STEP - Transformation

NB !! The fields TRANSDIS and TRANSDIS2 was not included in DBF. These fields contain information on the condition of the land w.r.t. transformation. Transformed and extant land was mapped from satellite (Landsat TM) as part of the STEP Project (see Lloyd et al. 2002 for details). The final land cover map (Figure 5, Lombard, Wolf and Cole 2003) includes high-density aliens to make up 13 land cover classes in total (the 14th class is No data). Some of these are considered transformed with respect to biodiversity pattern, others are considered to be extant land in moderate condition, and the remaining classes are considered to be extant land in good condition (see Lombard, Wolf and Cole 2003 for details). The transformation layer is derived from the land cover layer, where the land classes are dissolved according to four land conditions (see Lombard et al. 2003) Purpose: Created for the Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Planning Project. Method of capture/Lineage: Layer derived from original image of STEP land cover (raster grid: see Lloyd, J.W., van den Berg, E.C. and Palmer A.R. 2002. Patterns of transformation and degradation in the Thicket Biome, South Africa. TERU Report 39: 86 pp) produced primarily for delineation of transformed land (not natural veld). Methods outlined in: Lombard, A.T., Wolf, T. and Cole, N. 2003. GIS coverages and spatial analyses for the Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Planning (STEP) Project. TERU Report 42: 78 pp, Appendix 78 pp. Lloyd, J.W., van den Berg, E.C. and Palmer A.R. 2002. Patterns of transformation and degradation in the Thicket Biome, South Africa. TERU Report 39: 86 pp Completeness: The final STEP layer is as complete as is currently possible Supplemental Information: Lombard, A.T., Wolf, T. and Cole, N. 2003. GIS coverages and spatial analyses for the Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Planning (STEP) Project. TERU Report 42: 78 pp, Appendix 78 pp. Lloyd, J.W., van den Berg, E.C. and Palmer A.R. 2002. Patterns of transformation and degradation in the Thicket Biome, South Africa. TERU Report 39: 86 pp http://zoo.upe.ac.za/step http://cpu.uwc.ac.za