Comparison of Finnish and Russian approaches for large-scale vegetation mapping: a case study at H rk suo Mire, eastern Finland

The purpose of this study was to compare Russian and Finnish mire vegetation classifications and large-scale vegetation mapping methods. H rk suo Mire in Kuhmo, eastern Finland covers about 20 hectares and includes a small area of aapamire, together with spring fen and pine bog types. Two vegetation maps of this site were prepared from aerial photographs and field observations by different observers using the Russian and Finnish approaches independently, and the maps were compared quantitatively using GIS techniques. Despite the different vegetation classification methods, the maps have a great deal in common. The correspondence of results obtained using the Russian ‘dominant’ approach and the Finnish ‘site type’ approach is discussed. The main differences occurred in the marginal zones of the mire. In the Finnish approach, marginal areas with dense spruce cover are regarded as mire whilst in the Russian approach they are classified as forest.