the vegetation types and veld condition - Maremani Nature Reserve

The BECVOL computer program is used to do the following calculations:
Primary calculations (for each individual tree)
Leaf volume, leaf dry mass (DM), ETTE (leaf volume equivalents of a 1.5 m single stem tree),
BTE (leaf mass equivalent of a 1.5 m single stem tree) and area covered by the canopy.
Secondary calculations:
Values are calculated per hectare e.g. ETTE/ha, BTE/ha, DM/ha, plants/ha and CSI (canopied
subhabitat index: canopy diameter of large trees in the transect expressed as a % of the total
transect area). These values are calculated per species and per population. The browse capacity
can also be calculated.
Fixed point photography
This is an essential component of monitoring. By taking photographs of the vegetation or landscape from
the same point at regular intervals, a visual record is obtained which can later be subjected to objective
analysis. The advantages derived from fixed-point photographs include the following:
1 They provide a rapid means for assessing short and medium term trends in the vegetation, and
therefore can have predictive value.
2. They provide additional evidence for evaluating and interpreting the impact of various external
influences on the vegetation.
3. The method is cheap, easy to apply and provides a permanent record for re-examination when
required.
The disadvantage of the method is that it is difficult to quantify the results and therefore there is a lack of
statistical analysis.
GPS points
GPS readings should be taken at the beginning and end point of each transect. A metal stake (dropper) is
hammered into the soil at the beginning and end point of each transect and spray painted with red paint.
The approximate positions of the plots (transects) should be indicated on a map and for each plot a
localised map should be drawn to facilitate finding the site in future (Appendix F).
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