Worksite Management Manual

This guide outlines essential mapping and navigation skills for the management and clearing of invasive alien plants. It explains the use of different map scales, the interpretation of topographical contour lines for terrain assessment, and the application of aerial photography. Additionally, it provides instructions on using magnetic compasses and GPS devices to ensure accurate orientation, boundary management, and landmark tracking in the field.

• Map skills are critical for the pre-planning and execution of invasive alien plant clearing. Maps allow users to orient themselves and divide land into Natural Biological Alien units (Nbals), which are defined as "homogenous area defined by a species, age class or density perspective".
• The document distinguishes between large-scale and small-scale maps. Large-scale maps show broad details of large areas (e.g., for travel between Cape Town and Johannesburg), while small-scale maps provide more detail, such as contours and power lines, for working in specific areas. A scale of 1:10 000 is identified as "ideal for use in IAP management".
• Topographical maps use contour lines to represent height above mean sea level, which helps contractors assess terrain. Closely spaced lines indicate a "steep incline", while lines far apart indicate a "slight or gentle" slope. This information is used to develop estimates for "accessibility, ease of clearing and clearing methods".
• Aerial maps, created from photographs, provide a visual representation of the land and are useful for recognizing Nbals and other features, particularly at a 1:10 000 scale. However, they provide "less detail than topographical maps" and must be kept up-to-date because landscapes change due to factors like development and fires.
• Navigation tools including magnetic compasses and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are recommended for field work. Compasses are used for orientation, cutting transects in dense vegetation, and settling boundary disputes. GPS devices, which require a minimum of three satellites to determine position, can store coordinates for landmarks and are generally accurate to within "5 square meters".

APA

G., D., & G., H. (2007). Worksite Management Manual. WWF South Africa. http://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/appendix_6_basic_mapping_skills.pdf

Chicago

G., Deacon,, and Harding, G. Worksite Management Manual. WWF South Africa, 2007. http://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/appendix_6_basic_mapping_skills.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=G. |first1=Deacon, |last2=G. |first2=Harding, |title=Worksite Management Manual |publisher=WWF South Africa |date=2007 |url=http://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/appendix_6_basic_mapping_skills.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{g2007worksite, author = {G., Deacon, and G., Harding,}, title = {{Worksite Management Manual}}, institution = {WWF South Africa}, year = {2007}, url = {http://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/appendix_6_basic_mapping_skills.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }