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System Title |
5.10 Newsome's Vegetation Cover Classes: Classification System Used in the Vegetation Cover Map of New Zealand |
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| Keywords | Vegetation; classification; New Zealand; vegetation classes. |
| Description | The classification system used in the Vegetation Cover Map of New Zealand
has three levels:
Newsome (1987) states that the vegetation cover classes (47) represent the most important vegetation communities or aggregates of communities that are able to be resolved at 1:1,000,000 scale. Initially classes were identified on the basis of the national significance of vegetation associations in the New Zealand Land Resource Inventory. Subsequent modifications recognised the ecological importance and practicalities of mapping these communities. Vegetation cover elements (17) are the third level in the classification system. They do not represent all vegetation components in New Zealand because this would require more symbols and patterns than the 1:1,000,000 scale vegetation map could accommodate. In many cases the vegetation cover element indicates the presence of a species which is not necessarily implied in the vegetation cover class. For example there is no cover class for mature kauri forest because it's spatial extent is so restricted. A kauri overlay is used when the species is present in association with other more widespread communities. In other cases the vegetation cover element (overlay) emphasizes the presence of an important component of the vegetation. |
| Original Purpose | To facilitate the mapping of the vegetation cover of New Zealand at 1:1,000,000 scale. |
| Status | Published map in 1987. |
| Organisation | Landcare Research |
| Jurisdiction | New Zealand |
| Contact person/position | Peter Newsome Scientist |
| Address | Private Bag 11 052 Palmerston North Phone: 06 356 7154 Fax: 06 355 9230 Email: NewsomeP@landcare.cri.nz |
| Available format | Published report and maps |
| Access | Freely available |
| Geographical coverage | New Zealand, including the three principal islands and all offshore islands within 100km of the coast. |
Operational Specifications |
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| Scale of Operation | Designed for mapping at 1:1,000,000 scale. |
| GIS Compatibility | The map unit boundaries are digitized. |
| Relationship between levels in the classification system | There is a hierarchical relationship between the three layers in this classification system (vegetation cover groups/vegetation cover classes/vegetation cover elements). |
| Contributing databases/classification systems | N/A |
| Contributing database GIS compatibility | N/A |
| Relationship with other classification systems and spatial frameworks. | The vegetation cover classes were initially selected based on the national significance of vegetation associations in the New Zealand Land Resource Inventory. |
| Relationship with other databases | This classification system is used to compile The Vegetation Cover Map of New Zealand Database. |
Current and emerging use for: |
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| Assisting with determining historic state/ baseline | N/A |
| Assisting with determining current state/ baseline | The classification system can be used to describe current terrestrial vegetation at a broad scale. Many of the binary cover classes are the result of geographical proximity rather than any ecological relationship between the components. These binary cover classes would be inappropriate for more detailed scale mapping. For more detailed scale mapping additional single cover classes would be required, e.g. kauri forest. |
| Asssisting with scenario building and modelling of possible futures | N/A |
| Risk Assesment | Not appropriate |
| Monitoring site selection and sample design | The system would not be appropriate to use for site selection purposes because the binary cover classes do not necessarily imply any ecological relationship between the components. |
| Aggregating and reporting data locally, regionally and/or nationally | This classification system is designed to operate at the national scale. It would not be appropriate to use it without modification at the regional or local scales. |
Current use (who,level,why)
This classification system has been used to prepare The Vegetation Cover Map of New Zealand at 1:1,000,000 scale.
User friendliness/public and decision maker understanding
A separate publication to The Vegetation Cover Map of New Zealand describes the classification system in more detail than the map legend. This book (Newsome, 1987) includes a description for each vegetation cover class including its area, distribution, landforms and various factors which are characteristic of the class as a whole. These factors include appearance, plant species present, environmental factors, successional status or how the community interacts with natural processes or human activities. There is also a representative photograph for each cover class.
These descriptions help make the non-ecological associations in some cover classes more meaningful. The terms used in this classification system are generally readily understood.
System strengths
- The classification system is appropriate for broad scale mapping of New Zealand's vegetation.
- The vegetation classes are expressed in common language and there is a good description of each class.
Current limitations of framework
- The classes were designed for application at 1:1,000,000 scale. Many of the mixed or binary classes are not appropriate for more detailed vegetation community mapping because these classes are the result of geographical proximity rather than any ecological relationship.
- The classification system does not include ecologically significant classes that would be appropriate at a finer scale of mapping, e.g. kauri forest.
- At 1:1,000,000 scale the minimum mapping unit that can take an identity code is 2kmx4km=8km2 (800ha). This is too coarse a scale to show many of the subtleties of New Zealand vegetation. It also results in classes derived on the basis of geographical proximity (eg. pasture and podocarp-broadleaved forest) rather than ecological relationships.
References
Newsome, P.F.J. 1987. The vegetative cover of New Zealand. Water and Soil Miscellaneous Publication No. 112. Water and Soil Directorate, Ministry of Works and Development: Wellington. 153p. 2 map sheets.