Bibliography: Land Degradation in South Africa project

Notes : The purpose of the study was to determine whether delegation of powers

has had an impact on commonage land conflict in the Eastern Cape. The study

also aimed to assess the nature, causes and form of conflicts that have arisen

between current occupants of land and municipalities, and to provide

alternatives or intervention measures that could be applied to rectify the

situation. A random sample of 10 households, representing 9% of a total

population of 116 families, was drawn and interviewed. The report contains

information on the historical view of commonage and land dispossession in the

Eastern Cape. Information on: the demographics of the Idutywa commonage;

transfer of commonage land to Idutywa TLC; the nature, form and causes of

conflicts on commonage land at Lusikisiki and Idutywa; and an assessment of the

findings with proposed remedial action to the commonage is contained in the

report. This report is available at the offices of the Border Rural Committee,

East London. See also ID ref. no. 2339.

Ref ID : 2224

495. Bosman, D.L. Timber resources and timber utilisation in South Africa.

National Mechanical Engineering Research Institute:CSIR. , 1956.

Reprint : Not in File,

Ref ID : 190

496. Botha, C.G. The dispersion of the stock farmer in Cape colony in the

eighteenth century. South African Journal of Science 20:574-580, 1923.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : GRAZING EFFECTS; ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY; STOCKING RATE

Notes : The way for the advance of the stock farmer during the 18th century had,

to some extent, been prepared by the explorers of the 17th and early 18th

centuries. These men had been sent out from time to time with the purpose of

opening up trade with the natives, ascertaining the possibilities of the

country, and adding geographical knowledge. On the whole the reasons were

mainly economic. The same reasons, to some extent, also decided the direction

they took. In Van Riebeek's day, the rich empire of Monomotapo was the

objective. This was supposed to be more than 800 miles in a north-easterly

direction frm the Cape. But physical features of the country also directed the

course, as those who first went to the north-west and south-east kept on the

coast side of the mountain ranges. It is shown that the farmers appear to have

followed the same line. They also moved on the same side of the mountains,

where they could obtain pasturage and water for their cattle. Thus they

dispersed to the north-west, the north-east and the south-east and later on into

the Karoo area.

Ref ID : 430

497. Botha, G., Wintle, A.G., and Vogel, J.C. Episodic late Quaternary

palaeogully erosion in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Catena 23:327-340,

1994.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : SOIL EROSION; PALAEOENVIRONMENTS; KWAZULU NATAL; EROSION

Abstract : Hillslope deposits in northern KwaZulu-Natal, SA are incised by

gullies (dongas) which expose sequences of buried palaeosols developed within a

succession of discontinuity-bounded colluvial sedimentary units. Infilled and

buried palaeogully topography attests to at least four geomorphic cycles,

comprising gully cut-and-fill and palaeosol formation, on hillslopes in the

region during the past 135 ka. Past attempts at dating colluvial stratigraphic

units were limited to radiocarbon dating of associated palaeosol organic matter

and authigenic soil carbonates. This study presents a preliminary set of Infra

Red Stimulated Luminescence (IRSL) age determinations pertaining to deposition

of the succession of colluvial units infilling and burying palaeogullies at

several sites of stratigraphic, geochronological and palaeo-environmental

importance in the region. Interpretation of the IRSL and 14C dates in the

context of cyclical hillslope processes suggests that past episodes of

palaeogully erosion and infill were not synchronous and individual palaeosol

landsurfaces were diachronous during the late Pleistocene.

Ref ID : 793

498. Botha, G.A. The geology and palaeopedology of late quaternary colluvial

sediments in northern Natal, South Africa.University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg.

:1-17, 1992. Doctoral Dissertation.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : SOIL EROSION; GEOMORPHOLOGY; PALAEOENVIRONMENTS; KWAZULU NATAL; MAPS;

EROSION; FREE STATE

Notes : The widespread, although discontinuous, Cainozoic terrestrial

sedimentary cover in the interior of SA is poorly documented and has proved

difficult to map in the field. Hillslope sediments and colluvium have, in

addition, hitherto been neglected in the geological and pedological literature.

This under-representation is symptomatic of the dearth of information pertaining

to these widely developed sediments. An investigation into colluvial

pedisediments in northern Natal was initiated as part of an ongoing Cainozoic

research programme by the Regional Division of the Geological Survey of SA. The

interest in colluvial sediments in northern Natal arose from the difficulty in

mapping these sediments and uncertainties pertaining to their age, genesis and

position in the stratigraphic column. The research was guided by the Geological

Survey brief which places emphasis on extensive deposits of economic and

stratigraphic significance and so precluded the possibility of limiting the

investigation to a small area or concentrating any particular site. The

distinctive colluvial sediments which mantle some hillslopes over wide areas in

the interior of Natal, typified by those exposed in erosion gullies (dongas) in

the Dundee - Nqutu - Vryheid area, are recognised by the SA Committee for

Stratigraphy (SACS) as constituting the Masotcheni Formation. This inadequately

described lithostratigraphic unit represents isolated deposits of partly

consolidated, bedded sediments of probably Quarternary age which occur

extensively throughout the interior of Natal, northern Orange Free State and

also in parts of the Transvaal and northern Cape Province. Isolated exposures

and varied lithologies supposedly limit correlation on a regional basis. It is

only the common clay mineralogy, associated high erodibility and ubiquitous

donga erosion which link the deposits. The age of these sediments has been

inferred on the basis of scant evidence.

Ref ID : 1123

499. Botha, J.J. The role of the farmer's wife in farm management.University of

Natal, Pietermaritzburg. , 1989. Despite the fact that the farming profession is

largely dominated by men, the farmer's wife contributes significantly to the

farm business. The contribution fo the farmer's wife can vary from "holding the

fort" on one hand to meaningfully influencing long-term decisions on the other.

On average, farmers spend 56,4 hours per month away from the farm and 7,9 hours

per day outside on the farm and not in the vicinity of the homestead. The office

or his house forms the only contact point with the outside world and is the

place where most of the farm activities are arranged and co-ordinated. During

the farmer's absence, his wife has to take important decisions and often has to

see to the running of farming activities. On average the farmer's wife spends

2,2 hours per day on farm activities. She is mainly involved in answering the

telephone, running errands and first aid to farm labourers. With regard to

decision-making on the farm, the farmer's wife is the sole decision-maker in the

household and in the purchasing of small items. She makes decisions jointly with

her husband on family matters and long- and short-term issues. Many aspects

cause unhappiness on the farm, of which farm labour, drought and finance are

listed as the most important reasons. The children are also active in some

activities on the farm such as answering the telephone, running errands and

caring for animals. The farmers' wives in KaNgwane are highly involved in farm

activities and in decision-making. Although they do not distinguish between

"hard" and "soft" jobs, the farmers' wives have a preference for cropping

aspects. These women spend an average of 7,9 hours per day on farming

activities. Transport facilities and the poor quality of water cause a great

deal of unhappiness on the farms. These and other problems hamper the expansion

of the role of the farmer's wife on the farm and her future development. Both

groups of farmers' wives feel a need for a special course geared to equip them

better for their role in farm management.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : SOCIOECONOMIC ASPECTS; INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS; GENDER ASPECTS; AID;

LABOUR; DROUGHT

Notes : Abstract in file.

Ref ID : 2202

500. Botha, L.J. and Van Wyk, E. Louwna-Coetzersdam: re-evaluation of

groundwater potential.Anonymous Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. GH

3860:5, 1999.

Reprint : Not in File,

Notes : Technical report GH 3860.

Ref ID : 266

501. Botha, M.J. South Africa's ratification of the United Nations Convention to

Combat Desertification in countries experiencing serious drought and/or

desertification, particularly in Africa (UNCCD). 1996.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : UN CONVENTION; MONITORING; CONSERVATION; CLIMATE; LAND DEGRADATION

Notes : Discussion document submitted by the Directorate of Agricultural

Resource Conservation of the National Department of Agriculture.

Abstract : The co-ordinating body viz. the Department of Environmental Affairs

and Tourism is presently in the initial stages of drawing up a National Action

Plan (NAP) to combat desertification. The National Research and Development

Workshop on the Assesssment and Monitoring of Desertification held in Pretoria,

October 1995 initiated by the Directorate of Agricultural Resource Conservation,

was a preamble to the proposed NAP and similar exercises should be included in

the proposed NAP under the auspices of an awareness programme. It is obvious

from the proceedings of the workshop that much has been done in the past and

still more is envisaged to be done by all the relevant parties (Academic

Institutions, Government Departments, Research Institutes, NGO's, Farmer

Organisations and Individuals) in their respective efforts to combat

desertification, especially in Africa. SA has been isolated for a considerable

period of time from the rest of Africa and major role players in the world and

has therefore a backlog to catch up with. The opportunity that the UNCCD

secretariat has offered us must be grabbed by both hands. The available

expertise and other resources offered to us in conjunction with our own

expertise and resources can make SA a major role player in the region to

contribute to achieving the goals laid down by the Convention. The full impact

of the loss of the agroecological balance in arid lands is difficult to grasp.

What is well known is that desertification reduces the lands resilience to

natural climate variability, undermines food production and contributes to

famine. The convention defines desertification as land degradation in arid and

semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including

climatic variations and human activities. Arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid

areas means area, other than polar and sub-polar regions, in which the ratio of

annual precipitation to potential evapotranspiration falls within the range from

5 to 65%. Approximately 90% of SA's total land area falls within this range.

Ref ID : 1899

502. Botha, P.R. The conservation status of South Africa's agricultural

resources. Veld Trust Conference on the conservation status of agricultural

resources in the RSA. Du Preez, J.F.Anonymous Pretoria:Unisa. , 1990.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : CONSERVATION; POLICY

Notes : The author provides a broad perspective on macro-conservation issues

related to the theme of this conference under the following three headings: (1)

an approach to macro-environmental trends; (2) pertinent environmental issues in

South Africa; and (3) policy and environmental management strategies.

Ref ID : 1989

503. Boucher, C. Patterns of invasion by larger woody alien species in selected

areas of the Fynbos Biome, South Africa. Proceedings Medecos IV. 4th

International conference on mediterranean ecosystems. Dell, B. Nedlands, Western

Australia:Botany Department, University of Western Australia. :12-13, 1984.

Reprint : Not in File,

Keywords : FYNBOS

Ref ID : 431

504. Boucher, K. The effect of pineapple cultivation on factors influencing soil

erodibility in the eastern Cape, South Africa.Rhodes University. , 1991. Master

of Science.

Reprint : Not in File,

Keywords : SOIL EROSION; CULTIVATION

Ref ID : 432

505. Boucher, K. and Weaver, A.v.B. Sediment yield in South Africa - a

preliminary geographical analysis. Geojournal 23(1):7-17, 1991.

Reprint : Not in File,

Keywords : SOIL EROSION; SEDIMENTATION

Ref ID : 2203

506. Bourne, E. and Coetzee, N. An atlas of potentially water-related diseases

in South Africa: volume 1 (mortality).Anonymous Water Research Commission.

584/1/96, 1996.

Reprint : Not in File,

Ref ID : 662

507. Bousman, C.B., Partridge, T.C., Scott, L., Seaman, M., Metcalfe, S.E.,

Vogel, J.C., and Brink, J.S. Palaeoenvironmental implications of late

Pleistocene and Holocene valley fills in Blydefontein Basin, Noupoort, C.P.,

South Africa. Palaeoecology of Africa 19:43-67, 1988.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : SOIL EROSION; KAROO DESERTIFICATION; PALAEOENVIRONMENTS;

GEOMORPHOLOGY; FAUNA; ENERGY; RAINFALL

Abstract : Blydefontein Basin contains well preserved valley fills spanning much

of the Holocene and disconformably overlaying remnants of older sediments of

late Pleistocene or earliest Holocene age. The Younger Fills record repeated

cut-and-fill cycles with durations ranging from 600 to 3 500 years. Each cycle

began with donga incision into lower fills, followed by pool formation with

organic deposition. Fluctuations in pool depth are evident, and during the

latter part of the pool phase fine alluvial sediments interdigitated with and

ultimatedly transgressed the organic pool sequences. Pedogenesis within the

alluvia attest to a depositional hiatus at the end of each cycle. Associated

pollen spectra indicate a grassy karroid vegetation which varied slightly with

moisture fluctuations, to have been slightly wetter than today. After 5 000 BP,

diatoms show cyclical variations of water depth in ponds, and in one pond

deposit the molluscan fauna indicate a short period of pool shallowing and swamp

formation c. 2 000 BP. These cycles are indicative of modest climatic shifts.

The shallow water conditions are supported by pollen spectra. The Older Fills,

which on limited faunal evidence date to the late Pleistocene or earliest

Holocene, are generally coarser and more deeply oxidized than the Younger

Fills, and suggest higher erosive energies or less effective vegetation mat,

i.e. greater sediment supply during their accumulation. More shrubby Compositae

pollen including the Elytropappus group (Stoebe-type) indicates a different

climatic regime for the Older Fills, which may have comprised either drier

conditions, a more even seasonal rainfall distribution, cooler conditions, or a

combination of all these possibilities. Clay mineralogy, however, suggests the

onset of more humid conditions soon after accumulation of the Older Fills.

Ref ID : 192

508. Bousman, C.B. and Scott, L. Climate or overgrazing?: the palynological

evidence for vegetation change in the eastern Karoo. South African Journal of

Science 90(11/12):575-578, 1994.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : KAROO DESERTIFICATION; ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY; DESERTIFICATION

ASSESSMENT; PALAEOENVIRONMENTS; LAND DEGRADATION

Abstract : Palynological evidence demonstrates that grassland and Karoo plant

communities have alternated in the eastern Cape Province since the late

Pleistocene. (1) Most shifts between grassland and Karoo are caused by climatic

change. These fluctuations continued into the historic period, when the spread

of Karoo vegetation was exacerbated by overgrazing by domestic stock. However

assessment of the botanical work of others, historical rainfall records and new

research on the palynology of hydrax dung from two middens in the eastern Karoo

show that overgrazing alone does not account for the shift from grassland to

Karoo vegetation that began in the early 1700s. [References: 34] Reprint

available from: Bousman B UNIV TEXAS ARCHEOL RES LAB AUSTIN, TX 78712 USA UNIV

ORANGE FREE STATE DEPT BOT & GENET BLOEMFONTEIN 9300 SOUTH AFRICA.

Ref ID : 571

509. Bowland, A.E. The effect of fire, overgrazing and drought on the abundance

and diversity of small mammals (Rodentia, Soricidae) in the central complex, and

the indirect impact on predators.University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg. , 1985.

The main objectives of this study were to determine the effect of fire and

overgrazing on the abundance, and diversity of small mammals (soricidae,

Rodentia) in the Central Complex. Four trapping grids in Acacia savanna

(Hluhluwe Game Reserve), subjected to various burning treatments, and four

trapping grids in A.nigrescens and A.tortilis open woodlands (Umfolozi Grame

Reserve), with different grazing pressures, were monitored from July 1982 to

December 1983. The removal of grass and forb cover by either fire or

overgrazing had a negative effect on small mammal densities. Species

composition, diversity indexes, age-classes, sex-ratios, reproductive condition,

recruitment, range distance, population densities, and survival rate were

assessed in terms of cover modification by fire and grazing. Owl pellets and

small carnivore scats were analysed to determine the impact of fluctuations in

prey availabilitity on the small mammal predator community. Discriminant

Function Analysis was conducted to determine separation in four coexisting

species, P.natalensis, S.campestris, A.chrysophilus and L.griselda, of the

Central Complex small mammal community. Niche overlap, separation and width

were assessed. Microhabitats of these four species were described in

detail.Master of Science.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : FIRE; GRAZING EFFECTS; DROUGHT; MICROMAMMALS; SAVANNA; POPULATION

Notes : Abstract in file.

Ref ID : 1102

510. Bowland, J.M. and Yeaton, R.I. Impact of domesticated African elephants

Loxodonta africana on Natal bushveld. South African Journal of Wildlife Research

27:31-36, 1997.

Reprint : Not in File,

Keywords : GRAZING EFFECTS; SAVANNA; KWAZULU NATAL; BUSH ENCROACHMENT;

VEGETATION DYNAMICS; FIRE; GRASSLAND

Abstract : Browse references of African elephants Loxodonta africana in Natal

bushveld which had not experienced elephant utilisation since 1860 were

determined and used to anticipate likely changes in the woody vegetation

community following elephant re-introduction. Elephants were observed to feed on

31 species of trees and woody shrubs during the course of the study but their

efforts were concentrated on 10 species for which over 80% of the feeding events

and 85% of the bites taken were recorded. Generally, diet selection was for

Acacia caffra and broad-leafed woodland species belonging to later successional

stages whilst earlier successional species, such as A. nilotica, were less

utilised. During the course of the study, 25 trees were pushed over. Eighty per

cent of these were members of later successional stages. Single-stemmed trees

were more often felled than multi-stemmed species. Our results suggest that the

use of Natal bushveld vegetation by elephants in the absence of fire will result

in a dense, early successional, multi-stemmed stand of woody species instead of

an open grassland or a broad-leaved open woodland community.

Ref ID : 663

511. Bradfield, E.R. Erosion and desiccation of the Karoo. Agricultural Journal

:657-659, 1908.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : SOIL EROSION; KAROO DESERTIFICATION; DESSICATION

Notes : This is a letter to the editor detailing the author's experience whilst

making a trip through the Eastern Province, the Orange River Colony and the

Transvaal. He states that, in general, he was painfully struck by the absence

of running streams and the state of the pasturage. Everywhere, with the

exception of one or two favourable localities, the country seemed to be burned

up or, as was then becoming a chronic condition, was absolutely divested of

grass.

Ref ID : 433

512. Brady, H.M. An investigation into the nature of gully erosion at Golden

Gate Highlands National Park.University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg. , 1993. The

general aim of this study was to gain an insight into the nature of gully

erosion at Golden Gate Highlands National Park. In order to achive this the

spatial and temporal characteristics of six gullies were investigated by

examining their typological and morphological characteristics, the relationship

between their morphometric properties and their increase in extent over a 39

year period (1952 - 1991). Where possible these findings and observed gully

forms were related to initiating factors. Extensive field surveys and

measurements were carried out to ascertain the typological and morphological

characteristics of each gully. The results of the field measurements were then

statistically analysed using linear regression analysis, principal component

analysis and canonical variate analysis. These methods of analysis were used to

get an indication of the relationships that exist between the morphometric

properties of the gullies as well as to highlight the similarities and

differences that exist between them. These results showed that the morphometric

variables of the gullies are strongly interrelated. Furthermore, they revealed

that the six gullies could be divided into three broad groups on the basis of

their morphometric and sediment properties. The gullies within two of the three

groups were found to be similar not only in terms of the abovementioned, but

they also occur on same facing slopes of similar gradients and appear to have