China Vegetation Classification: concept, approach and applications

Classification of vegetation is an essential tool to systematically describe and understand the characteristics of vegetation. China is one of the vegetation type-richest countries in the world. However, the methodologies and achievements of vegetation research in China, especially its vegetation classification system, are little known to the world. Here we briefly review the developmental history of the China vegetation classification system (China-VCS), and present its key concepts, main features and detailed protocols, as well as the applications. Professor Hou first presented the vegetation classification principles and a five-level system for the vegetation of the entire country in 1960. The system was modified to eight levels and more than 500 formations were defined in 1980. The system was revised in the book Flora and Vegetation Geography of China in 2014. The China-VCS separates cultural vegetation from natural/semi-natural vegetation; for natural/semi-natural vegetation, it uses an integrated physiognomic-ecological-floristic-dynamic classification approach. It has eight hierarchical levels, i.e., Vegetation-type-group, Vegetation-type, and Vegetation-subtype; Formation-group, Formation and Subformation; as well as Association-group and Association. Each vegetation-type-group is considered as a consistent classification section (CCS). Seven vegetation-type-groups, 40 vegetation-types and 93 vegetation-subtypes have been described in this system. About 1519 formations belonging to 711 formation-groups have been primarily vetted and listed, while the systematic census data on subformations, association-groups and associations are still not available due to the lack of a national plot database. Cultural vegetation is classified according to plant growth form, community structure, habitat factors, cultivation regimes and economic significance. The classification system for cultural vegetation includes five hierarchical levels, i.e., Category, Type, Subtype, Cultivation-group and Cultivation. The China vegetation classification system has been widely used not only for vegetation description and mapping but also for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management. Areas of the system that need further improvement include increasing its compatibility with other major vegetation classification systems in the world, using more quantitative indicators, using other indicators if no dominant species can be identified and developing a more appropriate system for cultural vegetation classification.