Semi-quantitative measurements of canopy composition as a basis for mapping vegetation

[First paragraph...]
This paper describes a semi-quantitative method of mapping vegetation at scales of the order of one mile to the inch using aerial photographs. It has been developed during a survey of Tongariro National Park in which more information than would normally be derived from a reconnaissance survey is required but where, due to the size of the area, time for sampling is limited. The aim has been to make all steps in the sampling and mapping procedure as repeatable as possible so that precise comparisons can be made between large areas of vegetation, and large-scale changes in the vegetation pattern can be followed over a long period of time.