Vegetation mapping in Iceland.

Vegetation mapping has been a continuous programme at the Agricultural Research Institute in Iceland since 1961. The principal objectives of the classification and mapping of vegetation and of other land cover have been to evaluate land qualities for agricultural purposes, determine the carrying capacity of grazing land and to provide a basis for management of grazing areas. The stages of the cartographic process are reviewed, data collection and field work are outlined as well as specifications of the maps, data representation and map construction. The applications of the vegetation maps for planning and monitoring of land use other than agricultural and for the analysis of some environmental problems are also discussed. A total of 64 maps at a scale of 1:40 000 has been published and 13 maps at a scale of 1:20 000 have been completed. -Authors