Vegetation types provide a good representation of terrestrial biodiversity because most animals, birds, insects and other organisms are associated with particular vegetation types. In 2005 SANBI produced an extensively revised vegetation map for South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland (Mucina et al. 2005), with 441 vegetation types. Each vegetation type in the South African vegetation map has a biodiversity target set by the National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment. This vegetation map, with minor refinements, was used to define 68 vegetation types for Mpumalanga, shown on this map.


The vegetation of Mpumalanga falls mainly into three of South Africa’s nine biomes:

• Grassland (highveld and escarpment hills), 
• Savanna (escarpment foothills and lowveld) and
• Forest (south and east facing escarpment valleys). 

There is also a small amount of Fynbos vegetation along the escarpment. Descriptions of these biomes are useful in understanding the biodiversity and ecological characteristics of the Province.

The upper catchments of the Vaal, Crocodile-Komati and Usutu-Pongola river systems are all highveld grasslands. Comprising 60% of the Province, grasslands play an important role in conserving and providing water. Grassland is our most used and pressured landscape. Half has already been lost to rapidly expanding cultivation and coal mining. Grassland is not just grass. Special to grassland are: half of South Africa’s 34 endemic mammals, many endemic birds and several hundred plants listed as threatened. A good many of these are herbaceous plants such as arum lilies, red hot pokers, aloes, watsonias, gladiolii, orchids; as well as many medicinal and culturally significant species. This biome is also the most susceptible to invasion by alien plant species.


Savannas dominate the lower, warmer regions of the Province, covering 39% of the northern and eastern regions. Savannas are a hardy combination of trees, shrubs and grass in various proportions and densities, depending on soil and rainfall. The woody plants are mostly deciduous and resistant to drought, fire and browsing, thus providing the preferred habitat for large game animals. Thicket development, resulting from past cattle grazing, has led to an increase in game farming in savannas. A quarter of this biome has already been lost to cultivation, settlement, firewood and timber extraction, and to create better grazing lands for livestock.


Indigenous forests in Mpumalanga occur as small scattered patches along the frost-free valleys and foothills of the escarpment. Evergreen trees and shrubs form a closed canopy providing moist, shady growing conditions. Forest patches total less than 0.5% of the Province. All indigenous forests are protected under DWAF legislation but they come under pressure from increasing demand for building materials and traditional medicines, often obtained by bark stripping. The loss of trees results in drying out of soil, soil loss and reduced river flows. Despite their small contribution in area, forests support a uniquely rich biodiversity and possess high cultural values.