Global Conservation Status Ranks of State-Rare Vegetation Associations in the Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network

This report provides Global Conservation Status Ranks of 33 U.S. National Vegetation Classification (USNVC) state-rare associations known to occur in the Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network of the National Park Service’s Inventory and Monitoring Program. These parks include Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, New River Gorge National River, Bluestone National Scenic River, Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Friendship Hill National Historic Site, Johnstown Flood National Memorial, and Gauley River National Recreation Area. Forty-five state-rare vegetation associations were identified during vegetation classification and mapping of these parks; however, most of these associations lacked global conservation ranks. Methods were drawn from those developed by NatureServe and member programs. In order to prioritize management efforts directed towards rare or threatened associations, National Park Service staff of the Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network wanted information to determine whether these types deemed rare at the state level are also rare throughout their range, or whether they are rare within the state as a consequence of political rather than ecological boundaries, and are otherwise more common. It is important that examples of those communities found to be globally rare are identified as such so that management and other activities can be properly directed.