1.0

Created for the Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Planning Project.

Full copyright and intellectual property rights remain at all times with the Terrestrial Ecology Research Unit

The protected area layer was compiled from many sources (see Lombard, A.T., Wolf, T. & Cole, N. 2003. GIS coverages and spatial analyses for the Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Planning (STEP) Project. TERU Report 42: 78 pp, Appendix 78 pp.). The most recent data (2000 – 2002) were provided by all source organisations and individuals, and the final STEP layer is as complete as is currently possible.

Three methods of compilation were used, using the data layers from the various sources. Firstly, all digital data was matched to the cadastral farm boundary layer provided by the Surveyor General (2000 and 2001). Secondly, for those polygons that matched cadastral boundaries, we extracted the boundary data from the cadastral layer, rather than the received layer (this was to ensure the highest level of accuracy for the final layer). For those polygons that did not match cadastral boundaries, we used the received data as is. Thirdly, 1:50 000 topographic maps were received for the Eastern Cape Province from Alan Southwood (DEAET), on which he had hand drawn all protected areas known to him. These maps were digitized, and the final data were extracted from cadastral boundaries again, where possible. The coastline used for the final layer was based on 1:50 000 boundaries from the Surveyor General.

In the final GIS layer, all protected areas were divided into three Types and thirty-one Classes. The type refers to the level of conservation legislation, as well as ownership (see Lombard, A.T., Wolf, T. & Cole, N., 2003). A further subdivision into classes was made. Classes refer to the authority that is responsible for the land, and the management objectives.

Positional Accuracy: The accuracy of the final layer is extremely good for the polygons that match cadastral boundaries (and these all have the accompanying SG21 digit code in the attached database - see Appendix 6 of Lombard, A.T., Wolf, T. & Cole, N. 2003), but for those polygons that did not match cadastral boundaries (e.g. most of the DWAF and Safcol data) we cannot vouch for, or even estimate, their accuracy on the ground. Fortunately, 81% of the polygons in the final layer match cadastral boundaries (3940 of 4868 polygons).

Lombard, A.T., Wolf, T. & Cole, N. 2003. GIS coverages and spatial analyses for the Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Planning (STEP) Project. TERU Report 42: 78 pp, Appendix 78 pp.

REVISION/ UPDATE HISTORY:

Date of revision/ update: 19 November 2003

Person responsible for revision/ update: Fabio Venturi – Conservation Planning Unit (CPU).

Reason for revision/ update: Conversion from Albers Equal Area (Clarke 1880) to Geographic (WGS84) using the Hartebeeshoek 94 transformation (geocentric translation). The projection wizard in ArcToolbox (Arcview 8.3) was used to perform this procedure. Additionally, this layer was checked against the C.A.P.E. Broad Habitat Unit and CNC_Reserves spatial layers (available on the CPU website – http://cpu.uwc.ac.za/) for correct alignment.

SANS 1878

FGDC-STD-001-1998