Ladislav Mucina

This book is the first comprehensive account of large-scale ecosystems (biomes) of Southern Africa (defined as area south of the Kunene and Zambezi Rivers). It addresses the diversity of biomes in one of the most biodiverse regions of the world, comprising South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, southern part of Mozambique, Eswatini, and Lesotho. It has adopted a novel, hierarchical biome-classification approach. The biomes at four levels of complexity are identified, described, and mapped using modern GIS-assisted mapping technology. The structure of the book and its comprehensive nature makes this product of prime interest to teachers and students of all tertiary education levels as well as to scientists in the fields of ecology, biodiversity science, and bioclimatology. It is poised to serve as a major reference book and handbook for the users in these scientific fields.

This is the first comprehensive and critical evaluation of the biome (large-scale, functional biotic communities) patterns in the Southern Hemisphere. Revising the Heinrich Walter's zonobiome system for the Southern Hemisphere appeared as necessary because of the bioclimatic imbalance between the Hemispheres. This revision resulted in formulation of a new zonobiome system, considering the geographic peculiarities of both Hemispheres, hence creating a new, powerful tool of global nature-resource survey and conservation. The system has a potential to attract the interest of the global climate modeling community as the concept of biome (and associated hierarchical system) has a strong functional focus. All zonal biomes of the Southern Hemisphere are featured, and the major challenges we face in understanding their origins, structure, and functioning are discussed. The book contains a wealth of original data resulting from collation of bioclimatic data and vegetation mapping.

Presents a scientifically sound monograph of the featured segment forests for people interested in nature conservation, environmental consulting, forest management, and national policy-makers

Formulates unique concise methodology of forest surveys and presents a prime example how to handle data and present a forest survey

Serves national biodiversity assessment in South Africa with data and results

Why this Atlas?
The publication of the Vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland (known among peers as ‘the VegMap’), edited by Laco Mucina & Mike Rutherford, and assisted by Les Powrie and about 100 other co-authors, marked a milestone on a long journey laid down by South African vegetation science and plant ecology (Mucina & Rutherford 2006a). The classification of South Africa’s terrestrial ecosystems and featuring the diversity of vegetation types on a map resulted in a resource now widely used not only by botanists, vegetation scientists and plant ecologists, but also by users of botanical, vegetation and ecological information including those involved in zoology, other biological sciences, tertiary education, environmental consulting, nature conservation, and policy-making. Since its publication in 2006 (although the book became available only in early 2007) the book describing the vegetation of South Africa accrued more than 1200 citations (and counting, according to Google Search), or 153+ citations per year (Publish or Perish [computer program] 1 March 2014). What then, is the role of this ‘Atlas’, which reprints Chapter 18 of the VegMap (Mucina et al. 2006) – the vegetation map itself?...

The plant genus Strelitzia occurs naturally in the eastern parts of southern Africa. It comprises three arborescent species, known as wild bananas, and two acaulescent species, known as crane flowers or bird-of-paradise flowers. The logo of the South African National Biodiversity Institute is based on the striking inflorescence of Strelitzia reginae, a native of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal that has become a garden favourite worldwide. It symbolises the commitment of the Institute to promote the sustainable use, conservation, appreciation and enjoyment of the exceptionally rich biodiversity of South Africa, for the benefit of all people.