LANDFIRE 2024 Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) CONUS
LANDFIRE's 2024 update (LF 2024) Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) represents the current distribution of the terrestrial ecological systems classification developed by NatureServe for the western hemisphere. In this context, a terrestrial ecological system is defined as a group of plant community types that tend to co-occur within landscapes with similar ecological processes, substrates, and/or environmental gradients. See the EVT product page (https://landfire.gov/vegetation/evt) for more information about ecological systems and NVC classifications.
EVT is mapped using decision tree models, field data, Landsat imagery, topography, and biophysical gradient data. Decision tree models are developed separately for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms which are then used to produce a lifeform specific EVT product. These models are generated for each Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Level III Ecoregion (https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/ecoregions). Riparian, alpine, sparse, and other site-specific EVTs are constrained by predetermined masks.
In LF 2024, the vegetation products are updated using rulesets similar to LF 2022 Update (https://landfire.gov/data/lf2022) but only for 2024 disturbances since prior disturbances were brought current using machine learning and 2023 satellite imagery during the LF 2023 Update (https://landfire.gov/data/lf2023). LF uses EVT as an input for LF 2024 Fuel Vegetation Type (FVT).
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Complete Metadata
| accessLevel | public |
|---|---|
| bureauCode |
[ "010:12" ] |
| contactPoint |
{ "fn": "LANDFIRE, Earth Resources Observation and Science Center (EROS), U.S. Geological Survey", "@type": "vcard:Contact", "hasEmail": "mailto:helpdesk@landfire.gov" } |
| description | LANDFIRE's 2024 update (LF 2024) Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) represents the current distribution of the terrestrial ecological systems classification developed by NatureServe for the western hemisphere. In this context, a terrestrial ecological system is defined as a group of plant community types that tend to co-occur within landscapes with similar ecological processes, substrates, and/or environmental gradients. See the EVT product page (https://landfire.gov/vegetation/evt) for more information about ecological systems and NVC classifications. EVT is mapped using decision tree models, field data, Landsat imagery, topography, and biophysical gradient data. Decision tree models are developed separately for tree, shrub, and herbaceous lifeforms which are then used to produce a lifeform specific EVT product. These models are generated for each Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Level III Ecoregion (https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/ecoregions). Riparian, alpine, sparse, and other site-specific EVTs are constrained by predetermined masks. In LF 2024, the vegetation products are updated using rulesets similar to LF 2022 Update (https://landfire.gov/data/lf2022) but only for 2024 disturbances since prior disturbances were brought current using machine learning and 2023 satellite imagery during the LF 2023 Update (https://landfire.gov/data/lf2023). LF uses EVT as an input for LF 2024 Fuel Vegetation Type (FVT). |
| distribution |
[ { "@type": "dcat:Distribution", "title": "Digital Data", "format": "XML", "accessURL": "https://doi.org/10.5066/P1XVKXRL", "mediaType": "application/http", "description": "Landing page for access to the data" }, { "@type": "dcat:Distribution", "title": "Original Metadata", "format": "XML", "mediaType": "text/xml", "description": "The metadata original format", "downloadURL": "https://data.usgs.gov/datacatalog/metadata/USGS.69418c22d4be025c3c2938d3.xml" } ] |
| identifier | http://datainventory.doi.gov/id/dataset/USGS_69418c22d4be025c3c2938d3 |
| keyword |
[ "CONUS", "Conterminous United States", "Continental U.S.", "EVT", "Existing Vegetation Type", "LANDFIRE 2024", "LF 2024", "U.S. Forest Service (USFS)", "U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)", "US", "USGS:69418c22d4be025c3c2938d3", "United States", "biota", "fires", "geographic information systems", "geospatial datasets", "hazard preparedness", "image collections", "imageryBaseMapsEarthCover", "raster digital data", "remote sensing" ] |
| modified | 2026-03-18T00:00:00Z |
| publisher |
{ "name": "U.S. Geological Survey", "@type": "org:Organization" } |
| spatial | -127.9878, 22.7654, -65.2544, 51.6497 |
| theme |
[ "geospatial" ] |
| title | LANDFIRE 2024 Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) CONUS |
