Acknowledgements

The original maps were digitized by Claire Reeler at the University of Cape Town Department of Surveys and Mapping Geographic Information Systems (GIS) lab. Shirley Butcher provided advice and interfaced with Geographic Information Management Services, especially regarding incompatibilities between PC-ARC/INFO - which was used for digitizing and initial correcting - and the UN IX version which, because of the size of the database, had to be used for building and cleaning. Rene Dutlow and Steve Lynch provided an electronic version of Acocks' Veld Types for proofing the electronic version. Jeanne Hurford incorporated the amendments to the maps at the National Botanical Institute at Kirstenbosch. FORESTEK, Jonkershoek, provided initial colour printouts of the map. Final corrections were made by Reinette van Zyl at the GIS facility at the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Pretoria.

Eugene Moll is thanked for his advice on the original Fynbos vegetation for units mapped as agriculture. Emsie Du Plessis, Pitta Joffe and Otto Leistner commented on the text. Chris Hardie undertook the DTP speedily. Mike Cohen and Rudi Pretorius provided logistical support from the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.

The editors are grateful to all those who took part in the workshops held to decide on the approach to be adopted in producing this account. We are indebted to the time and energy committed to this project by the regional coordinators, particularly George Bredenkamp for his boundless enthusiasm and for being our "link-man" in Pretoria.