Abstract:
The western Transvaal grassland is presently under great threat
because of the ever increasing population as well as the
exploitation of the natural resources. The vegetation, as one of
these resources, was relatively unknown and the need for a
phytosociological investigation was urgent. A phytosociological
research programme on the plant communities of the western
Transvaal grassland, was initiated in conjunction with a more
comprehensive Grassland Biome Project which aims at a
synecological and syntaxonomical synthesis of the Biome in
southern Africa. The main purpose of this study was to identify,
classify, describe and determine the location of the grassland
plant communities and other vegetation types within the western
Transvaal grasslands. A new procedure was used to compile a
synecological and syntaxonomical synthesis of the vegetation of
the western Transvaal grasslands. By using land types as first
stratification it presented an easily interpretable vegetationcum-
habitat classification and thus much needed information on
the vegetation ecology of the study area. This should be used for
future land-use planning, management, utilization, research and
conservation of the natural resources. The synthesis of the
western Transvaal grasslands make a contribution towards the
compilation of the synthesis of the Grassland Biome of southern
Africa.
