Proceedings of the Fifth International Workshop: Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) Flora Group. Cir- cumboreal Vegetation Mapping (CBVM) Workshop, Helsinki, Finland, November 3-6th, 2008.

Abstract

The Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map (CAVM) is a map developed by Arctic vegetation specialists that depicts the vegetation of the global tundra biome at a scale that is useful for regional and global-change analysis and modelling. The proposed Circumboreal Vegetation Map (CBVM) has a similar goal. This paper presents an overview of the processes and hurdles involved in making the CAVM. Several suggestions are presented that would allow combining the CBVM and CAVM into one map that portrays the vegetation of both the Arctic and boreal biomes. These suggestions involve: (1) selecting the right team and leadership; (2) funding; (3) agreement on a plan for making the map; (4) defining the extent, scale, projection, and base for making the map; (5) phytogeographic subdivisions; (6) map content; (7) legend approach; and (8) summary tables of dominant plant communities. Keywords: Braun-Blanquet approach, floristic approach, GIS, hierarchical mapping, physiognomic units, tundra.