This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: In 2018, SANBI had updated vegetation type groups; for instance, Renosterveld and Strandveld vegetation are now part of the Fynbos vegetation. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (November 2023)
Vegetation types of South Africa.

Listing of the diverse vegetation types of South Africa that have been sampled, classified, described, and mapped by the SANBI VEGMAP project. Vegetation types of Lesotho and Eswatini are included in the project. The vegetation map is useful for biodiversity assessment, research, conservation management and environmental planning, and includes a database. The project is ongoing as more data becomes available over time. The first map was published in 2006, and has been updated in 2009. 2012 and 2018.[1]

The classification system uses a hierarchy to organise the vegetation types within the nine defined biomes and a tenth azonal group. Bioregions are described within the biomes, and the vegetation types are at the more detailed level, and represent groups of communities with similar biotic and abiotic features. The vegetation types are plotted on the map in as much resolution as is available using a GIS system.[1]

Mapping of the distribution and extent of natural vegetation of South Africa started in 1918 when the Botanical Survey of the Union of South Africa was established. Maps by Pole-Evans (1936), Acocks (1953), and Low and Rebelo (1996) preceded the current system, which is the combined effort of participants from various centres in the country.[2]

Listed by biome:

Savanna

Savanna biome vegetation types.

88 Savanna vegetation types, code SV:[3]

Grassveld

Grassveld biome vegetation types.

73 Grassveld vegetation types, code G:[3]

Fynbos

Fynbos biome vegetation types.

81 Fynbos vegetation types, code FF:[3]

Renosterveld

29 Renosterveld vegetation types, code FR:[3]

Succulent Karoo

Succulent Karoo biome vegetation types.

65 Succulent Karoo vegetation types, code SK:[3]

Albany Thickets and Strandveld

Albany Thicket biome vegetation types

54 Albany thickets and Strandveld vegetation types, codes AT and FS:[3]

Nama Karoo

Nama-Karoo biome vegetation types.

29 Nama Karoo and desert vegetation types, codes NK and D:[3]

Azonal

Azonal vegetation biome vegetation types.

35 Azonal vegetation types, code AZ:[3]

Forest

Forests biome vegetation types.

17 Forest and coastal belt vegetation types, codes FO and CB

Indian Ocean Coastal Belt

Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome vegetation types.

Desert

Desert biome vegetation types.

Subantarctic

8 Subantarctic vegetation types, code ST:[3]

References

  1. ^ a b "National Vegetation Map". South African National Biodiversity Institute. 4 March 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  2. ^ "National Vegetation Map Project (VEGMAP) - Map versioning". South African National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Mucina, L.; Rutherford, M.C.; Powrie, L.W. (eds.). "The Vegetation Map of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland". South African National Biodiversity Institute (Version 2012. ed.).
  4. ^ a b Grobler, A.; Vlok, J.; Cowling, R.; van der Merwe, S.; Skowno, A.L.; Dayaram, A. (2018). National Vegetation Map Project (VEGMAP) 2018 Vegetation Map. Technical Report: Integration of the Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Project (STEP) vegetation types into the VEGMAP national vegetation map 2018 (Report). SANBI.
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