By Krista Laudenbach-Nelson, Watershed Restoration Coordinator, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

Published on November 14, 2007
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Replacing exotic or invasive plants with those that are native to the area helps to lessen one’s ecological footprint thanks to the wide array of life native plants support and the important ecological functions they perform. Conversely, when natural plant communities are threatened or maintained incorrectly, the many species that depend on them for habitat are at risk of being lost, as are the ecological services they provide to their overall watershed.

The restoration efforts undertaken by conservation organizations, agencies, and landowners can do a lot to improve plant communities and natural habitat, but only if their restoration efforts are successful and sustainable. This is why it is so important to adhere to a standard classification system such as the Natural Vegetation Classification System (NVCS).

The NVCS allows conservationists to identify and install plant communities that are native and, therefore, appropriate for a particular site by providing a complete, standardized description of every vegetation type at the localized or “community” level. This comprehensive system classifies all the terrestrial plants in the country under a common framework that is practical for both conservation and restoration purposes.

There are many benefits to using the NVCS approach to vegetation restoration. For one thing, it provides a more refined view of plants that are truly considered native to particular parts of the Delaware Estuary. This goes far beyond the generalized lists of native plants commonly used in restoration activities today. And because these species are adapted to local conditions, they require less watering, fertilizer, and other types of maintenance when properly sited, all of which helps to lessen our ecological footprints.

Working together with The Nature Conservancy and NatureServe, the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is creating new tools to help experts employ the NVCS in restoration projects throughout the Estuary. The Partnership has conducted workshops and presentations in an effort to train on-the-ground restoration professionals regarding the use of its customized handbook rooted in the NVCS entitled “ The Guide to the Natural Communities of the Delaware Estuary.” This text is currently available for download at www.DelawareEstuary.org/NVCS along with its companion key, and additional training opportunities will follow in the future.

This guide describes the 35 ecosystems and 185 natural community types known to occur throughout the region. It also contains an informative table that professionals can use to compare the NVCS with state classification systems in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

For more information and to obtain your copy of the “ The Guide to the Natural Communities of the Delaware Estuary,” please visit www.DelawareEstuary.org or contact Krista Laudenbach-Nelson at (800) 445-4935, extension 111, or KNelson@DelawareEstuary.org.