Developments with the National Vegetation Map, Database and National Ecosystem Classification System Les W. Powrie Kirstenbosch Research Centre South African National Biodiversity Institute Private Bag X7, Claremont, 7735, South Africa
The national vegetation map 2005: Wall map 2006: Book 2007: Reprint of wall map 2009: Version of updated map 2010: CD set release of the book 2011: Reprint of 2006 book 2012: Version of updated map (still not released)
Recently available online or on request Vegetation map PDFs hyperlinked to interactive map (Aug 2012) Shapefiles (Oct 2012) Reference lists (Dec 2012) Species lists (Dec 2012)
Vegetation Map species lists Vegetation type Taxon list Sub list Current flag FFs 1 Bokkeveld Important Y Sandstone Taxa Fynbos FFs 1 Bokkeveld Sandstone Fynbos FFs 1 Bokkeveld Sandstone Fynbos FFs 1 Bokkeveld Sandstone Fynbos Important Taxa Important Taxa Important Taxa Y Y Y Growth Form Small Trees Small Trees Tall Shrubs Tall Shrubs Taxon name Brabejum stellatifolium Protea nitida Dodonaea viscosa var. angustifolia Euryops speciosissimus Super script T Dominant Qualifier [d] [d] Family Proteaceae Proteaceae Current name Sapindaceae Dodonaea viscosa Jacq. ssp. angustifolia (L.f.) J.G.West Asteraceae
Vegetation Map reference lists Reference Abbott, A. 1993. The Umtamvuna Nature Reserve. In: The Umtamvuna Nature Reserve, pp. 2 4. Umtamvuna River Trust, Port Edward. Abbott, A.T.D., Van Wyk, A.E., Johnson, D.N. & Scott-Shaw, C.R. 2000. Checklist of the macrofungi, lichens, bryophytes and vascular plants of the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve. Lammergeyer 46: 1 74. Acocks, J.H.P. 1975. Veld types of South Africa, edn 2. Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Afr. 40: 1 128. Acocks, J.P.H. 1935. Vegetation of a portion of the Cape Flats and list of plants so far found there. M.Sc. thesis, Dept of Botany, Univ. of Cape Town. Acocks, J.P.H. 1953. Veld types of South Africa. Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Afr. No. 28: 1 192. Chapters 11 11 3 4 0; 1; 2; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 19
NVM, NVD and assessments It is important when doing an assessment to give evidence that a proposed development will not impact on an endangered ecosystem. It is essential to use the vegetation map, but vegetation survey plots give that evidence of what the actual type is to be developed. Plots are also essential for best vegetation mapping.
Advances with the National Vegetation Database More than 46 697 vegetation plots (relevés) 11 690 plant taxa 968 943 species occurrence records
Advances with the National Vegetation Database
Advances with the National Vegetation Database
Needed for NVD Every set of plot data available for South Africa Minimum requirements All species Abundance Georeferencing Plot size Ideally, every EIA, especially if a threatened ecosystem may be involved, should contribute to NVD.
Mapping Ecosystems in South Africa 1936-1996: Veld Types and vegetation mapping Any other form of detailed ecosystem mapping? 2004: National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment 2005: Vegetation map
Mapping Ecosystems in South Africa 1936-1996: Veld Types and vegetation mapping 2004: National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment 2005: Vegetation map 2011: National Biodiversity Assessment 2013: National Ecosystem Classification System workshop
Bodies of fresh water in the landscape Terrestrial Fresh water Estuarine Marine
Bodies of fresh water in the landscape Terrestrial Fresh water Estuarine Marine
Bodies of fresh water in the landscape Terrestrial Fresh water Estuarine Marine
Bodies of fresh water in the landscape Terrestrial Estuarine Fresh water - Some natural, some man-made Marine
Bodies of fresh water in the landscape Terrestrial Fresh water Estuarine Marine
Overview of South Africa s emerging national ecosystem classification system across different environments
Estuary
How to overlay these ecosystems?
Is it as simple as this is a single piece of geographical extent and can have a single classification?
At what scale does one map ecosystems? With GIS it is feasible to map small landscape components that would be inappropriate in a national scale map.
These different ecosystems can be mapped, and users can zoom in to view fine scale mapping that cannot be represented on a printed national map. And, if appropriate, mapping can be in multiple layers such as for a fresh water ecosystem beneath a forest canopy.
Coastline 2006 not suitable for finer scale mapping in VEGM2009
Improvements to forest coverages
Forest and NFEPA coverages
Bodies of fresh water in the landscape Bodies of fresh water in the landscape
Bodies of fresh water in the landscape Bodies of fresh water in the landscape
Bodies of fresh water in the landscape Bodies of fresh water in the landscape
Bodies of fresh water in the landscape We have not yet overlaid the ecosystems, but they do coexist, and we do need to map them together, and make the necessary decisions about the coastline, slivers, and realignment. This presents exciting prospects for the vegetation and ecosystem scientists that SANBI is hoping to employ within the next few weeks. The adverts are out who would like to apply for the positions?
Questions?