Comparisons

Comparing Past vs. Present Conditions

Using LANDFIRE’s BpS products, we explore two different ways to visualize past vs. current vegetation patterns.

• First we present changes in broad ecosystem types using an interactive comparison diagram.

• Second we compare amounts of succession classes (past and present) for the most prevalent ecosystems.

Comparing Broad Vegetation Trends

Summary

• Most of the area currently mapped as agriculture was previously mapped as “riparian” or “shrubland”.
  
• Nearly all of the land classified as present day “exotic vegetation” was converted from shrubland areas.
• Note: number presented when hovering equals acres.

Succession classes for most dominant BpSs

• Many of the BpSs show substantial differences between ‘reference’ and ‘current’ succession class amounts.
• The Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Shrubland - Basin Big Sagebrush shows the least difference in succession class amounts overall, though it has a fair amount of conversion to agricultural land use.