Vegetation maps depict the distribution of vegetation communities across the landscape, and provide information about the physical characteristics and natural history of a region. Increased interest in the reclamation and restoration of disturbed areas, and in the interaction of humans and the landscape, has spurred research and mapping of the historic and modern vegetation of Wisconsin and other states, as well as across broad regions. Vegetation maps thus provide valuable information about the environment on local and regional scales.

•  Data Sources Used in Vegetation Mapping
•  Vegetation Maps of Wisconsin
•  Recent Developments in Portrayal of Vegetation and Landscape
•  Vegetation Mapping at Regional and National Scales
•  Obtaining Vegetation Maps

Data Sources Used in Vegetation Mapping
In addition to ecological sampling and mapping, several data sources are used in the compilation of vegetation maps, ranging from original land surveyors notes and maps to aerial photography and satellite imagery.

Land surveyor's notes have been used for a variety of studies of landscape history, as baseline data for vegetation reconstruction (restoring the landscape as it was prior to European settlement of the country). For example, this information indicates that much of the vegetation of southern Wisconsin around 1840 was characterized by scattered oak trees or stands, separated by a parklike savanna grassland which formed the transition zone between forest and prairie in the region.

Other historical records used for vegetation mapping include the accounts of explorers and travelers, and more detailed descriptions provided by early soil and geologic mapping activities.

Aerial photography and satellite imagery are increasingly used to map and monitor current vegetation cover in many states. By the 1950's, black-and-white infrared aerial photos were used by the Wisconsin Conservation Department to survey the forest vegetation of northern Wisconsin. Today, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WisDNR) has air photo coverage of the entire state for forest mapping and management purposes and offers WISCLAND land cover data that was derived from Landsat imagery. If you are looking for information on specific aerial photography projects, the SCO maintains an on-line catalog of aerial photography for the state.

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Vegetation Maps of Wisconsin
In 1959, John T. Curtis published The Vegetation of Wisconsin, which remains as one of the primary reference texts to the history, distribution, and identification of plant communities in the state. This book provides the first detailed description of the vegetation of the entire state and provides numerous summary maps of the distribution of plants and plant communities.

The Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey (WGNHS) distributes and publishes several maps that convey information about the vegetation of Wisconsin. Commonly available vegetation maps of Wisconsin include Finley's Map of the Original Vegetation Cover of Wisconsin and Early Vegetation of Wisconsin (280kb), published in 1965 by the WGNHS.

Vegetation maps may exist for many local areas such as parks, forests, and preserves. Inquiries should be directed to the appropriate property manager.

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Recent Developments in the Portrayal of Vegetation and Landscape
Developments in the portrayal of Wisconsin vegetation focus on the integration of vegetation and landscape data to present a picture of the natural ecological regions of the state. The WisDNR has published a map entitled Natural Divisions of Wisconsin (F.D. Hole, and F.E. Germain, 1994), that depicts the major ecological and soil regions of the state. This map depicts natural vegetation-ecologic zones, and describes their occurrence in terms of the landforms, soils, and physiographic regions that they are associated with. (See more about this and other land cover maps in the landcover and landforms mapping sections.)

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Vegetation Mapping at Regional and National Scales
The USGS first published the National Atlas of the United States of America in 1970 and began work on a new digital version in 1997. This map series presents a variety of data at national and regional scales, typically at 1:7,500,000 (1" = 118.4 miles) or smaller. Vegetation maps covering the conterminous United States (Alaska and Hawaii separately) are included in the National Atlas as The Potential Natural Vegetation of the Conterminous United States. These maps depict regional vegetation as it might appear without human influence on the landscape. They are valuable guides to understanding the regional variability in vegetation patterns, and demonstrate how terrain and climate affect vegetation.

In 1990, the USGS published the Satellite Map of the United States, which is a mosaic of daytime infrared satellite imagery of the country, and depicts regional vegetation changes in shades of red and green. This map (actually an image) is interesting because it shows actual ground cover characteristics of the country as they appear today.

The USGS and the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing jointly published the North American Vegetation Index Map in 1990, which is based on AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) satellite data. This project was developed as a prototype AVHRR data set for obtaining and monitoring global, 1km resolution land cover and vegetation patterns. The image covers virtually all of North America and generalizes the quantity and vigor of vegetation cover, which is closely related to vegetation type and climate. Questions about the availability of this map should be addressed to the EROS Data Center.

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Obtaining Vegetation Maps
Vegetation maps can be obtained from a variety of sources. For more information or to order maps specific to Wisconsin, contact the WGNHS or the WisDNR.

Vegetation maps at regional or national scales can be obtained through USGS Earth Sciences Information Centers (ESICs) around the country. For more information or a complete listing of maps covering various parts of the country, contact the USGS directly at the Mid-Continent Mapping Center or the USGS Map Sales office.