Vegetation mapping by integration of floristic analysis, GIS and remote sensing. An example from Tigray (Ethiopia)

Abstract

An integrated approach combining floristic analysis, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) was used to map the vegetation of a Tigray district (Ethiopia). Vegetation types were identified using a floristic method. For each type the community niche was defined on the basis of altitude and parent material. The combination of the physiognomic map obtained by RS with the niches of floristic-vegetation types was obtained with a GIS application using the Digital Elevation Model (DEM). A floristic-physionomic vegetation map combining floristic diversity and physiognomy of vegetation was produced. The map has been used for a numerical classification of administrative units (tabias), based on the percentage of cover of floristic-physiognomic vegetation types. Three main groups of tabias have been defined, each of them related to one altitudinal belt and well characterised by a floristic-physiognomic vegetation type. This characterisation and description could be very useful for the development of plans for the rehabilitation of the area based on local plant species.