Integrating STEP in the Thicket biome for VEGMAP 2017

Abstract

Aim. The national vegetation map of South Africa (VEGMAP) has been updated on two previous occasions to improve the representation of ecosystems in the map. The third update of the VEGMAP coincided with the 2018 National Biodiversity Assessment (NBA). Several changes to the classification and polygon boundaries were made to vegetation types in Namaqualand, Bushmanland, West Coast, City of Cape Town, at the coastal edge, to forests in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo, wetlands and the Thicket Biome. Location. Namaqualand, Bushmanland, West Coast, City of Cape Town, coast, forests in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo, wetlands across the country and the Thicket Biome. Activities. Changes to the national vegetation map were obtained from various sources and incorporated into the map. A modification of the Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Project (STEP) map was used to update the Thicket Biome in the VEGMAP in a collaborative effort between SANBI and thicket experts who developed STEP. The focus of this phase of the project was to review all solid thicket STEP vegetation types that could be integrated into the national vegetation map. During this process many STEP types were merged, and portions were split to form a slightly different configuration of types. Over 10% of the total area of the national vegetation map was refined in this update. Three percent of this area emerged from refinements to the Thicket Biome. Furthermore, the Thicket Biome now contributes to 10 percent (43 types) of the number of types in the VEGMAP compared to three percent (14 types) in 2012. Main Conclusions. Overall the map for the Thicket Biome no longer has types stretching across multiple soil and climate gradients. It is likely to be a better representation of vegetation for this biome. Management Implications. These refinements will improve decision-making in this area and the updated version will be included in the 2018 NBA assessment.