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Towards a predictive understanding of savanna vegetation dynamics in the eastern Lowveld of South Africa : with implications for effective management.Peel, Michael John Stephen. 02 December 2013 (has links)
The purpose of this study was to develop and test a predictive understanding of the
vegetation dynamics of the Lowveld of South Africa (30°35'E to 30°40'E and 24°00'S to
25°00'S). The study covered about 5000 km2 in Adjacent Private Protected Areas
(APPA) adjoining the Kruger National Park (KNP).
Data gathering (800 sites; 23 properties) commenced in 1989 and those recorded up to
2004 are reported here.
The value, both ecological and economic, of the wildlife and tourism industry dependent
on this savanna region is discussed in both historical and current perspectives. A range of
land-use objectives and anthropogenic interventions were exposed. The properties
ranged in size from 30 to 800 km2 and formed an effective and extensive manipulative
experiment for investigating interaction of bush density, animal stocking, use of fire and
landscape-scale processes. The first descriptive classification (at 1:250 000) of the area
was developed using Inverse Distance Weighted interpolations. This confirms similar
landscape/vegetation patterns in the KNP and Mocambique.
The current mode of determining stocking density or carrying capacity was interrogated
and indices suitable for complex multi-species systems developed. This was done in the
context of equilibrial/disequilibrial paradigms. Application of the original indices
resulted in drought-related declines in animal biomass of 4000 kg km2 over 20 years due
to overestimation of carrying capacity. The model proposed here uses rainfall, animal
type, biomass and vegetation parameters to determine stocking density for both coarse
(regional) and ranch-specific scales.
Principal driving determinants (rainfall, geology, soil type, tree density canopy cover,
animal numbers, feeding classes and fire) of vegetation structure and their influence on
the herbaceous layer were investigated. Groupings on ecological potential showed 'high'
potential areas are less sensitive to animal impact than those classified as 'low' potential. Sustainability, embedded in a forward-looking component viz. Strategic Adaptive
Management (SAM) with well-articulated endpoints viz. Thresholds of Potential Concern
(TPCs) was used to study fluctuations in animal populations with Connochaetes taurinus
(Blue wildebeest) as the case study.
The TPC approach provides strong pointers for proactive management aimed at
maintaining the system within bands defined by TPCs supporting operationally practical
and periodically reviewed objectives. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.
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Factors influencing the impact of elephants on woody vegetation in private protected areas in South Africa's lowveldGadd, Michelle January 1997 (has links)
A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of SCience
University of the Witwatersrand. Johannesburg
for the Degree of Master of Science / This study of the impact of elephants, Loxodonta africana (Blumenbach), in private
reserves ln South Africa's lowveld region aimed to determine the sizes and species
of woody plants most often affected by elephants and the proportion and severity of
elephant impact on the marula tree Sclerocarya birrea. The study was conducted in
three parts: vegetation quadrats in areas where elephants had been foraging, direct
observation of the feeding behaviour of hand-raised elephants, and transects to
sample S. birrea across the study areas. To distinguish preferences, the frequency
of elephant impact on each species was compared with the frequency with which it
was encountered by the elephants. In the vegetation quadrats, I found that
uprooting and leaf stripping were infrequent in all sizes of stems, Main stem
breakage affected stems lese than 30 cm in diameter whereas branch breakage and
bark stripping increased with increasing size. Favoured species were Combretum
collinum, Acacia gerrardii, Albizia harveyl sclerocarya birrea, Dalbergia
metenoxyton, and Pterocarpus rotundifolius. Notable among neglected species
were Acacia toriifis, Tettnmelle prunioides, and Terminalia sericea which are
favoured food items for elephants elsewhere. Other common species which were
not selected by elephants were Acacia exuvielis, Cassine transvaalensis, Ehretia
emoene, Euclea netalensis and Securinega virosa. Behavioural observation
revealed that hand-raised elephants favoured eating Sclerocarya birrea, Combretum
epiculeium, and Acacla nigrescens. The elephants stripped bark from A. nigrescens
and S. birrea. Assessment of rnarula trees revealed that elephant impact killed
fewer than 2% of stems during the preceding season. Fewer than 24% of trees had
current season breakage or bark removal. Main stem breakage Was found in stems
smaller than 40 ern in diameter. Ring barking was concentrated on the larger size
classes, while the smaller size classes escaped any detectable form of elephant
impact. / Andrew Chakane 2018
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The contribution of culture to the spread of HIVJoubert-Wallis, Marie 30 September 2008 (has links)
Cultural factors have been shown to play a role in human decision making and behaviour. The main objective for this research was to identify and evaluate the possible influence of Shangaan cultural beliefs, myths and behaviours, on the spread of HIV within the Mnisi tribe. A qualitative method of investigation was followed; interviews with three participants and observations of the Mnisi culture were used in the construction of the investigation and findings. Through the information obtained two cultures influencing the spread of HIV in the Mnisi tribe were identified, they are (1) The culture of power-rule and fear, and (2) The culture of poverty. / Psychology / M.Sc. (Psychology)
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The contribution of culture to the spread of HIVJoubert-Wallis, Marie 30 September 2008 (has links)
Cultural factors have been shown to play a role in human decision making and behaviour. The main objective for this research was to identify and evaluate the possible influence of Shangaan cultural beliefs, myths and behaviours, on the spread of HIV within the Mnisi tribe. A qualitative method of investigation was followed; interviews with three participants and observations of the Mnisi culture were used in the construction of the investigation and findings. Through the information obtained two cultures influencing the spread of HIV in the Mnisi tribe were identified, they are (1) The culture of power-rule and fear, and (2) The culture of poverty. / Psychology / M.Sc. (Psychology)
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Ground vegetation biomass detection for fire prediction from remote sensing data in the lowveld regionGoslar, Anthony 26 February 2007 (has links)
Student Number : 0310612G -
MSc research report -
School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies -
Faculty of Science / Wildfire prediction and management is an issue of safety and security for many rural
communities in South Africa. Wildfire prediction and early warning systems can
assist in saving lives, infrastructure and valuable resources in these communities.
Timely and accurate data are required for accurate wildfire prediction on both weather
conditions and the availability of fuels (vegetation) for wildfires. Wildfires take place
in large remote areas in which land use practices and alterations to land cover cannot
easily be modelled. Remote sensing offers the opportunity to monitor the extent and
changes of land use practices and land cover in these areas.
In order for effective fire prediction and management, data on the quantity and state of
fuels is required. Traditional methods for detecting vegetation rely on the chlorophyll
content and moisture of vegetation for vegetation mapping techniques. Fuels that burn
in wildfires are however predominantly dry, and by implication are low in chlorophyll
and moisture contents. As a result, these fuels cannot be detected using traditional
indices. Other model based methods for determining above ground vegetation
biomass using satellite data have been devised. These however require ancillary data,
which are unavailable in many rural areas in South Africa. A method is therefore
required for the detection and quantification of dry fuels that pose a fire risk.
ASTER and MAS (MODIS Airborne Simulator) imagery were obtained for a study
area within the Lowveld region of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Two of the
ASTER and two of the MAS images were dated towards the end of the dry season
(winter) when the quantity of fuel (dry vegetation) is at its highest. The remaining
ASTER image was obtained during the middle of the wet season (summer), against
which the results could be tested. In situ measurements of above ground biomass were
obtained from a large number of collection points within the image footprints.
Normalised Difference Vegetation Index and Transformed Vegetation Index
vegetation indices were calculated and tested against the above ground biomass for
the dry and wet season images. Spectral response signatures of dry vegetation were
evaluated to select wavelengths, which may be effective at detecting dry vegetation as
opposed to green vegetation. Ratios were calculated using the respective bandwidths
of the ASTER and MAS sensors and tested against above ground biomass to detect
dry vegetation.
The findings of this study are that it is not feasible, using ASTER and MAS remote
sensing data, to estimate brown and green vegetation biomass for wildfire prediction
purposes using the datasets and research methodology applied in this study.
Correlations between traditional vegetation indices and above ground biomass were
weak. Visual trends were noted, however no conclusive evidence could be established
from this relationship. The dry vegetation ratios indicated a weak correlation between
the values. The removal of background noise, in particular soil reflectance, may result
in more effective detection of dry vegetation.
Time series analysis of the green vegetation indices might prove a more effective
predictor of biomass fuel loads. The issues preventing the frequent and quick
transmission of the large data sets required are being solved with the improvements in
internet connectivity to many remote areas and will probably be a more viable path to
solving this problem in the near future.
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Hunting and power : class, race and privilege in the Eastern Cape and the Transvaal Lowveld, c. 1880-1905Gess, David Wolfgang 04 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation examines the identity of hunters, sportsmen and their associated communities in
two diverse regions of southern Africa during the last two decades of the nineteenth and the first
decade of the twentieth centuries. It argues that this was a critical period during which new patterns
of hunting and local tradition were created. In the eastern Cape districts of Albany, Fort Beaufort
and Bathurst kudu and buffalo were hunted pursuant to permits granted in terms of the Game Act,
1886. An analysis of the identity of those to whom these permits were granted or refused provides
insights into power, connection and influence amongst the English-speaking colonial elite of the
region who sought to control the right to hunt “royal game”. It also reveals their interaction with
civil servants who exercised the power to grant or withhold the privilege. Kudu were transferred
from public to private ownership, through a process of “privatization” and “commodification” on
enclosed private land, and there preserved for sporting purposes by the local rural gentry. The
survival – and even growth – in numbers of kudu in the region was achieved in these private spaces.
Buffalo, on the other hand, were hunted into local extinction notwithstanding their protection as
“royal game”. In the north-eastern Transvaal Lowveld wild animals in public ownership were
hunted by a wide variety of hunters with competing interests. The identity of the “lost” Lowveld
hunters, previously hidden from history, including an important but overlooked component of elite
recreational hunters from the eastern Cape, is explored as a window into the history of hunting in
the region prior to the establishment of game reserves. Both the identity and networks of these
hunters and sportsmen are considered in the context of enduring concerns about race, class, gender and the exercise of power. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek die identiteit van die jagters, sportmanne en die gepaardgaande
gemeenskappe in twee verskillende streke van Suider-Afrika gedurende die laaste twee dekades van
die negentiende en die eerste dekade van die twintigste eeu. Dit voer aan dat hierdie 'n kritieke
tydperk was waartydens nuwe patrone van jag en plaaslike tradisie geskep is. In die Oos-Kaapse
distrikte van Albany, Fort Beaufort en Bathurst is die jag op koedoes en buffels toegelaat op grond
van permitte toegestaan in terme van die Wild Wet, 1886. Die ontleding van die identiteit van
diegene aan wie hierdie permitte toegestaan of geweier was, bied insae oor die uitoefening van mag,
verhoudings en invloed onder die Engelssprekende koloniale elite van die streek, wat probeer het
om beheer uit te oefen oor die jag van die “koninklike wild”. Dit openbaar ook hul interaksie met
staatsamptenare wat hulle magte gebruik het om permitte uit te ruik of te weerhou. Eienaarskap van
koedoes was oorgedra vanaf openbare na privaat besit, deur 'n proses van "privatisering " en
"kommodifikasie" op geslote private grond, met die verstandhouding dat dit vir sport – doeleindes
deur die plaaslike landelike burger gebruik kon word. Die oorlewing – en selfs groei – in die getal
koedoes in die streek is behaal in die private besit. Buffels, aan die ander kant, is tot plaaslike
uitwissing gejag ondanks hul beskerming as "koninklike wild". In die Noord-Oos Transvaalse
Laeveld is wilde diere in openbare besit gejag deur 'n wye verskeidenheid van jagters met
mededingende belange. Die identiteit van die "verlore" Laeveld jagters, voorheen verborge in die
geskiedenis, wat 'n belangrike maar oor die hoof verwaarloosde komponent van elite rekreasionele
jagters van die Oos-Kaap insluit, word ondersoek as 'n venster op die geskiedenis van jag in die
streek voor die totstandkoming van wildreservate. Beide die identiteit en netwerke van hierdie
jagters en sportmanne word beskou in die konteks van blywende belangstelling met ras, klas, geslag
en die uitoefening van mag.
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Effect of Intensive Agriculture on Small Mammal Communities in and Adjacent to Conservation Areas in SwazilandHurst, Zachary Matthew 2010 December 1900 (has links)
I examined the effect of sugarcane plantations on small mammal communities at
3 sites in the Lowveld of Swaziland during the dry and wet seasons of 2008. I evaluated
changes in species abundance and community parameters in relation to distance to the
interface, as well as the relationship between small mammal communities and
environmental variables. I used pitfall arrays and Sherman live traps to sample small
mammals along 9 traplines at the land-use interface and on a gradient extending 375 m
into each land-use. I used point-centered-quarter, range pole, and line-transect sampling
to characterize plant community structure.
Two generalist small mammal species had increased abundance as distance into
the sugarcane increased. Two species with wide geographic ranges appeared to select
areas within 75 m of the interface. Four species with restricted habitat tolerances or
diets were negatively affected by sugarcane, as was 1 species that selects for low ground
cover. Two species may have avoided the interface. For the majority of species in the
Lowveld, sugarcane does not provide habitat. Sugarcane monocultures > 375 m in width
may form a barrier to movement of small mammal species.
Species richness and diversity significantly decreased at the interface of 2 sites,
however, 1 site had increased diversity associated with the interface. My analysis
indicated a difference in community composition between the 2 land-uses and
differences between the farthest interior conservation area (375 m)-interface (0 m) and
the farthest interior sugarcane (375 m). There was no difference in community
composition between seasons or distances within the conservation area. The farthest
interior sugarcane trapline had distinctness from other traplines within the sugarcane,
and may be of importance for minimizing the effects of habitat fragmentation in lowveld
savanna.
The effects of sugarcane did not extend into adjoining natural vegetation. My
results indicated grass biomass, litter depth and shrub density played important roles in
structuring the communities. Between sites, variation in community structure
attributable to the sugarcane interface varied. The site with poorest vegetative cover had
the highest relative importance of distance to the interface. One species (Steatomys
pratensis) was negatively affected by distance to the interface.
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The development of stocking rate models for three veld types in Natal.Turner, John Robert. January 1990 (has links)
The overall objective was to develop stocking rate models
for three veld types. namely the Lowveld. the Southern Tall
Grassveld and the Natal Sour Sandveld. in Natal. Sub-objectives
were to determine the 1) residual herbage mass at
the end of the summer, 2) residual herbage mass at the end of
winter and 3) individual animal performance under grazing
conditions, and the effect of stocking rate on these three
variables. Multiple linear regression component models were
successfully developed to meet all three of the sub-objectives
for each of the three veld types.
Results show that veld condition is an extremely important
factor determining animal production from veld, and that
stocking rate on veld in good condition could possibly be
double that on veld in poor condition. Stocking rate did not
have the expected impact on individual animal performance in
the summer. although it did have an important moderating
influence under any particular set of environmental
conditions. Stocking rate did. however. have a marked effect
on herbage production and therefore on herbage availability in
winter and so also on the ability to overwinter cattle without
having to supply additional supplementary feed. Stocking rate
in summer therefore had a major indirect effect on animal
production in the winter. Carryover of residual herbage from
one year to the next is probably not as important in these
veld types as in some other parts of the country. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1990.
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Residual value and production function approaches to valuation of irrigation water in sugarSacolo, Thabo Thandokuhle January 2013 (has links)
The main objective of the study was to estimate non-market value of irrigation water as an
input in sugar cane production in the Lowveld of Swaziland. This study used two
independent approaches to non-market valuation, the residual value and production function
approaches, to calculate the value that sugar cane farmers in the Lowveld region of
Swaziland attach to irrigation water. The former estimated the average value of water, while
the latter estimated the marginal value. The study also estimated the output elasticity of
irrigation water, identified factors determining irrigation water values, and used stochastic
frontier analysis to estimate farmers’ technical efficiency (TE) scores, and investigated the
relationship hypothesised between irrigation water values and TE. Irrigated sugar cane
production was specifically selected for this study on account of its socio-economic
importance in Swaziland.
Using data obtained from 78 sugar cane farms, the mean estimated value of irrigation water,
measured in Emalangeni per metre cubed, was E1.60/m3 using the residual value approach,
and E1.51/m3 using the production function approach. A t-test showed that the observed
differences between the values estimated from the two independent approaches were not
statistically significant, suggesting that either method can be used to value irrigation water
employed in sugar cane production in Swaziland. The results from the t-test, in conjunction with the economic theory of duality, also allow us to conclude that the production technology
employed by irrigation sugar cane farmers exhibits constant returns to scale. Irrigation water
was output inelastic (0.711), lending additional credence to the constant returns technology
conclusion. The value calculated for irrigation water was negatively related to irrigation
water quantity, suggesting that price can be used as an instrument to directly regulate the
quantity of irrigation water the farmer employs. The value calculated for irrigation water was
negatively related to quantities of labour, quantity of irrigation water used, fertilizer and
chemicals employed, suggesting that price can be used as an instrument to indirectly regulate
the quantity of irrigation water the farmer employs. The value imputed for irrigation water
was positively related to farm size and total revenue, suggesting that the more resourceendowed
farmers can potentially pay higher for irrigation water. It is thus conceivable to
design irrigation water pricing policies with equity considerations. TE scores ranged from
0.397 to 0.955, with a mean of 0.840. Farmers with higher TE scores also had higher implicit
values for irrigation water, suggesting that irrigation water pricing can be used as a tool for
motivating resource use efficiency.
The key policy implication derived from this study is that price-based instruments have a
potential in the management of scarce irrigation water resources in Swaziland. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development / unrestricted
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Perceived effects of climate change on agricultural production in the Lowveld areas of Mpumalanga province, South AfricaAjala, Seun Boluwatife 08 1900 (has links)
The study was on the perceived effects of climate change on agricultural production among smallholder crop farmers in the Lowveld areas of Mpumalanga province, South Africa. A total of 351 farmers were randomly selected and well-structured interviews were scheduled that contained both close-ended and open-ended questions.
Data collected was analysed with descriptive statistical tools while logit regression model was used to analyse the relationship between the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers and their level of awareness of climate change The findings revealed that majority 33.9% of the respondents were 56 years and above and most (72.1%) of the respondents were male. Likewise, 68.4% were married while their major occupation was farming.
It was discovered that most (66.4%) of the farmers were not aware of the changes in climate in the study area. Only 52.7% stated that there was information on climate change. The impacts of climate change on crop production from the view of the farmers included (1) Reduced crop production levels and (2) No production, which have been affecting their livelihood diversely such as increase in socio-economic problems, reduction in income and increase in unemployment.
The result of the logit model analysis revealed a significant relationship between the age of the farmers (0.019), land tenure system (0.062), the manager of the farm (0.036) and the farm ownership (0.072) and their level of climate change awareness.
The study recommends that government as well as stakeholders’ programmes designed to improve farmers’ awareness of climate change and its impact on production should consider the aforementioned explanatory variables / Agriculture, Animal Health and Human Ecology / M. Sc. (Agriculture)
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