ACOCKS' VELD TYPES OF SOUTH AFRICA
Vegetation mapping and research in South Africa were based for many years on the research and work conducted by the well-known botanist, J. P. H. Acocks. These maps had been established as the standard by which all national vegetation changes were measured.
A new project of the South African Association of Botanists and the National Botanical Institute, funded by the National Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, produced a new description and classification system, available in both paper map and digital format. Many researchers have contributed to this new classification.
This new vegetation report can be viewed in the National State of the Environment Report in this product. Alternatively, go to the website at http://www.environment.gov.za/soer/index.htm
It should be noted that there is a broad similarity between the boundaries of terrain morphological units and vegetation types.
Also note that the vegetation maps represent original pristine conditions before land use disturbance by activities such as intensive farming and urbanisation. Areas such as the Highveld grasslands have been replaced to a large extent by maize and wheat farms. Remaining grasslands can therefore be considered to be threatened and endangered vegetation. Similarly, exotic forest plantations, especially in the northern escarpment regions of Mpumalanga and the Northern Province, have replaced much of the Mountain grasslands.
To find out more about biomes, go to the National Description of Biomes.
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Species extinction 
The earth’s species are disappearing at an alarming rate - up to 1 000 times faster than their natural rate of extinction. Some scientists estimate that as many as 137 species disappear from the earth each day. This ads up to 50 000 species disappearing each year. Some ecosystems, such as rainforests, coral reefs and wetlands, contain dense concentrations of species with complicated ecosystems and are therefore very susceptible to species extinction. |
Choose a province to view map or click on province in image.
Eastern Cape
Free State
Gauteng
KwaZulu-Natal
Mpumalanga
Northern Cape
Northern Province
North West
Western Cape
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Renosterveld
Renosterveld is a seriously threatened veld type which occurs only on the lowlands of the Western Cape. Of the total area originally covered by this unique vegetation less than 4 per cent remains today – virtually all on privately owned land. Renosterveld is a type of fynbos and is part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, the smallest of the world’s six plant kingdoms. Renosterveld is rich in plant species, including a large variety of geophytes. Many of these are endemic and occur nowhere else in the world. In addition many species are extremely rare and threatened. The conservation of these plant species is a valuable contribution to the greater preservation of biological diversity. Renosterveld is of international botanical importance and the existence of this veld type and the habitat it provides is dependent on the preservation of sufficient areas thereof. The precarious conservation status of the threatened geometric tortoise, which occurs only in this veld type, is a good example of the close ties animals have with their habitat. Landowners can help! 
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