Recent advances in conceptual frameworks in vegetation classifications, such as the EcoVeg approach that underpins the International Vegetation Classification (IVC) developed by NatureServe staff and colleagues, offer opportunities to enhance national classification initiatives. National level initiatives provide an important stepping-stone between international units and subnational units. Australia has a long history of developing various vegetation typologies at local to regional scales, but ecologists recognise the need for an Australia-wide, plot-based vegetation classification system that incorporates the principles of the EcoVeg approach, and thereby helps build an international classification system. Using two case studies, we provide a comparison of various structures and criteria for relevant Australian classifications in the context of the IVC, and exemplify how Australian classifications of forest, shrublands, grasslands, and deserts could potentially link into the IVC hierarchy to illustrate the capacity of the IVC to summarise the full range of Australian vegetation at a broad formation (biome) scale. We then discuss how the IVC might inform future work towards an Australian vegetation classification system and, vice versa, the implications of an Australian vegetation classification for IVC development.

植被分类概念框架的最新进展，例如由NatureServe员工及其同事开发的支持国际植被分类（IVC）的EcoVeg方法，为加强国家分类计划提供了机会。国家一级的倡议为国际单位和国家以下单位之间的重要垫脚石。澳大利亚在本地到区域范围内开发各种植被类型的历史由来已久，但生态学家认识到需要在澳大利亚范围内基于地块的植被分类系统，该系统应结合EcoVeg方法的原理，从而有助于建立国际分类系统。通过两个案例研究，我们在IVC的背景下提供了有关澳大利亚分类的各种结构和标准的比较，并举例说明了澳大利亚的森林，灌木丛，草地和沙漠分类如何可能与IVC层次联系起来，以说明IVC总结的能力在广泛的形成（生物群系）范围内的整个澳大利亚植被。然后，我们讨论了IVC如何为将来的澳大利亚植被分类体系提供信息，反之亦然，澳大利亚植被分类对IVC发展的影响。沙漠可能会与IVC层次联系起来，以说明IVC在广泛的形成（生物组）规模上总结澳大利亚全部植被的能力。然后，我们讨论了IVC如何为将来的澳大利亚植被分类体系提供信息，反之亦然，澳大利亚植被分类对IVC发展的影响。沙漠可能会与IVC层次联系起来，以说明IVC在广泛的形成（生物组）规模上总结澳大利亚全部植被的能力。然后，我们讨论了IVC如何为将来的澳大利亚植被分类体系提供信息，反之亦然，澳大利亚植被分类对IVC发展的影响。