Great Basin National Park (GRBA) covers approximately 31,258 hectares (77,180 acres) in east central Nevada along the Utah border. The park was established to preserve a representative segment of the Great Basin region and to promote an understanding of the natural and cultural heritage of this physiographic region. GRBA gets its name from its location in the Great Basin desert region of the United States but more closely resembles the "ranges and basins" geologic province, due to the South Snake Range located in the center of the park. The South Snake Range creates a rugged landscape containing many natural and unique vegetation types including sparse alpine cushion plants and ancient bristlecone pine forests. To better understand and document GRBA's vegetation and to establish a baseline for comparison against future conditions the National Park Service (NPS) and the NPS Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program (MOJN I&M) started a GRBA vegetation inventory effort in 2007.