Identifying critical vegetation types for biodiversity conservation in the Americas

The Americas contain highly biodiverse yet vulnerable ecosystems, with many threatened species inadequately protected. Finer-scale, localized habitat assessments are crucial for effective conservation planning, but continental-scale high-resolution vegetation maps remain limited. This study addresses this gap by identifying critical vegetation types across the Americas using the standardized framework of the International Vegetation Classification (IVC) system at the macrogroup level, representing the finest vegetation classification available across the region, as well as the highest-resolution Area of Habitat (AOH) maps currently available for birds and mammals. By combining these high-resolution IVC macrogroup maps with detailed AOH maps, we highlight at-risk vegetation types based on 1) threatened and macrogroup-associated species (species that have at least 50% of their AOH in one macrogroup), 2) current protection levels, and 3) projected threats from land use changes, and 4) deve..., Data Collection
Vegetation Types
The study utilized the International Vegetation Classification (IVC) system, focusing on the macrogroup level consisting of 321 natural vegetation types. This systematic approach enables a detailed vegetation analysis based on ecological criteria. The size of these macrogroups ranged significantly, with the vegetation map having a spatial resolution of 90 x 90 meters, reflecting vegetation as of 2010. All maps were resampled for consistent resolution.
Species Distribution
Area of Habitat (AOH) maps from Lumbierres et al. (2022) were used to assess terrestrial birds and mammals' habitat patterns in the Americas. The dataset included 6,204 species, with 1,868 mammals and 4,336 birds, offering a detailed 100 x 100-meter resolution. Migratory birds had separate AOH maps for different life stages, which were combined for analysis.
Protected Areas
Polygon data from the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA) was employed to evaluate the protection status of I..., , # Data from: Identifying critical vegetation types for biodiversity conservation in the Americas

## Description

This dataset provides geospatial information on critical vegetation types across the Americas, aimed at supporting biodiversity conservation planning. It includes a TIFF file representing the distribution of various vegetation types, with accompanying metadata and reference files.

## Authors

Lea Schulte, Luise Quoss, Patrick J. Comer, Maria Lumbierres, Emmanuel Oceguera, Henrique Pereira, Jose Valdez

## Publication Date

February 2024

## Dataset Contents

* Critical vegetation types Americas.tif - Raster file representing critical vegetation types in the Americas.
* Critical vegetation types Americas.vat.dbf - Value Attribute Table file containing attribute data associated with the raster image.
* Critical vegetation types Americas.tfw - TIFF World File providing georeferencing information for the raster image.
* Critical vegetation types Americas.aux - Auxiliary...