Potential Natural Vegetation of the Conterminous United States (modified Kuchler)

Kuchler's Potential Natural Vegetation (PNV) map refined by the Fire Science Laboratory, Rocky Mountain Research Station (US Forest Service) to match terrain using a 500 meter Digital Elevation Model,4th Code Hydrologic Units, and Ecological Subregions (Bailey's Sections). These biophysical data layers were integrated with current vegetation layers to develop generalized successional pathway diagrams. Expert regional panels refined the PNV map based on these successional pathways. Originally, these coarse-scale data were developed for national-level planning. Specifically, we used this data set in the Sage-grouse Conservation Assessment. Kuchler (1964) defined potential natural vegetation as "the vegetation that would exist [...]