UNESCO/AETFAT/UNSO (WHITE'S) The vegetation of Africa

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UNESCO Vegetation Map of Africa.
by F. White

The UNESCO/AETFAT/UNSO (White's) Vegetation Map of Africa was published in 1983 after more than 15 years of collaboration between UNESCO and AETFAT (Association pour l'Etude Taxonomique de la Flore De l'Afrique Tropicale). The original product comprises three map sheets at a scale of 1:5,000,000. These maps were digitized and topològically structured. The digital product covers the entire continent of Africa and Madagascar in a single data file.

The Vegetation Map of Africa is a compendium of various existing map sources for different regions/countries, which were integrated and synthesized by the AETFAT committeee responsible for creating the map (headed by Dr. F. White of Oxford University, UK). The first draft of the map was checked by extensive fieldwork and discussions with local experts. The vegetation classification used is the UNESCO standard based on physiognomy and floristic composition (not climate), and it includes a total of 80 major vegetation types and mosaics. Water is added as category 81 in the GRID legend for the digital map.

The complete and proper reference to this data set is as follows: "White, Frank; 1983; Vegetation of Africa - a descriptive memoir to accompany the Unesco/AETFAT/UNSO vegetation map of Africa; Natural Resources Research Report XX; U. N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; 7 Place de Fontenoy, 75700 Paris, France; 356 pages."

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