Vegetation classification is an active field in California and new types will continue to be defined and their relationship, rarity and distribution refined for some time. We relish information on all vegetation types, whether it is a new record or re-assessment of existing information. Submit sensitive natural communities data per the Department’s Protocols for Surveying and Evaluating Impacts to Special Status Native Plant Populations and Sensitive Natural Communities (PDF), but we also encourage submittal of data of non-sensitive types, even incomplete data.
Your submittal of information can make us aware of a new rare type or new location. It can also help determine where to sample when starting new projects, validate provisional alliances, or re-evaluate existing types.
You may complete a Combined Rapid Assessment and Releve Form (PDF) using the standard sampling protocols (PDF).
For large sampling projects, we can provide a blank standardized database and protocols for data entry and quality checking.
Please contact us and we can discuss the most useful way to collect information on vegetation types.