1.0

Creation of a pre-transformation Provincial KwaZulu-Natal Vegetation map. This will also subsume the 2006 SANBI vegetation map for the same region.

Recommended Citation:

Scott-Shaw, R. and Escott, B.J. (Eds) (2011) KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Pre- Transformation Vegetation Type Map – 2011. Unpublished GIS Coverage [kznveg05v2_011_wll.zip], Biodiversity Conservation Planning Division, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, P. O. Box 13053, Cascades, Pietermaritzburg, 3202.

Lineage of kznveg05v210_wll

Using satellite imagery (SPOT 5 2006), aerial photography (a multitude of different sources – if used, all of better resolution and of a more current age than the SPOT 5 2006 imagery) and topographical maps (Surveyor General ~ 1976 - 2001) the polygon boundaries were revised and new ones were added. Expert knowledge was also used to populate attribute fields and redefine the polygon boundaries. These changes included

• December 2006 Updates by Heidi Snyman

- Names updated to agree with National Vegetation Map names as at June 2006.

- An extra field called "status" was added,and the threat status was captured.

• 29 February 2008 Updates by Bimall Naidoo (as per request by Debbie Jewitt)

- KwaZulu - Natal Sandstone Plateau Sourveld to KwaZulu- Natal Sandstone

Sourveld

- 28 Pondoland-Natal Sandstone Coastal Sourveld to Pondoland-Ugu Sandstone Coastal

- 46 Sweet Arid Basalt Lowveld to Tshokwane-Hlane Basalt Lowveldall ‘

- Maputuland’ changed to ‘Maputaland’

• August 2009 C R Scott Shaw recommended the following changes:

1) All the "Glencoe Moist Grassland" Categories merged back into the "Northern KwaZulu-Natal Moist Grassland" category.

2) Clipped the "KwaZulu-Natal Highland Thornveld" back - area 2829DB

3) Extended the boundary of the "Maputaland Wooded Grassland" - area 2832 AB, 2832 BA, 2832 CA, 2832 CC

4) Edited the western boundary of the "Maputaland Coastal Thicket" into the "Tembe Grassland"

5) Created an isolated patch of "Tembe Grassland" around Phinda Nature Reserve

6) Extended the Eastern boundary of the "Maputoland Coastal Thicket"

7) Merged small patches of "Maputoland Coastal Grassland" into the surrounding "Maputoland Wooded Grassland"

8) Merged the small "Coastal Thicket" polygons (located around Silezi Nature Reserve) into the surrounding "Maputoland Wooded Grassland" - actually represent patchs of Luciati Sand Forest.

9) Corrected some sliver polygons in the Mseleni region.

10) "Moist Ngongoni Veld" changed to "Moist Coast Hinterland Grassland"

11) "Eastern Maputaland Clay Bushveld" changed to "Maputaland Pallid Sandy Bushveld"

12) Added and edited the "Muzi Palm Veld and Wooded Grassland" into the newly delineated "Maputaland Pallid Sandy Bushveld"

13) Dry Ngongoni Veld" changed to "Dry Coast Hinterland Grassland"

September 2009

The inclusion of a new vegetation category, and the loss of two others ("Glencoe Moist Grassland" and the merger of the "North and South Coast Grassland" types = "KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt Grassland" and the "North and South Coast Bushland" into a single unit = "KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt Thornveld"), necessitated the update of the kzn veg type numbers. "Moist Ngongoni Veld" changed to "Moist Coast Hinterland Grassland" and "Dry Ngongoni Veld"

changed to "Dry Coast Hinterland Grassland". The final coverage produced =

[kznveg05v509_wll.shp]. 30 November 2009National Vegetation Map Committee approved the proposed changes noted above and below.

January 2010

Numerous improvements were then incorporated on suggestions from the National vegetation committee.

1) The creation of a new vegetation type, namely Maputaland Pallid Sandy Bushveld split off from CB 1 Maputaland Coastal Belt and reassigned to Savanna Biome: new code - SVl 25.

2) The creation of a new vegetation type, namely Muzi Palm Veld and Wooded Grassland split off from CB 1 Maputaland Coastal Belt and reassigned to Savanna Biome: new code - SVl 26.

3) The creation of a new vegetation type, namely KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt Thornveld split off from CB 3 KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt: new code - CB 6

4) The creation of a new vegetation type, namely Dry Coast Hinterland Grassland replacing part of SVs 4 Ngongoni Veld, and reassigned to Grassland Biome: requires new code - Gs 19.

5) The creation of a new vegetation type, namely Moist Coast Hinterland Grassland replacing the remainder of SVs 4 Ngongoni Veld, and reassigned to Grassland Biome: new code -Gs 20.

6) The deletion of Gs 5 Northern KwaZulu-Natal Shrubland: decision pending completion and submission to the committee of part 6 (Reassigning an existing vegetation type (deleting a whole type)) of the template (NVMC_ProposedChangesTemplate_2009.doc). This was to be followed by C R Scott-Shaw.

7) Renaming of remaining section of KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt to CB 3 KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt Grassland.

8) Deletion of Subtropical Coastal Wind Blown Dune Sand: Discussion was inconclusive, but these are areas of different levels of disturbance and recovery and need to be blended with surroundings. Retention would be in conflict with other windblown sand areas, e.g. vegetation on the West Coast. These areas were then treated as 'glade' areas in the forest coverage. All the fields/notes associated with these features were also carried across.

January 2011

Data revised by Dr. B. Escott: Numerous boundary corrections were completed based on expert opinion i.e. C R Scott-Shaw, Dr. P. Goodman, and D. Jewitt. . It was noted that Our KZN veg map currently does not allow for SANBI's Sub-tropical Dune thicket vegetation type. Instead, our vegetation types extended the full extent of the terrestrial landmass - which was incorrect. We

decided that we did NOT have enough empirical data/good enough imagery available to enable us to accurately define the 'Sub-tropical Dune Thicket' vegetation type. As such, we decided not to include it into our KZN vegetation Map. This decision was substantiated by the fact that a number of the so-called thicket patches were actually Casuarina stands located on dune blowouts.

As a result of this latter finding, we, as a group, decided to include the currently defined 'thicket' areas identified in the SANBI map [Vegm2006.shp] into an additional category called "Wind Blown Coastal Dune Sand". An additional field was also added to the table {Notes} within which the presence of Casuarina stands was noted.

Thus SANBI's Sub-tropical Dune thicket vegetation type had to be reintroduced into EKZNW’s vegetation coverage. The location of SANBI's Sub-tropical Dune thicket was compared with Subtropical Coastal Wind Blown Dune Sand" veg type from the KZN vegetation map, and subsequently these features were incorporated back into the vegetation map where necessary. "Wind Blown Coastal Dune Sand" category was removed from the vegetation map and included into the forest coverage as glade features.

Thereafter, additional boundary shifts were completed in Southern extension of Gm 15 Paulpietersburg Moist Grassland southwards west of Vryheid; Gs 1 Northern Zululand Mistbelt Grassland. The biome change from Savanna to grassland for the KwaZulu-Natal Sandstone Sourveld vegetation type was accepted resulting in SANBITYPE change from SVs 5 to GS 21. SVs

2 Thukela Thornveld near Colenso; Gs 9 Midlands Mistbelt Grassland near Babanango; Gd 4 Southern Drakensberg Highland Grassland: was stated to have been extended to include Mawaqa Mountain range between Bulwer and Himeville, but this appeared to not have been carried out on the GIS coverage received from KZN and was duly corrected.

At this stage, the wetlands were in a separate coverage and would be added in at a later stage. Slivers were an eminent problem, and a separate shapefile was created called [Potential_sliver_correction_areas_w31.shp] within which areas that needed to be checked were identified and thereafter sent to C R Scott Shaw for comment. Each polygon was given its ID, SANBITYPE and VMID attributes. The metadata was corrected and submitted for archiving. After further attribute edits, the document was saved as - [KZNVEG05v110_wll.shp]. Dams were removed from the coverage and then saved as [KZNVEG05v210_wll.shp].

One final attribute was corrected as per correspondence between C R Scott-Shaw and Mervin Lotter. KZN's polygon of Tshokwane-Hlane Basalt Lowveld was changed to Western Maputaland Clay Bushveld. The Managa patch of Zululand Thornveld was also changed to Western Maputaland Clay Bushveld.

Compared the Forest/Wetlands/Vegetation maps to see if slivers would form when the three were merged together. The first obvious point of concern is that the water bodies in the wetlands coverage were of a much finer resolution (finer digitised) than those depicted in the vegetation map. The estuaries/ coastal water bodies in the vegetation map needed to be replaced with the wetland features. The Final maps which reflected all of these changes were called [KZNVEG05v110_wll.shp] and [KZNVEG05v210_wll.shp]. There were 3 separate coverages that needed to be added to the [KZNVEG05v210_wll.shp] i.e. Forest, Wetland and Grass. A {DESIG} field was added to each coverage which describes the condition and/or nature of the feature e.g. natural, degraded, glade. Field names were also revised whereby VMID, VEG_TYPE and VEG_STYPE were added to the coverage’s. To each coverage, attributes were checked for consistency in terms of UNIQUE_ID and repetition.

Thereafter, each of these coverages was added into the [KZNVEG05v210_wll.shp] and renamed [kznVEG2011_wll.shp].

A ‘cat’ field was added and later changed to {DESIG} which highlights whether or not a polygon has undergone change since it was originally digitised. To each coverage, the following changes were applied:

Wetlands: The following categories were applied:

Dam, Mudflats, Transformed Dam, Waterbody, Wetland – Cultivated, Wetland Canal, Wetland Dam, Wetland Degraded, Wetland Estuary Water, Wetland Floodplain, Wetland Natural, Wetland Open Water, Wetland Pan and Wetland Transformed. This was a temporary list which has been rationalised and defined in the table to follow.

Forests: The following categories were applied:

Forest Blowout, Forest Cleared, Forest Degraded, Forest Glade, Forest Patch and Forest Plantation

This was a temporary list which has been rationalised and defined in the table to follow.

Grass: The following categories were applied:

Matrix -This is a catch-all category which is used to describe the historic range boundaries associated with the grassland/savannah biomes.

Transformed - dam- As the name implies, these areas represent sections of the old historic vegetation distributions which have now been submerged under major dam structures. In total, there were 38 such features.

Normally just excluded, as these areas need to be accounted for when trying to understand habitat loss and the resulting vegetation status's, these features have been’re-worked' back into the veg map.

This was a temporary list which has been rationalised and defined in the table to follow. In general, the polygon's classification was established based on the dominance of the surrounding vegetation matrix. Once clipped (or not if wholly situated within a single vegetation type), the adjacent vegetation was identified, and the same classification ascribed to the dam polygon. This was only done for the KZNVEGETATION fields; all the fields ascribed to SANBI remained as per the original classification. Chelmsford was one exception - this was ascribed a wetland category instead as this was the dominant vegetation form within the area. To each coverage, the area based fields were deleted, and the following changes were made: features were split; ID numbers were verified and increment fields were added where needed; a

{VMID} field was added; in the forest coverage {Forest_cat} was changed to {Desig} = width 50.

This described the condition and/or nature of the feature e.g. natural, degraded, glade. Changed

{Forest_Typ} to {Veg_Type}; {Forest_sub} to {Veg_sType}. All fields made width = 100. A similar

process was followed in the Grassland coverage as well as the wetland coverage. Lastly the

consistency of the attributes was checked.

With regards to wetlands, KZNcode "510" representing "Pan / Open Lake" had to be

incorporated into the wetland classification system. All features selected were ascribed the

value {kznvegtype} & {kznvgt_txt} = 76.7; IDRISI = 2440; {kznvegname} = "Freshwater Wetlands:

Subtropical Freshwater Wetlands: Coastal Lakes & Pans". The remaining kzncode "510" were

ascribed the value {kznvegtype} & {kznvgt_txt} = 72.2; IDRISI = 2310; {kznvegname} =

"Freshwater Wetlands: Eastern Temperate Wetlands: Lakes & Pans".

Thereafter a combined coverage was created which incorporated the wetland, grassland and forest coverage. Once again, attributes were checked and thereafter the coverage was saved as [kznVEG2011_WLL.SHP] and sent to Les Powrie.

June –July 2011

Data revised by A. Razak: The Pongola floodplain area was examined and consistency was kept with the forest and wetland extract coverage’s using topology rules. Water bodies and mudflats were classified according to Coke, M. and Pott, R. (1970) and those that were not previously captured were added in Furness, H.D. and Breen, C.M. (1980) was used to delineate the historical boundary of forest and wetland polygons. This coverage incorporated the Pongola Floodplain system.

July 2011

Data revised by A. Razak: State of Biodiversity derived delineations for wetlands based on information obtained through the (Macfarlane and Cowden, 2011). The data included both redelineated boundaries of the 24 major wetlands (Begg, 1989) using contour lines and field visits as reference, as well as further information definingeach priority wetland in terms of complexes

(Macfarlane and Cowden, 2011). These complexes were captured into the vegetation map in a manner such that their component complexes were still reflected. Where forest overlapped with wetland, wetland integrity was maintained. The wetland extent was further verified using satellite imagery (SPOT 5 2010) and amendedif required. A new field [DESIG] was added wherein specificities of each specific vegetation type feature is captured. See below for a complete list of the categories and their descriptions. All attributes were checked for consistency.

August 2011

Data revised by A. Razak: Minor updates to [kznveg_2011v4_wll.shp]. These included the addition of previously uncaptured wetlands located within sugarcane plantation. Initially identified using SPOT 5 (2009) imagery, the boundaries of these features where delineated using a combination of 5m contours, aerial photographs and satellite imagery. Additional wetland localities (and their associated classification) were captured/amended using ground truth points provided by Dr. Armstrong.

Additional forest and wetland polygons were obtained from John Richardson from Afzelia Consultancy for the Umdoni Local Municipality SEA and IEMP (2011). Attributes for these newly captured features was provided by C R Scott-Shaw, R Karssing and Dr A. Armstrong.

Two additional forest polygons were added in the Umvoti area based on data provided by Derek Ruiters. Data obtained from Linda Nel required examination of the KZN vegetation map in Vernon Crookes nature reserve. Before any edits were made, an extract of all the forests within Vernon Crookes was created for archiving. Thereafter, several small forest polygons were reviewed regarding their importance as being independent forest polygons.

C R Scott-Shaw also provided further areas that were not captured as wetland or forest polygons previously. A final check required examining the data for any attribute discrepancies, updating the ID numbers of polygons and removing any unnecessary fields. Thereafter the updated coverage was called [kznveg_2011v7_inhouse_wll.shp].

A complete wetland extract containing all polygons belonging to the Wetland and Azonal Forest biome was created as well as a major wetland extraction. Created wetland extracts (major and complete wetland) for in-house use.

September 2011

Made a few further corrections to wetland and vegetation boundaries in the Muze wetland area based on expert advice (Dr P. Goodman). Further edits were made to the CB2 classification based on CR Scott Shaw’s advice. Checked attributes for consistency. Filled in attributes for records missing {Desig} – about 8 records. Calculated area, perimeter and hectares for coverage. All polygons less than 0.035ha (1326 in total) were dissolved into the longest adjacent border. Removed the {FEATURE} field. Emptied the {CBA}, {CBA_Comment} and {STATUS} fields to be revised at a later stage. Final coverage

named [kznveg05v2_011_inhouse_w31.shp] and [kznveg05v2_011_inhouse_wll.shp].

August 2012

KZN conservation status table and document developed by Debbie Jewitt for the KZN Pre-Transformation Vegetation Map approved by Scientific Services Operational Committee (SSOC). The excel spreadsheet was joined to the spatial data using “KZNVEGTYPE” (in spatial data) and “KZN Veg Type Code” (Excell spreadsheet). To add value to the data, differences between the conservation status between SANBI and KZN Vegetation Map, SANBI’s conservation status was also added to the attribute table. This was extracted from the SANBI 2006 vegetation map. Development of the KZN conservation status is described in detail in the document entitled, “Conservation targets for vegetation types October 2011” by Debbie Jewitt (2011). Details of each of the vegetation types is listed in the table developed by Debbie Jewitt (2011) Completeness: Complete

Consistency: This coverage is consistent with the [kznveg_2011_dist_wll.shp] and [kznveg05v509_wll.shp]

Available documentation:

• Begg, G.W., (1989) The location, status and function of the priority wetlands of Natal. Natal Town and regional Planning Report, Volume 73. Pietermaritzburg.

• Coke, M. and Pott, R (1970) The Pongola Floodplain Pans – A plan for conservation, EKZNW, QEP, PMB, 574.929 PON

• Data_SANBI2006: Folder containing information from Mucina and Rutherford (SANBI) 2006.

• Furness, H.D. and Breen, C.M., (1980) The vegetation of seasonally flooded areas of the Pongola River Floodplain, Bothalia, 13,1 & 2: 217-231, EKZNW, QEP, PMB, 52/1980.

• KwaZulu Natal Forest Map Methodology. C R Scott-Shaw 2011b. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Biodiversity Research Division Internal Report. Queen Elizabeth Park, Pietermaritzburg.

• METADATA_Kznveg_2011v7_w31.shp: metadata written for the kzn vegetation map.

• [Wetland classification_v5.ppt]: a PowerPoint describing the classification derived and idrisi_id code given by KZNWildlife.

• Macfarlane, D. M., Walters, D. and Cowden, C. (2011) A Wetland Health Assessment of KZN’s Priority Wetlands, An unpublished report prepared for EKZNW, Biodiversity

Conservation Planning Division, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, P.O. Box. 13053, Cascades, Pietermaritzburg, 3202.

• Mucina, L. and Rutherford, M.C. (eds) (2006) The vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Strelitzia 19. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.

• wetland shapefile story.doc: document containing information on sources of the

wetlands dataset.

• [wetland_kzn_savegmap.shp]: an extract from the SANBI 2006 map on wetlands only.

• Umdoni Local Municipality Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Integrated Environmental Management Plan (IEMP) – Status Quo Report, 30 June 2011. Afzelia

Consultancy.

SANS 1878

FGDC-STD-001-1998