Rangelands (veld) form part of an important renewable resource. · Measurement and monitoring of veld condition is an important management tool. Management methods need to be centred on the objectives of the livestock farm or game reserve being managed. Veld condition assessments and their use in managing stocking rates are dependent on the range succession model, which sets out the concept of directional successional changes in species composition. Although this rangeland succession model has been widely criticised it is still extensively used for veld management in South Africa. Many variations of veld condition assessment methods have been developed to be used as a tool for making informed management decisions. The Ecological Index Method was the focus of this study. The general expectation of the relationship between veld condition and animal biomass is that the greatest biomass should be in areas of high veld condition. Soil condition and habitat structure were also explored in terms of their relationship with the veld condition index. Animal biomass was found to decrease slightly with increasing veld condition index scores. There was little to no relationship between VCI and species diversity and evenness. Herbivore species displayed a range of habitat preferences in terms of VCI scores, grass height and tree basal area. This indicated that habitat choices may not have only been influenced by forage quality but also by ability to graze different grass heights, based on jaw morphology, and the risk of predation. The relationship between VCI and veld condition variables was found to be triangular due to the method of calculation causing the VCI to fold back on itself. This complicates interpretation of results. The results of this study suggest that either the interpretation of the index needs to be reconsidered for a game reserve context or a new method needs to be developed.

Protected areas are increasingly becoming islands of habitat surrounded by seas of cultivation and development. Mole National Park, Ghana’s premier park, has an emerging nature-based tourism that is not large when compared to park tourism in other African countries. The park attracts many tourists seeking to observe charismatic wildlife such as elephants. However, many of the species that are attractive to tourists can create problems for adjacent communities. The overarching focus of this study was on how human-wildlife interactions impact on nature-based tourism in order to inform tourism development in Mole National Park and in nearby communities. The study was designed to address the following research questions: (1) How do human-wildlife interactions impact on nature-based tourism in Mole National Park and in nearby communities? (2) How do adjacent communities perceive the concerns and benefits of living near Mole National Park, and what factors explain the differences in perception of these concerns and benefits? and (3) How do park-adjacent communities perceive wildlife impact, and how are the perceptions of wildlife shaped by culture, involvement in a community conservation area, and a community’s distance from the park? A variety of research instruments such as key informant interviews, focus groups, field observations, and surveys were used to gather data from tourists and the diverse range of communities that surround Mole National Park. The study revealed high levels of tourist satisfaction with fundamental attractions such as wildlife and the environment. However, managerial deficiencies were noted in terms of infrastructure and services. CREMA (a variant of community-based natural resource management) influence communities to have positive attitude towards the park and tolerate wildlife because of the benefits they gain or perceive they will potentially gain. Communities closer to the park although have concerns, rated benefits higher than communities farther away from the park. Cultural valuation of animals also influence people’s interactions with wildlife. For example, taboo and totemic animals are revered and tolerated, not killed or eaten, although the same species may be considered problematic in other communities. Park ranger patrols, protecting water bodies, and livestock pens were rated as effective enhancement and mitigation measures of human-wildlife interactions. Properly developed nature-based tourism in and around PAs can serve both conservation and development outcomes. However, the success of PAs as a conservation strategy depends to some extent on the support of the nearby communities. Park-adjacent communities’ valuation of wildlife and the perception of concerns and benefits are important in the conservation process. Therefore, efforts should be made to ensure that concerns do not outweigh the benefits of living near PAs. Also tourism development in PAs should benefit nearby communities to offset the negative impacts of PAs on adjacent communities. / Graduate / 0366 / eyacquah@yahoo.com