uses EVC as an input for LF 2022 Fuel Vegetation Cover (FVC).

LANDFIRE's (LF) 2023 update (LF 2023) Existing Vegetation Cover (EVC) represents the vertically projected percent cover of the live canopy for a 30-m cell. EVC is produced separately for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms. Training data depicting percentages of canopy cover are obtained from plot-level ground-based visual assessments and lidar observations. These are combined with Landsat imagery (from multiple seasons), to inform models built independently for each lifeform. Tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms each have a potential range from 10% to 100% (cover values less than 10% are binned into the 10% value). The three independent lifeform datasets are merged into a single product based on the dominant lifeform of each pixel. The EVC product is then reconciled through QA/QC measures to ensure lifeform is synchronized with Existing Vegetation Height (EVH). In Alaska, developed and agricultural lands were derived from the National Land Cover Database (NLCD) 2016 Land Cover. Roads were derived from the NLCD 2016 Developed Urban Descriptor for south-central Alaska and a state-wide dataset from HERE Technologies. In the Alaska 90km buffer area developed and agricultural lands were derived from the North American Land Change Monitoring System ((NALCMS) https://www.mrlc.gov/data/north-american-land-change-monitoring-system) 2015 Land Cover and new developed lands were added from the NALCMS 2020 Land Cover for LF 2023. Disturbance events after 2016 are accounted for by incorporating transition rulesets using LF 2023 Fuel Disturbance (FDist). LF uses EVC as an input for LF 2023 Fuel Vegetation Cover (FVC).