Map Review: Atlas of Australian Resources, 2nd Series, Natural Vegetation

Summary

This review assesses the 1976 Atlas of Australian Resources map "Natural Vegetation," which portrays pre-European vegetation patterns. It commends the detailed classification based on growth form, foliage cover, and lower stratum, and the high-quality cartography. However, criticisms are raised: the "littoral complex" lumps saltmarsh and mangroves, potentially misleading users; rainforest distributions are hard to identify due to color choices; height ranges for rainforest appear underestimated; and a minor printing error exists near Geelong. Despite these points, the map is regarded as an excellent and useful resource, with recommendations for future editions.