Note: The Non-forest and Forest classes may be the most difficult to label. Many professionals can go to the same site and disagree on the classification. Do your best and be consistent using the classes. Label the habitat based on a good sample (i.e. away from the path or edge of a forest) that best describes the habitat. Remember, vegetation is constantly growing, so classes may change within a couple of years.
Grasslands, mountain meadows, unmaintained range, clear cuts, as well as young replanted forests with trees less than 15' tall and have less than 26% canopy cover.
Certain plants are colonizers and are later eliminated as the slower growing climax vegetation become large enough to outgrow the colonizers. The colonizers and young climax vegetation are considered successional. Colonizers appear when there has been a disturbance, such as a fire, grazing or mowing.
Recently disturbed can mean disturbed yesterday, or 10 years ago. Most of undisturbed/climax vegetation is on preserves or hard to access parcels of land.