{ "currentVersion": 11.3, "cimVersion": "3.3.0", "id": 85, "name": "Bio-Vegetation Area", "type": "Feature Layer", "description": "
The dataset currently contains mapped polygons representing terrestrial vegetation, palustrine wetlands (degraded and non-degraded) of the Rotorua District within Waikato Regional Council boundary. The data set was digitised off the 2012 WRAPS orthophotography using a slightly simplified version of the LCDB1 and 2 classifications by an experienced land use classifier. The capture scale for digitising was 1:10,000 although the imagery may have been used at up to 1:5,000 for classifying polygons. Despite this the recommended scale of use is no greater than 1:10,000 (see section 5 below).<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P> The LCDB classifications were used because a survey of potential data set users at Waikato Regional Council found the classification adequate to meet most users\u2019 needs and also because it was the most nationally consistent land use/cover classification available at the time. It is acknowledged that there are many other vegetation classifications out there (such as Leathwick <\/SPAN><\/SPAN>et al<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>(1995), Atkinson (1962) and Nicholls (1976)) that may be more suitable and/or detailed for some users such as ecologists but the goal of this project was to create a data set that had strong temporal and spatial consistency, was easily recognised nationwide and that met the needs of most users.<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P> For all districts only vegetation classes relevant to regional terrestrial vegetation and wetland biodiversity prioritisation were mapped. The classes are:<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P> Generalised Vegetation Group (GEN_VEG)<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> LCDB1 Name<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> LCDB2 Name<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR> Predominantly Indigenous<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Shrubland<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Flaxland<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR> Predominantly Indigenous<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Fernland<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>1<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR> Predominantly Exotic<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Gorse and Broom<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR> Predominantly Indigenous<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Manuka and or Kanuka<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR> Predominantly Indigenous<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Broadleaved Indigenous Hardwoods<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>1<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR> Predominantly Indigenous<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Sub Alpine Shrubland<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR> Predominantly Exotic<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Mixed Exotic Shrubland<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>2<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR> Predominantly Indigenous<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Grey Scrub<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR> Predominantly Exotic<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Planted Forest<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Afforestation (not imaged<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>)<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>3, 4<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR> Predominantly Exotic<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Forest Harvested<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>4, 5<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR> Predominantly Exotic<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Pine Forest \u2013 Closed Canopy<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR> Predominantly Exotic<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Pine Forest \u2013 Open Canopy<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>6<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR> Predominantly Exotic<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Other Exotic Forest<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>2<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR> Predominantly Exotic<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P> (note this class is captured in SNA as pred.indig.)<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Exotic Hardwoods<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Deciduous Hardwoods<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR> Predominantly Indigenous<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Indigenous Forest<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Indigenous Forest<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR> Predominantly Indigenous<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Mangrove<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>7<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Mangrove<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>7<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR> Mixed Indigenous and Exotic<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Inland Wetland<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Herbaceous Freshwater Vegetation<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR> Mixed Indigenous and Exotic<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Coastal Wetland<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>7<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Herbaceous Saline Vegetation<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>7<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR> Predominantly Indigenous<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Bare Ground<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Alpine Grass-/Herbfield<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR> Mixed Indigenous and Exotic<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Coastal Sand<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Sand Dunes<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>8<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR> Mixed Indigenous and Exotic<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Sand Dunes \u2013 Highly Modified<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>8<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR> Mixed Indigenous and Exotic<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Tussock Grassland<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Tall Tussock Grassland<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR> Mixed Indigenous and Exotic<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD> Depleted Tussock Grassland<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/TD><\/TR><\/TBODY><\/TABLE> 1<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>Fernland includes areas of dominant <\/SPAN><\/SPAN>Pteridum esculentum<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>(Bracken Fern), <\/SPAN><\/SPAN>Gleichenia species<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>(Umbrella Fern) amd <\/SPAN><\/SPAN>Paesia scaberula<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>(Ring Fern). It is important to note that in the bioveg mapping project Fernland also includes trunk forming Tree Ferns (Pongas) (e.g. <\/SPAN><\/SPAN>Cyathea dealbata<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>(Silver Fern), <\/SPAN><\/SPAN>Cyathea medullaris<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>(Black Tree Fern), <\/SPAN><\/SPAN>Cyathea smithii<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>(Soft Tree Fern), <\/SPAN><\/SPAN>Dicksonia fibrosa<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>(Golden Tree Fern) and <\/SPAN><\/SPAN>Dicksonia squarrosa<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>(Wheki Tree Fern)). In LCDB2 the tree ferns group is included in the Broadleaved Indigenous Hardwoods class but the classification deviates here for the purposes of this project.<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P> 2<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>Not to be confused with each other.<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P> 3<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>Includes all newly planted forestry that can not be clearly<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>seen in 2012 WRAPS orthophotography at 1:10,000 scale (usually up to four or five years old), or areas of newly planted forestry that look more like pasture or other vegetation types due to the young age and relatively small extent of the planted trees. Usually this class becomes more evident when viewing the orthophotography at scales of 1:5,000 or greater.<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P> 4<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>These two classes are missing for Hauraki and Waitomo districts and will be mapped and added to the data if and when time and resources allow.<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P> 5<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>Also known as \u201cClearfell\u201d.<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P> 6<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>This class <\/SPAN><\/SPAN>includes the LCDB2 class of<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>\u201c<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>Afforestation (imaged, post LCDB1)\u201d. This being only forestry that can be clearly seen in 2012 WRAPS orthophotography at 1:10,000 scale (would have to be at least a four or five years old).<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P> 7<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>Initially only mapped if evident in 2012 WRAPS orthophotography at 1:10,000 scale and <\/SPAN><\/SPAN>not<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>within<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>the boundaries of other estuarine vegetation feature classes that already exist. Estuarine Vegetation data sourced from Waikato Regional Council is being used to append these classes to the data set over time and may be missing for some districts at this stage.<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P> 8<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>Sand dune classes were added to this classification for mapping for the biodiversity prioritisation project. The classes used are: <\/SPAN><\/SPAN>The descriptions at the equivalent LCDB2 level for these two classes are:<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P> Sand Dunes = <\/SPAN><\/SPAN>Sand dunes that are either unmodified or only slightly modified by human activity or are a recovering system. It includes those sand dunes that may contain coastal indigenous or exotic herbaceous vegetation such as Pingao, Spinifex or Marram Grass or appear to be bare sand. The bare sand dunes are included as they may have some coastal indigenous herbaceous vegetation on them but this can not be determined from aerial photography. In terms of dune landforms this class includes incipient and established foredunes, backdunes, parabolic dunes, transgressive dunefields or blowouts (see <\/SPAN><\/SPAN>