A tool for converting forest ecosystem classifications for permanent or temporary growth plots into the new provincial Ecological Land Classification (ELC) system in the boreal regions of Ontario

Abstract

Forest Ecosystem Classification (FEC) systems were originally developed and used in the Province of Ontario at regional levels with the objective of classifying forest ecosystems to support silvicultural decision-making in an operational setting. A new provincial Ecological Land Classification (ELC) system has been developed, which integrates the regional systems into a single consistent framework. To make continued use of data and knowledge gained from long-term forest monitoring plots classified under the old FEC system, such as Permanent Growth Plots (PGPs), Permanent Sample Plots (PSPs) and Temporary Sample Plots (TSPs), an ecosite conversion from the existing FEC data to the new ELC system was deemed necessary. We developed a conversion matrix to convert FEC ecosite classifications from the northeast and north-west to the provincial ELC system for the boreal forest region of Ontario. The conversion system is intended to apply at the scale of individual plots, with a special focus on PGP, PSP and TSP networks, and has been limited to forested ecosystems, as FEC systems were originally developed for the forest land base only. The conversion is primarily driven by canopy cover composition derived from plot-based individual tree data, with additional information required on substrate characteristics (e.g., substrate type, depth of mineral material, effective soil texture and moisture regime). It is possible to derive some of the soil variables from the broadly defined soil-type (S-type) categories of the original FEC systems; however, this approach requires making some assumptions that could reduce the accuracy of conversion. We anticipate that this conversion matrix will bridge the gap until active plot networks are re-typed in the field into the ELC system, provide a link to historical TSPs, and would be of general interest to a variety of new ELC users.