Fire is a major disturbance force that affects global ecosystems and associated biomes and plays a pivotal role in the determination of ecosystem structure, functionality and dynamics. Anthropogenic environmental disturbances have resulted in shifts in fire regimes and the biogeochemical processes of these ecosystems are thus unable to function as they have done in the past, impacting both floral and faunal species. Therefore there is a need for anthropogenic management. Prescribed burning is one of the few beneficial fire management options available to decrease the severity of wildfires, decrease the associated costs in suppressing these fires and restore fire-dominated ecosystems. The uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site (UDP-WHS) is predominantly managed for water resource and nature conservation, and fire hazard reduction. It is divided into management compartments in which prescribed management burns are conducted, (i.e. manager’s burn by compartment). These compartments are subdivided by three altitudinal belts (alpine, sub-alpine and montane). Each of these belts contains different vegetation communities and therefore requires different fire regimes. However these compartments do not coincide with the natural contours and consequently, the altitudinal belts of the Park. This is problematic for management as a certain percentage per altitudinal belt is required to be burnt annually. When burning a compartment that falls within two or more belts, the total area of that compartment needs to be sub-divided into its respective altitudinal belts as a whole compartment can be prescribed to burn not a sub-division thereof. A fire management environmental decision support system (EDSS) was developed to achieve prescribed burning objectives in the UDP-WHS. The system is based on ecologically ideal fire regimes and fire management objectives of the heritage site, using GIS and associated graphs to visually display the required fire regimes. The EDSS data preparation, statistical analysis and modelling was completed using ESRI ArcGIS suite (ArcMap, Scene and Catalog). Its main components are two models, an excel spreadsheet and an ArcMap document. The spreadsheet contains the historical burning data of the management compartments based on the compartment codes, with each compartment being not burnt or having a burning treatment. Years Since Last Burnt (YSLB) was calculated from these data and joined to the management compartments in the ArcMap document. The Intermediate output model was developed to create numerous temporary outputs allowing decision makers to decide which compartments to treat with prescribed burning by re-running the model with required alterations. The second model (Final Output model) is then run to export the selected burning treatment in table format to update the original historical data, and consequently YSLB, in the excel and ArcMap document. The ArcMap document contains the user interface housing the graphs for each altitudinal belt showing the percentage area selected to be burnt per YSLB compared to the minimal, maximum and ideal fire regimes. The fire management EDSS for the UDP-WHS consists of an ArcMap document, geodatabase, excel document and folders, which are all housed in one single folder. The use of GIS and EDSSs in environmental management improves the efficiency and accuracy of the decision making process and provides the ability to validate outputs. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.

The majestic mountains of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg, formed many millennia ago were home to the Bushmen[footnote 1] or San people. They lived at these mountains for thousands of years before they were colonised by the Bantu speakers and the Europeans. Academic writings for many years have perpetuated the thinking that Bushman people were largely extinct. The dominance of this view in the academic writings was encouraged by historical evidence that Europeans and Bantu speakers hunted and killed Bushmen over the last several centuries. Researchers argue that the extermination of the Bushmen was because they were less human in the eyes of the foreigners, due to cattle raiding. There is still some element of this thinking amongst today’s academics, although research in the last decade is questioning this thinking. The question of whether descendants do exist is relevant to issues of rights of access to ancestral sacred sites, in particular rock art sites. At present, access to rock art sites is granted on qualification as an authentic fee-paying tourist (or affordability) rather than on group rights to a cultural heritage resource (cultural rights). Based on this, I argue that access to rock art sites is based on qualification rather than by right. This is largely driven by an approach that emphasises the physical conservation and financial sustainability of a site, rather than its spiritual maintenance. It has become clear that the interests in rock art by tourists and Bushman descendants are distinct from each other. Tourists have an aesthetic significance for rock art while Bushmen descendants have a spiritual significance for the paintings. Beyond any doubt, the physically based and financially driven approach has brought new challenges to today’s Bushmen descendants, whom in reaffirming their identities now have a new challenge to overcome. Not only are the rock art sites physically threatened but also they have lost much of their spiritual powers. Their fate lies in the hands of heritage officers who must determine access rights to the painted shelters. Both the National Heritage Resources Act and the KwaZulu-Natal Heritage Act acknowledge living heritage. However, the existence of this heritage is judged against the physical approach to rock art management. If the practises of descendants are perceived to be a threat to the rock art, they will not be approved. The case of the Duma is a classic example. Prior to the ritual ceremony at Game Pass Shelter, Kamberg, they were informed of the minimum standards for opening a rock art site to public and rules of how people should behave while visiting painted shelters. While it was evident that there are problems with the two approaches, the spiritual and physical approach, discussed in the thesis, it is important that solutions are identified. I do not believe that one approach on its own will be good enough, for reasons discussed in the thesis. Instead, the two approaches should be implemented together to compliment each other by identifying common grounds. I provide strategies as to how I believe that such a common ground can be reached. In addition, I provide my own analytical thinking as to how these strategies can be achieved. There is no general consensus over which term is appropriate. Both terms are considered by some academics to be derogatory or pejorative (Chennels 2003). San means vagabond and was given to the Bushmen by Khoi-Khoi people, because they considered themselves of a better social class, as they had domesticated animals and were more sedentary than Bushmen. However, according to WIMSA (Thoma 2003) the word San is derived from the Hai||om language meaning “people who gather”. It is normally written Saan but it has been accepted to write San. In 1993 the San requested to be called San when referred to as an entire group. If one refers to individual people/groups they like to be called by their language and cultural name i.e. Khwe, !Kung, !Xun, Ju|’hoansi, ‡Khomani, N|u, |’Auni, Hai||om, etc In this thesis, Bushmen is a preferred term, because it is a better-known term among the people who are central to this study. It is used without any insulting connotations attached to the term.

Long term fire exclusion has been attempted in Catchment IX (CIX) at Cathedral Peak. Baseline vegetation of CIX was sampled in 1952, with follow-up surveys in 1973, 1986 and 2010. These took place at key times in terms of changes in fire history within the catchment. Complete fire exclusion was achieved between 1973 and 1986, but eight accidental fires burnt part of CIX thereafter. The woody component was resurveyed in 2010 after the latest of thirteen unintended fires had swept through CIX in 2007. This fire burnt about 90% of the catchment. The vegetation of the area not burnt was a distinct community and size structure indicating it had not been burnt by other accidental fires. Partial exclusion of fire over 58 years resulted in vegetation transforming from grassland to a grassland-fynbos-scrub forest mosaic. Erica evansii and Leucosidea sericea, a reseeder and resprouter respectively, were the two dominant species in CIX. These displayed expected responses to a single fire, resulting in dominance shifting from E. evansii (92% mortality) to L. sericea (1.6% mortality). The decrease in E. evansii individuals resulted in a relative increase in community contribution of species not affected by fire. Leucosidea sericea’s post-fire dominance in burnt plots was not apparent in fire-protected areas. A successional trend of colonisation of woody species, predominantly E. evansii and L. sericea, into grassland was observed. Despite occasional fires since 1986 vegetation did not revert to grassland. The emergent woody community was not homogenous. This was attributed to a combination of an irregular pattern of accidental burns and environmental variability within the catchment. The mosaic of distinct grassland, woodland, ecotonal and scrub forest communities are predicted to remain as such.

Snow occurs in the High Drakensberg of southern Africa approximately eight times per annum. Snow cover is frequently captured by Landsat satellite imagery, which provide data for the monitoring of snow cover in other regions of the world. Together with a digital elevation model, repetitive snow cover data are used to analyse the distribution of snow cover in the High Drakensberg study area. The effect that the regional and local topography, latitude, and climatic conditions have on the spatial distribution of snow and the function that temperature, wind, altitude, aspect and slope gradient play in the preservation of snow cover are examined. The results of the spatial study allow for the identification of sites that support the accumulation of snow. Specific active and relict geomorphological features were surveyed and correlated spatially to the contemporary snow cover. Among such features are linear debris ridges on south-facing valley slopes in the High Drakensberg. These appeared similar to glacial features found elsewhere in the world and are thus significant in a long-standing and highly conjectured debate over the validity of possible plateau, cirque and niche glaciation in the region. Late-lying snow cover favours gently sloping south- and southeast-facing aspects at altitudes from 3000 m ASL to just below the highest peaks in the region near 3450 m ASL, above which higher insolation levels on the flat mountain summits provides unfavourable conditions. Snow cover immediately adjacent to the Drakensberg escarpment ablates quickly whilst snow cover at high altitudes in the Lesotho interior experiences better preservation conditions. Latitude has no obvious impact on the distribution of snow cover due to the dominant role of topography in the High Drakensberg other than a limiting of snowfall to regions south of 29°S in late spring. Various synoptic conditions produce snowfall in the region, with cold fronts associated with midlatitude cyclones producing the majority of snow cover. A strong correlation exists between the spatial distribution of snow cover and specific geomorphological features. Observed linear debris ridges are located on slopes that experience frequent contemporary snow cover, lending credence for a glacial origin of the ridges during a period of colder environmental conditions.

Terracettes are a widely occurring form of micro-relief found throughout regions displaying various climatic and environmental conditions. Much speculation surrounds the processes responsible for their formation and development. An investigation of these micro-forms, their associated soil physical properties, sustaining mechanisms, and their relationship to slope stability was undertaken in Giant's Castle Game Reserve, KwaZulu - Natal Drakensberg, South Africa. The study showed that relationships between terracette morphology and soil physical properties within the Reserve are few, and that current soil conditions cannot be used to infer process related to terracette formation. However dry bulk density data indicated that soil creep is the dominant formative mechanism within the Reserve. Throughflow at riser surfaces was the dominant sustaining mechanism, with needle ice growth, wind, surfacewash and animal disturbance contributing minor retreat at both treads and risers. Aspect played an important role in determining soil physical characteristics. It was inferred that terracettes imparted stability to the slopes on which they are found, and with continued retreat at both treads and risers the slope was again placed under conditions of instability. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1998.

The Drakensberg rock-jumper (Chaetops aurantius) is a high-altitude passerine endemic to South Africa and Lesotho, living along a highly disrupted portion of the southern Great Escarpment from the Drakensberg highlands in the north-east to the Sneeuberg in the west, above an altitude of 1500 m. Along with the Cape rock-jumper (C. frenatus), this genus provides one of the stronger faunal links between the floristic biomes known as the Drakensberg Alpine Centre (DAC) and the Cape Floristic Region (CFR). Despite this, there is a significant lack of information regarding the species. The great majority of information is based on incidental observation, and no dedicated study has been undertaken. I conducted a series of field excursions between January 2011 and November 2012 in order to explore the rock-jumper’s feeding ecology, diet, habitat usage and genetic diversity. By trapping the birds, I was able to mark them individually with unique colour ring-combinations, and pluck a tail feather for genetic analyses. Observational data reveal that birds living close to their lower altitude threshold (c. 1500 m) are strongly habitat specific, living in boulder fields dominated by grassy vegetation. However, in areas at higher elevations (c. 2000 – 2500 m) this restriction seemed to fall away, possibly as a result of farming practices in those areas – higher grazing pressure results in shorter grass and less foraging effort for the birds. They live in groups ranging from pairs to small family groups of up to twelve individuals and maintain year round territories. Territory defence takes the form of calling and displaying from a prominent rock or boulder and becomes particularly noticeable just prior to, and during, the breeding period. No colour ringed individuals were ever spotted in boulder fields outside from where they had been initially ringed. This, coupled with the behaviour of territory maintenance, suggests a strongly sedentary lifestyle. Genetic inferences are constrained by a small sample size (only 25 birds were caught), but results indicate that some genetic isolation is occurring – a single haplotype was exhibited in birds from across the southern Escarpment, while seven private haplotypes show that any genetic mixing is likely to be historical rather than current. Historical gene flow would most probably have occurred during the last glacial maximum (18 000 years before present), when the cooler, drier conditions which are currently restricted to high peaks would have been much more extensive, thereby decreasing the distance required for effective dispersal. This is in agreement with the observation results, concluding that although there has been movement of birds across the southern Escarpment in the past, it does not appear to be occurring currently. However, this does leave plenty of scope for further work, particularly in the genetic diversity of the species, and in expanding the ecological observations to include the breeding biology.

Hillslopes usually have high heterogeneity in terms of landscape processes. Interactions occur between geology, geomorphological processes, and vegetation distribution on a hillslope. This study was undertaken to assess the processes and interactions of geology, regolith production, geomorphological processes, channel formation and how these are influenced by the vegetation on a portion of Mariepskop. Mariepskop forms part of the Drakensberg Escarpment, but is a separate hillslope within the Mpumalanga Province. A north-eastern portion of the Mariepskop forms the study site, with a drainage line located within the site. Deciduous bush covers most of the study site, and grassland patches occur on the southern parts of the study site. Quartz-feldspar-biotite gneiss dominates most of the area with the cliff and higher parts consisting of feldspar-rich schist. Three site visits were undertaken where bedrock geology, weathering, soil formation, erosion, mass movement processes and the drainage channel were assessed. Maps of these processes as well as slope profiling and plan forms were compiled. According to the results, Mariepskop shows heterogeneous processes both laterally and vertically, with various degrees of interactions taking place. Underlying geology, mass movements on higher altitudes, and soil creep on lower altitudes occur on both the northern and southern parts. Processes mainly occurring on the northern part are rockfall from drainage channel incision, weathering, rill erosion and fluvial erosion within the drainage channel. Main processes on the southern part are mass movement in term form of slumping/debris flow, and erosion, in particular rainsplash and overland flow. Soil is deeper on northern part than on southern part of the study site. Geomorphological processes interact with the vegetation distribution over the study area. Grassland patches on the southern part of the study site are mainly due to slumping/debris flow, rainsplash erosion, convexity of the plan form (therefore no valleys) and oxidic soils occurrence. Similar geomorphological processes will probably influence grassland patches over the rest of Mariepskop. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology / unrestricted

The importance of managing and conserving cultural heritage can not be overemphasised. It is this realisation that has prompted the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to declare identified sites of cultural importance as World Heritage Sites. The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park (UDP) was declared such a site in 2000, with its natural properties and cultural heritage as the criteria for inscription. The cultural heritage centres on the vast quantity of rock art that is renowned for its quality and diversity of subject. It is an important consideration for future generations to have the opportunity to view and understand this rich history and culture. There are increasing human and natural impacts on this non-renewable resource and to minimise these impacts and thus ensure the longevity of the resource it is necessary to develop a multi faceted selection of management and conservation tools. This realisation led the Programme of Geornatics, University of KwaZulu-Natal to conceptualise a project to develop a web-based Geographical Information System (GIS) specifically aimed at assisting in the management and conservation of rock art sites for the Valley of Pools in the Cathedral Peak Conservation Area of the UDP. Data for the project was captured in the field using Global Positioning System (GPS), digital camera and video camera as well as conventional hardcopy documentation. Existing digital spatial data and descriptive data were also collected from relevant stakeholders and a commercial organization. A pilot spatial database was then developed using ArcGIS@9 and Microsoft Access@, and later tested using a set of integrated simulated queries reflective of routine questions that users may request. Upon obtaining satisfactory responses to the queries, the integrated database was migrated and authored in ArcIMS®9 where it was further tested, and subsequently access was given to selected external professionals, both nationally and internationally, from various backgrounds, for evaluation purposes. Feedback from this process was favourably obtained. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

Ph.D. university of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Humanities (Art History), 2012 / Pictorial copies play an essential role in the creation of rock art knowledge, forming a bridge between the art and theories of interpretation. My thesis traces a ‘pictoriography’, that is, a historiography of the practice of recording rock paintings in pictures. I begin with the earliest examples dotting the shifting edges of the Cape Colony from the mideighteenth to mid-nineteenth centuries. Thereafter, the focus shifts to the Maloti-Drakensberg, where two case studies bring this disciplinary history into more recent times. The first is the rainmaking group from Sehonghong Shelter (Lesotho). One of the first rock paintings to be published, it became one of the most iconic in southern Africa. I relate its various copies to one another and to wider views of Sehonghong, revealing how it has been decontextualized and reproduced in diagrammatic form. I develop a ‘digital restoration’, whereby copies circulating independently in the world are returned in digital images to their place of origin. I develop this process further in a site-wide study of eBusingatha Shelter (AmaZizi Traditional Authority Area, KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg). Once an impressive painted gallery, eBusingatha has been severely damaged by vandalism, removals and collapse, while documents tracking its demise accumulated elsewhere. I reunite scattered records, enabling copies to be contextualized and lost visual qualities of the originals to be restored. Throughout these pictorial genealogies, I explore the distance between the way the rock paintings are illustrated and the way they actually look. While recording strategies are diverse, one dominant convention has emerged in recent decades. Meticulous tracings converted into monochrome redrawings effect a translation of complex and ambiguous painted occurrences into clean forms ‘peeled’ from the rock and projected like shadows onto paper. The are more like text than picture. Colour for instance is considered an integral part of painting traditions worldwide, yet is expunged from the study of San rock paintings. A reintegration of such pictorial attributes into their study may encourage a return to the material world of the imagery and a contextualization of the semantics of its symbolic constituents.

The uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site has significant value including the natural and cultural value such as the production of water, the wilderness and eco-cultural tourism. Situated in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal, in South Africa, this 242 813 ha Park is a national and international asset. There are marketing activities carried out by Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife (EKZNW); however they are not park specific. Ezemvelo KwaZulu- Natal Wildlife has a number of parks under their management and uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site is one of these parks. The main aim of this study was to evaluate EKZNW’s current eco-cultural tourism marketing strategy for the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site. This was done by achieving the following objectives:- 1. determine the ideal generic marketing strategy for a Protected Area specifically a World Heritage Site; 2. establish the current status of Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife marketing strategy for the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site; 3. conduct a comparative analysis between the ideal strategy and Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife’s actual strategy for uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site; 4. based on the comparative analysis, recommend marketing interventions to improve the eco-cultural tourism marketing strategy for uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site. To fulfil these objectives the research methods used were qualitative in nature because of the type of investigation. Methods used to collect information included a literature review, structured and semi-structured face-to-face interviews, discussions, conducting a SWOT analysis and secondary data analysis. The SWOT analysis was formulated from the interviews but not as a workshop and it was part of the analysis. The results of the study show that the respondents have concerns regarding the marketing of the Site. Currently there is no written eco-cultural marketing strategy for uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site. However marketing activities limited as they are, are being performed on an ad hoc basis. The Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife marketing department is too small (three staff) to handle the marketing of all Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife parks, resulting in uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site not getting the marketing attention it deserves as an international icon. Scarce resources coupled with internal conflicts, lack of marketing skills, insufficient gathering of marketing information and no external or industry marketing alliances has resulted in minimum marketing exposure for the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site. The study concluded that marketing integration and collaboration with all relevant stakeholders is needed. Marketing objectives for the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site must be developed. Better profiling of current and potential visitors to maximise revenues is a priority for better future marketing decisions. The brand identity has to be maximised through collaboration with stakeholders and staff. This will lead to sustainable marketing of the Site which takes into consideration biodiversity conservation. This ensures that conservation objectives are not compromised. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.