Bibliography: Land Degradation in South Africa project

the scientific disciplinary models of natural phenomena and the practical

integral land use planning models for management and decision support?; how can

the biophysical carrying capacity of the land be matched with socio-economic

sustainability?; how can we cover the last mile of the information highway to

the famers in the developing countries, who are hesitant to adopt

recommendations derived from externally defined systems of land evaluation,

preferring instead their own criteria and knowledge systems?; how can we

overcome institutional and administrative problems such as standardisation,

legislation and quality control, which are creating major bottlenecks in the

progress of information and communication technology?; is geo-information

currently adequate for sustainable land management?; and how can it be collected

in a cost effective and timely manner with remote sensing?

Ref ID : 1650

60. Anonymous Sustainable land management: some signposts for South Africa,

Sovenga:University of the North Press, 1998.pp. 1-176.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : RURAL DEVELOPMENT; LAND REFORM; LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION; AGRICULTURAL

EXTENSION; COMMUNAL AREA; FARMING SYSTEMS; INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS; SUSTAINABLE

AGRICULTURE

Ref ID : 1262

61. Anonymous Agricultural News.Anonymous Anonymous Pretoria:National Department

of Agriculture. (11):1-12, 1998.

Reprint : In File,

Ref ID : 1591

62. Anonymous Draft National Environmental Management Bill. Pretoria:Government

Printer. Government Gazette 19031(397), 1998.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : POLICY; LEGISLATION; ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

Notes : The stated principles of the Bill are: all policy emerging from any

organ of state should be consistent; the provisions of the Bill should provide a

general framework within which environmental management and implementation plans

should be formulated; it will serve as a guideline for any organ of state when

functioning concerns protection of the environment; any conciliator will be

guided by the principles contained in the Bill; and the Bill should guide the

administration and implementation of the Act.

Ref ID : 1643

63. Anonymous Communal rangelands in Southern Africa: A synthesis of knowledge.

Proceedings of a symposium on policy-making for the sustainable use of southern

African communal rangelands. de Bruyn, T.D. and Scogings, P.F.Anonymous

University of Fort Hare, Alice:Department of Livestock & Pasture Science. :1-

291, 1998. 07-09-1998.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : SOUTHERN AFRICA; COMMUNAL AREA; POLICY; SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Ref ID : 1193

64. Anonymous Discussion document: A national strategy for integrated

environmental management in South Africa, Pretoria:Department of Environmental

Affairs and Tourism, 1998.pp. 4-57.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : POLICY

Notes : The authors suggest that a National Strategy for revision of the concept

of Integrated Environmental Management needs to be revised for the following

reasons: so that it can be brought in line with the White Paper on Environmental

Management Policy for SA (Government Notice R 1096 of 28 July 1997); so that it

can cater specifically for sensitive environments; so that it can facilitate

tiered decision-making through a hierarchy of procedures; so as to provide for

improved environmental management after Environmental Impact Assessments; and so

as to make better use of the range of available environmental management

instruments rather than relying on Environmental Impact Assessments alone. This

document explores these points in detail.

Ref ID : 1259

65. Anonymous Agricultural News.Anonymous Anonymous Pretoria:National Department

of Agriculture. (12):1-12, 1998.

Reprint : In File,

Ref ID : 1431

66. Anonymous A recommended carring capacity map for the Transkei & Ciskei.

1998. Transkei; Ciskei.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : MAPS; TRANSKEI; CISKEI

Ref ID : 2257

67. Anonymous Sustainable land management: some signposts for South Africa,

Sovenga:University of the North Press, 1998.

Reprint : In File,

Ref ID : 1260

68. Anonymous Agricultural News.Anonymous Anonymous Pretoria:National Department

of Agriculture. (10):1-16, 1998.

Reprint : In File,

Ref ID : 1261

69. Anonymous Agricultural News.Anonymous Anonymous Pretoria:National Department

of Agriculture. (9):1-16, 1998.

Reprint : In File,

Ref ID : 2443

70. Anonymous Anonymous , 1999.

Reprint : Not in File,

Ref ID : 2520

71. Anonymous 1999.

Reprint : Not in File,

Ref ID : 738

72. A'Bear, D.R., Henderson, C.M., Little, A.M., Louw, C.L., and Mander, J.J.

Management of natural and human resources through community development in north

eastern Natal, South Africa. Paper presented at the 1993 colloquium of the

International Association for Community Development in Banglamung, Thailand.

Occasional Paper 121.Anonymous Anonymous Scottsville:Institute of Natural

Resources. , 1993. The research shows that neither top-down, nor bottom-up

approaches to community development will be adequate if used exclusively. It was

found that in areas where underdevelopment exists, the possibility and scope of

forming equitable partnerships between local and national level institutions is

increased. Such partnerships lead to real empowerment of communities;

sustainable natural resource use and conservation; and a grasping toward the

common good rather than sectarian interest. In order to form these

partnerships, it was found that the top-down and bottom-up approaches have to

come together if there is to be effective and long-term development.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : KWAZULU NATAL; VELD MANAGEMENT; SOCIOECONOMIC ASPECTS; RURAL

DEVELOPMENT; CONSERVATION

Ref ID : 706

73. A'Bear, D.R. and McKechnie, J. State of the environment report for the

Izingolweni District in KwaZulu-Natal. A report prepared for Africa Co-operative

Action Trust (ACAT) KwaZulu-Natal. Investigational Report 138.Anonymous

Pietermaritzburg:Institute of Natural Resources, University of Natal. IR 138:1-

53, 1996. The Izingolweni area is one of the most isolated districts in the

Province. The rugged terrain makes accessibility and communications difficult.

Consequently, there are some very wild and remote areas which are, nonetheless,

densely populated. The population is growing steadily and resources in areas of

densest population, and flat land are unlikely to be able to sustain the

population adequately. There is land with good cropping soils, but these are

located in pockets and do not blanket entire areas. ACATK have 33 Savings Clubs

spread across the fourteen tribal authorities and are achieving an important

presence in the arerar because there are few NGO's working in the region. One

of the only others known is LIMA, which is also an agricultural service

provider. The Savings Clubs are clearly an important institution in an

otherwise poor district and the fact that ACATK targets the poorest people is to

be supported because if development happens at t hat level then it is likely

that development will filter through all levels in the society. There are

thirteen development committees in the district and these are represented on an

umbrella body called the Umzamo Wamakosi. The development committees are of

varying ages, some having started as long ago as 1985 but the majority are

recent and have only been in place since the 1994 general election. The

representation on Umzamo Wamakosi reflected a higher level of skills and

development experience than the Savings Clubs, emphasising the different

constituencies from which both groups are drawn.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : LAND DEGRADATION; KWAZULU NATAL; COMMUNAL AREA; POPULATION

Ref ID : 1520

74. Abel, N. Carrying capacity, rangeland degradation and livestock development

for the communal rangelands of Botswana. Pastoral Development Network

(December):1-9, 1993.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : CARRYING CAPACITY; BOTSWANA; COMMUNAL AREA; STOCKING RATE; POLICY;

VELD MANAGEMENT; LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION; MODELS; DESERTIFICATION CONTROL; SOIL

EROSION; PRODUCTION POTENTIAL; GRAZING EFFECTS; LEGISLATION; CONSERVATION;

POLITICAL ASPECTS

Abstract : Conclusions reached are: opponents in the debate over range

management and livestock development in the communal areas should drop dogma,

formulate hypotheses and test them. Modelling has a part to play in

understanding the behaviour of the complex systems being discussed; like de

Queiroz, the writer notes that range science is undergoing a paradigm shift, and

proponents of de-stocking should be sure they are not basing their case on

outmoded theory; the debate would be clarified if degradation were defined in

terms of an irreversible decline in output from a specified system of

management; the writer agrees with de Queiroz that degradation occurs in

Botswana, but the term is a relative, not an absolute one. At least in relation

to soil loss, there is no clear threshold of stocking rate at which degradation

begins or ceases - the process is continuous, and the curve relating to the rate

of degradation to stocking density smooth. Technical analysis cannot in these

circumstances set a 'carrying capacity', it can only estimate the costs and

benefits of de-stocking, and of the extension of soil life; as White (1992)

points out, in their pre-occupation with stocking density, policy makers are

neglecting the potential benefits of stocking strategies; theory, empirical

evidence and modelling all support White's (1992) contention that de-stocking

will lower the productivity of communal range. In the writer's study area the

costs of de-stocking to recommended levels would be unbearable to herd owners;

and when de-stocking is considered necessary to conserve range, the option cost

should be estimated. Scientists have a role to play in this. The actual

stocking density should be set, however, not by scientists but through political

debate which takes account of the needs of present and future generations.

Ref ID : 1521

75. Abel, N. and Stocking, M. A rapid method for assessing rates of soil erosion

from rangeland: an example from Botswana. Journal of Range Management 40(5):460-

466, 1987.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : SOIL EROSION; EROSION; BOTSWANA; RANGELAND DEGRADATION; RAPID RURAL

APPRAISAL; MODELS

Abstract : The erosion of rangeland soils is a widespread problem in Africa.

Yet, there are a few methods for estimating its rate. Using data from 2

catchments in Botswana, a technique for estimating erosion and sediment yield is

demonstrated. It involves low level photographic sampling of vegetation cover,

kriging to interpolate percentage cover from sample points, and the application

of a simplified soil loss estimation procedure called SLEMSA. This modelling

approach gives gross soil loss and allows the estimation of sediment yield. It

is easy and cheap to apply and gave results in line with field experience.

Ref ID : 2512

76. Abrahams, G. Unraveling tenure and administrative issues in a former

homelandtown: a case study of Alice in the Eastern Cape. Consultant

Report.Anonymous East London: 1997.

Reprint : Not in File,

Keywords : EASTERN CAPE; LEGISLATION; LAND TENURE; CISKEI; INSTITUTIONAL

ASPECTS; POLICY; ECONOMIC ASPECTS; LAND REFORM

Notes : The purpose of the study was to unravel the land tenure issues to create

some equity of tenure right across the municipality and to address the

administrative issues so that the local municipality can coherently govern its

area of jurisdiction into the next century. The consultant got most of the

information from literature review and through informal discussions with people

in the study areas. The findings reveal that in the township areas, the

National Minister of Land Affairs and Agriculture is the nominal owner of the

land and was responsible for the administration of these areas. Much of the

legislation has been delegated to the province to the effect administration. The

mechanics of it are, however, still largely unresolved. The local municipality

would like to administer the entire area within its boundary but is currently

hestitating in doing so due to legal, administrative, financial and technical

hurdles. The author suggested that there is a need to take a fresh look at

legal and institutional procedures, as it seems unhelpful to keep amending

sections of old apartheid laws in a piecemeal way. There has to be a mechanism

to integrate land development, land administration and tenure upgrading. This

report is obtainable from the Border Rural Committee Resource Centre, East

London. See also ID ref. no. 2339.

Ref ID : 159

77. Acocks, J.P.H. The Veld Types of South Africa. Memoirs of the Botanical

Survery of South Africa 8:1-128, 1953.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : BOTANICAL SURVEY; DESERTIFICATION ASSESSMENT; VEGETATION CHANGE; MAPS

Abstract : Earlier vegetation maps of the Union, those of Pole Evans (1935),

Adamson (1938) and Pentz (1949), are the broadest lines, recognizing only 19, 14

and 21 vegetation types respectively. In 1945 the present survey was initiated

and, for general utility, it was decided to drwa the vegetation boundaries on

the existing 1:1,500,000 Postal Communications Map. It has to be admitted that

the basic map contains certain inaccuracies, particularly as regards the

positions of country post offices. Thus in using the Veld Type Map, this must

be borne in mind in cases where a post office appears to be situation in the

wrong veld type. The western half of the Union is mapped in less detail than

the eastern half; so is the north-western Transvaal and Basutoland. The north-

western Transvaal was mapped by Irvine (1941), accompanied in the later stages

by the present writer, and Irvine's map has been taken over with minor

modifications. The collation of field-notes and other available information is

not yet complete, nor has it been possible to study all the relevant literature.

This account, therefore, is a preliminary description of the map, and is an

outline of the botanical and related agro-ecological problems and theories which

it is hoped to discuss in detail at a later date.

Ref ID : 3

78. Acocks, J.P.H. Karoo vegetation in relation to the development of deserts.

In: Ecological studies in Southern Africa. edited by Davis, D.H.S.The

Hague:Junk, 1964,p. 100-112.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : DESERTIFICATION ASSESSMENT; KAROO DESERTIFICATION; NAMA KAROO;

SUCCULENT KAROO; GRASSLAND; VEGETATION CHANGE; RAINFALL; CONSERVATION; RUNOFF;

LEGISLATION

Abstract : Throughout the ges herdsmen have preferred short grass pastures to a

tall flowering sward. One of the reasons for this stems from the idea that tall

grass is less palatable than short grass. Although this may be true in the

cooler high rainfall regions, known as sour veld, it does not necessarily hold

true for the warmer regions which receive a lower rainfall. The manner in which

the natural vegetation has been kept short is by continuous close grazing. This

is one of the most destructive practices in the more arid sweet veld areas.

Considering the deterioration which has occurred in South Africa in a

comparatively short period of time, it is tempting to lay the blame for the vast

wastelands in North Africa and Arabia at the doorstep of poor management of the

natural vegetation. It is to be hoped, however, that in South Africa both

farmers and scientists are interested and willing enough to take steps to save

the arid and semi-arid regions from becoming wastelands. And example of this

awakened interest is seen in the recent conservation of the Swartberg Range in

the Cape. Some years ago the veld on the Swartberg was burnt in order to

facilitate rapid runoff of rain so that the dams in the Little Karoo could be

filled. Today, however, such burning of the mountains is controlled by

legislation.

Ref ID : 2234

79. Acocks, J.P.H. Non-selective grazing as a means of veld reclamation.

Proceedings of the Grassland Society of southern Africa 1:33-39, 1966.

Reprint : Not in File,

Ref ID : 158

80. Acocks, J.P.H. Riverine vegetation of the semi-arid and arid regions of

South Africa. Journal of the South African Biological Society 17:21-35, 1976.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : BOTANICAL SURVEY; DESERTIFICATION ASSESSMENT; KAROO DESERTIFICATION;

NAMA KAROO; SUCCULENT KAROO; VEGETATION CHANGE

Abstract : The former presence of the hippopotamus in the rivers of the

temperate semi-arid to arid western half of the Republic of South Africa

suggests that these reivers were not as they are now. The fact that an animal

could survive, whose daily intake of vegetation is to be measured by the

hundredweight, surely requires that what little is known of the surviving

remnants of the riverine vegetation should be collated in an attempt to

determine how this was possible.

Ref ID : 236

81. Acocks, J.P.H. The flora that matched the fauna. Bothalia 12(4):673-709,

1979.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : BOTANICAL SURVEY; DESERTIFICATION ASSESSMENT; KAROO DESERTIFICATION;

NAMA KAROO; SUCCULENT KAROO; VEGETATION CHANGE

Abstract : An attempt is made to reconstruct the vegetation of the plains,

plateaux, mountains and rivers of the semi-arid to arid western half of the

Republic of South Africa as it was before it came under the influence of any

type of man other than the Bushman and the Hottentot. Species of plants that

were likely to have been important are listed, even if they are rare today.

Particular attention is paid to the riverine vegetation. Features of the

vegetation and topography that might have influenced the fauna are noted.

Ref ID : 12

82. Adams, N.J. and Kerley, G.I.H. Domestic and indigenous herbivores: their

water use efficiencies and rangeland impacts. A hypothesis to address rangeland

degradation. Proceedings of the Second Valley Bushveld Symposium. Grassland

Society of Southern Africa Special Publication :52, 1996.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY; GRAZING EFFECTS; DESERTIFICATION CONTROL; SAVANNA

Abstract : Although the description and assessment of the impacts of domestic

and wild ungulate foraging has received some research attention, mechanisms

underlying different impacts, apart from noting differences in densities and

effective availability of favoured plants, have been little studied. It is

hypothesised that the greater water demands of domestic ungulates restricts

their foraging area and food choice options compared to wild ungulates, and

consequently they have a high potential for detrimentally impacting on

vegetation even at low densities. It is thus proposed to measure the water

budgets of selected livestock and wild ungulate species in natural rangelands.

Habitat use and food selectivity will be evaluated simultaneously using direct

feeding observations coupled with radiotelemetry. Recommendations will be made

with regard to stocking densities and provision of artificial water sources in

order that Valley Bushveld may be utilized in a more sustainable fashion with

these species.

Ref ID : 1205

83. Adie, H.R. Vegetation and ant dynamics in the southern Karoo.University of

Natal, Pietermaritzburg. , 1997. The aim of this thesis was to describe the

structure and dynamics of ant and plant communities in the southern Karoo and to

assess mechanisms of species coexistence in ant and plant communities. The role

of species interactions in structuring natural communities was emphasised.

Diversity indices were used to determine the importance of habitat in

maintaining ant species diversity. Ant species diversity was not predicted by

measurements of plant species diversity or vegetation structural diversity. Ant

species richness was correlated with vegetation structural diversity but not

with plant species diversity. Ant species appeared to respond to aspects of

vegetation height. Although vegetation complexity influences ant species

richness, competitive effects, particularly of dominant ant species, appear to

suppress sub-ordinate ant species influencing measures of richness and

diversity. Aggressive dominant ant species determine the distribution and

abundance of sub-ordinate ant species. Interference competition for space was

prevalent between dominant ant species and competitive success was a function of

vegetation. It was not clear whether ants respond directly to physical

conditions created by vegetation which then influences foraging activity or,

alternatively, whether ants respond to productivity gradients which are affected

by vegetation. Understanding vegetation dynamics is critical to interpreting

patterns of ant species distribution and abundance. A patchy habitat disrupts

the competitive dominance of aggressive dominant species, removing the potential

towards habitat monopolisation, and therefore maintaining ant species diversity.

In the Portulacaria afra rangeland, Pheidole sp. 2 was superior in well-shaded

microhabitats but Messor capensis nested successfully under woody shrubs and

several ant species (Tetramorium peringueyi, T. quadrispinosum, Monomorium

alamarum, Ocymyrmex barbiger) persisted on bare nutrient-rich patches. Rangeland

dominated by grass would favour Pheidole sp. 2 at the expense of other ant

species which would be unable to establish successfully. There is no evidence

supporting the notion that ant communities are at equilibrium. Rather,

dominance hierarchies lead to the replacement of species over vegetation

gradients with the tendency towards the aggressive acquisition and

monopolisation of space. The coexistence of dominant ant species at study sites

in the southern Karoo was a combination of territorial strategy and colonisation

ability. In the P. afra rangeland most ant species escaped the severe

competitive effect of Pheidole sp. 2 by persisting as fugitives on bare areas of