• Survey Methods Manuals
• Field Plot Sheets
• Software Packages
• Reports on sources of error & improving quality when using standard methods
• Reports on remeasurements of historical permanent plots
• Alternative cover class systems

Survey methods manuals

• Reconnaissance RECCE descriptions (Hurst & Allen 2007)
  • Expanded Recce manual (1.33MB Acrobat file)
  • Recce field protocols (1.16MKB Acrobat file)
  
  
• Permanent 20×20 m plots in indigenous forests (Hurst & Allen 2007)
  • Expanded permanent plot manual (2.22MB Acrobat file)
  • Permanent plot field protocols (2.54MB Acrobat file)

• Monitoring changes in grasslands - (Wiser, S.K.; Rose, A.B. 1997: Two permanent plot methods for monitoring changes in grasslands: A field manual. 51p. Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research NZ Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand) (6MB Acrobat file)
• Foliar Browse Index - (Payton, I.J.; Pekelharing, C.J.; Frampton, C.M. 1998: Foliar Browse Index: A Method For Monitoring Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) Damage To Plant Species And Forest Communities. 62p. Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research NZ Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand) (1.8MB Acrobat file)
• Global Positioning System (GPS) guide (113KB Acrobat file)

Older versions of survey manuals

• Reconnaissance (RECCE) descriptions (Allen, R.B. 1992:) (2.6MB Acrobat file)
• Permanent plots in indigenous forests - (Allen R.B. 1993) (2.55MB Acrobat file)

The Survey Manuals are also available in printed and bound format. They can be obtained from:

NVS
Landcare Research
PO Box 40
Lincoln 7640
NEW ZEALAND
Phone 03 321 9999
03 321 9622
nvs@LandcareResearch.co.nz

Field plot sheets

These vegetation survey plot sheets are currently available on-line:

• Permanent 20 × 20 m plot field-sheets
  • Permanent plot RECCE sheet (Acrobat File)
  • Stem diameter and sapling sheet (Acrobat File)
  • Understorey subplot sheet (Acrobat File)

•  Reconnaissance (Recce) field-sheets
  • Recce sheet for woody vegetation (standard forest height-tiers) (Acrobat File)
  • Recce sheet for non-woody vegetation (standard grassland height-tiers) (Acrobat File)

• Foliar browse index field-sheet (Acrobat File)
• Foliar cover scale (Acrobat File)
• Grassland Plot Record Sheets (Coming Soon)  

These and other plot sheets (that are not available on-line) can also be obtained from:

NVS
Landcare Research
PO Box 40
Lincoln 7640
NEW ZEALAND
Phone 03 321 9999
DDI 03 321 9622
nvs@LandcareResearch.co.n

Software packages 

NVS Express tool.

Reports on sources of error & improving quality when using standard methods

The NVS team are constantly striving to improve data quality and set standards which give reliability to users. These scoping reports are currently available and should be considered as discussion documents. Comment and feedback is welcomed.

• An Assessment of the Quality of Data Stored n the National Vegetation Survey Database, With Recommendations for Minimising Errors, by S.K. Wiser, P.J. Bellingham, D.A. Coomes, L.E. Burrows, and R.F.S. Gordon (, 300KB Acrobat file).
• Data-Standard Guidelines for Improving the Quality of Permanent Plot Data Archived in the National Vegetation Survey Databank- First Approximation by Newell & Baldwin (, B Acrobat file) (coming soon).
• Dealing with common RECCE and Permanent Plot data quality issues during data entry or checking, Version 1, by J.M. Hurst, H. Broadbent, and M. Mckay.( 122KB)

Reports on remeasurements of historical permanent plots

• Cost estimates of relocating and remeasuring permanent alpine grassland plots. , by Claire L. Newell (, 2.4MB Acrobat file).

Alternative cover class systems

Recce cover class systems in usage by NVS surveys. (, 50KB Acrobat file).