The files linked to this reference are the geospatial data created as part of the completion of the baseline vegetation inventory project for the NPS park unit. Current format is ArcGIS file geodatabase but older formats may exist as shapefiles.

Mapping vegetation of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (APPA, also referred to as the “AT corridor” for the Appalachian Trail corridor) involved the following six primary steps: (1) preliminary map classification with a vegetation primer for each APPA project area, (2) field reconnaissance for each APPA project area, (3) map classification by each APPA project area, (4) aerial image interpretation and mapping by each APPA project area, (5) compilation of a final classification and map layer covering the entire AT corridor following accuracy assessment (AA), and (6) database development of the map layer. Although these steps proceeded sequentially, they overlap to some degree. Steps 1–4 proceeded sequentially by APPA project area starting in the Southern Blue Ridge (SBR) project area in 2010, moving north to the Central Appalachian (CAP) project area in 2011, then to the Lower New England (LNE) project area in 2012, and ending in the Northern Appalachian (NAP) project area in 2013. (See Figures 6–9 in the “Introduction and Project Overview” section of this report for detailed locations of the four APPA project areas.) Steps 5 and 6 compiled all APPA project areas into a contiguous map classification and map layer.

Summary reports generated from the vegetation map layer of the map classes representing USNVC natural (including ruderal) vegetation types apply to 28,242 polygons (92.9% of polygons) and cover 106,413.0 ha (95.9%) of the map extent for APPA. The map layer indicates APPA to be 92.4% forest and woodland (102,480.8 ha), 1.7% shrubland (1866.3 ha), and 1.8% herbaceous cover (2,065.9 ha). Map classes representing park-special vegetation (undefined in the USNVC) apply to 58 polygons (0.2% of polygons) and cover 404.3 ha (0.4%) of the map extent. Map classes representing USNVC cultural types apply to 1,777 polygons (5.8% of polygons) and cover 2,516.3 ha (2.3%) of the map extent. Map classes representing nonvegetated water (non-USNVC) apply to 332 polygons (1.1% of polygons) and cover 1,586.2 ha (1.4%) of the map extent.