Vegetation cover type
Vegetation cover type defines the specific characteristics of land uses into a major land use. The technique used for describing vegetation covet type is air-photo interpretation or through the use of remote sensed data (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index NDVI, etc.).
| Aim of the method/technique |
The derived maps of vegetation cover types constitute one of the basic components for the detailed description of a SES used for analysis in the LEDDRA project. |
| Scale – spatial and temporal |
A detailed or semi-detailed map of vegetation cover type at the scale 1:20,000 or 1:50,000 can be useful for regional studies in the LEDDRA project. Since human interventions can change vegetation cover type often especially in cropland regions, by changing land use type, generating forest fires and urbanized the area, etc., spatial and temporal changes may occur frequently. Existing maps of vegetation cover types have to be updated frequently.
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| Brief description |
The following categories of vegetation cover types are used: (a) annual field cropping, (c) perennial field cropping, (c) tree and shrub cropping (Engelen and Wen 1995). Furthermore, the following system of cropping are distinguished for cropland and grazing land (Table 1). Vegetation cover types are further classified according to the cropping system.
Table 1. Hierarchy of major land use, land cover type and cropping system (Source:Engelen and Wen, 1995)
| Major land use |
Vegetation cover type (group) |
Cropping system |
| Agriculture |
Annual field cropping |
Shifting cultivation
Fallow system cultivation
Ley system cultivation
Rainfed arable cultivation
Irrigated cultivation
Wet rice cultivation |
|
Perennial field cropping |
Non-irrigated
Irrigated |
|
Tree and shrub cropping |
Non-irrigated tree crop cultivation
Irrigated tree crop cultivation
Non-irrigated shrub crop cultivation
Non-irrigated shrub crop cultivation |
| Animal husbandry |
Extensive grazing |
Nomadic
Semi-nomadic
Ranching |
|
Intensive grazing |
Animal production
Dairying |
| Forestry |
Exploitation of natural forests and woodland |
Selective felling
Clear felling |
|
Plantation forestry |
|
| Mixed farming |
Agroforestry |
|
|
Agro-pastoralism (cropping life, stocking system) |
|
| Extraction/collection |
Exploitation of natural vegetation |
|
|
Hunting and fishing |
|
| Nature preservation |
Nature and game preservation |
Reserve, parks
Wildlife management |
|
Degradation control |
With interference
Non interference |
Unused
|
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Vegetation cover type can be defined by: (a) simple field observations, and (b) aerial photographs or remote sensing image interpretation. Furthermore, vegetation cover type can be defined using existing vegetation maps such as CORINE. An example of different vegetation cover types is given in Figure 1.
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Figure 1. Example of defining vegetation cover type (perennial non-irrigated field cropping of vines and olives) using a photograph (Source: C. Kosmas) |
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| Data requirements |
For the definition of vegetation cover types, aerial photographs or remote sensing images are needed. The existing vegetation maps of CORINE can be used to derive maps of vegetation cover types. |
| Main applications in cropland, grazing and forests & shrubland regions |
Description of vegetation cover types can be useful in assessing the response impacts on a SES. Furthermore, land cover type is a crucial parameter for assessing land vulnerability to degradation. Soil erosion and land desertification is greatly affected by vegetation cover type. |
| Strengths and weaknesses |
Land cover types can be frequently changed especially in cropland regions. Land cover type maps require updating at least every 10 years. |
