414 
management inputs to augment forest 
product yields or maintain site 
capability, and, where agricultural 
use competes with forestry for the 
site 
III non-forestry lands: lands which support 
vegetation types which do not yield 
significant amounts of forest products 
and where agriculture is the primary 
land use 
The individual TU’s were placed in their respective 
categories and a total surface area was calculated. 
Table 2 shows the placement of each TU in one of the 
three categories, and Table 3 shows the comparative 
surface areas of each category for the two 
arrondissements. 
Table 2 Relative forestry value categories for 
the terrain units observed and mapped in the 
Matameye and Mirria arrondissements 
Category I Category II Category III 
141 
124 
163 
431 
127 
221 
437 
436 
331 
625 
512 
629 
841 
621 
705 
845 
821 
714 
741 
conditions selected for use as the presented 
information. Not only are they associated with 
forestry conditions, but they are also very standard 
types of ground conditions, which do not change 
appreciably (perhaps with the exception of 
vegetation species composition) with time or locale. 
The basic classification system, embodied in the 
photo examples of the key, has the potential to be 
applied throughout the sahelian region of Africa, 
leading to a real possibility of integrated, 
regional, planning activities. Work is at present 
under way in pursuit of this application. 
REFERENCES 
Daus, SJ. et.al. Final Report, Mali Land Use 
Mapping Project (Projet d’inventaire des 
Ressources Naturelles, PIRT), contract. Tippetts 
Abbett, Mc Carthy and Stratton, NY, NY, 1982 
Table 3. Relative surface area of the three 
categories of forestry types mapped in the 
arrondissements of Matameye and Mirria 
Matameye 
Mirria 
Category I 
238.4 
1564.4 
Category II 
62.4 
2587.7 
Category III 
1763.1 
7479.3 
4.0 DISCUSSION 
The principal comments concerning the mapping system 
developed, and one of it’s primary elements, the 
photo interpretation key, center around two aspects: 
suitability given the information needs and 
conditions of application, and the system's 
flexibility. 
4.1 Suitability of the mapping procedure 
At the level of specificity of information requested 
by the NFS planners, the procedures and 
methodologies presented in this paper are more than 
adequate in furnishing the data. In addition, after 
an appropriate period of training, the GON forestry 
personnel were able to implement all aspects of the 
mapping procedure. The procedures do not depend on 
complex techniques, nor do they require complicated 
or fragile equipment. These are techniques which can 
be conducted in the office or in the field. This is 
a mapping procedure that is suitable for conditions 
often encountered in developing countries. 
4.2 Flexibility of the mapping procedure 
A primary criteria in basing the mapping system on 
the interpretation of aerial photography, and in the 
development of the photo interpretation key, was the 
desire for flexibility and regional applicability. 
For good reasons were the specific types of ground