The GIS landuse and vegetation coverages for The Gambia were derived from maps produced by Office of Remote Sensing, South Dakota State University in 1982. They were digitized by Geir Tyldum as part of a masters thesis study on sea-level rise.
The maps are divided into the following 20 different landuse and vegetation classes:
MISCELLANEOUS | ||
| 3 | Water | |
| 5 | Major urban areas | U |
| 7 | Undefined areas | |
RAINFED AGRICULTURE: Upland and colluvial soils | ||
| 10 | Current agriculture (intensive/ non intensive) | A |
| 12 | Plantations | O |
| 14 | Non-intensive cultivation in palm groves | L |
SWAMP AND IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE: Alluvial soils | ||
| 16 | Swamp rise | Ar |
| 18 | Irrigated rice | Ari |
NON-AGRICULTURAL AREAS: Upland and colluvial soils | ||
| 20 | Shrub and tree savanna | VS |
| 22 | Savanna woodlands | B |
| 24 | Savanna woodland/ woodland transition | BF |
| 26 | Woodlands | F |
| 28 | Riparian and fringing savanna woodlands and woodlands | BFv |
| 30 | Gallery forests | G |
NON-AGRICULTURAL AREAS: Alluvial soils | ||
| 32 | Mangroves | M |
| 34 | Barren flats | T |
| 36 | Herbaceous steppes | Ps |
| 38 | Grass savanna | Pd |
| 40 | Shrub and tree savanna | Pvs |
| 42 | Savanna woodlands | Pb |
| 44 | Woodlands (riparian) | Pf |
Additional description of selected landuse and vegetation classes.
FORESTS: A vegetation structure in which trees grow close together with crowns in contact, and which shades the ground.
Mangrove Forests: Evergreen forests found within the intertidal zone. Closed canopy.
Gallery Forests: Forests normally found in the vicinity of river banks. Climate independent in that water is extracted from moistly soils. A continuos stream of groundwater is present at all times.
WOODLANDS: Crowns of the trees are mostly separated by open areas, usually having a low herbs or shrub layer.
Riparian/ fringing woodlands: Woodlands which are found along river banks, sometimes penetrating many kilometres into the savanna. Patches of the woodland (woodland outliners) occur in places where some natural feature has protected them from the spread of fire.
SAVANNAS
Savanna woodlands: There are many trees and shrubs and the trees grow close together, though without forming a continuos canopy. Ground flora is dominated by tall grasses.
Tree Savanna: Trees and shrubs are present but the trees are scattered. Ground flora dominated by tall grasses.
Shrub Savanna: Trees are absent. Shrubs are present, scattered around a ground flora dominated by tall grasses.
Grass Savanna: Trees and shrubs are absent. The vegetation is entirely dominated by tall grasses.
STEPPES:
Herbaceous steppes: Woody vegetation are absent. Vegetation dominated by herbs.