Bibliography: Land Degradation in South Africa project

spesiale verwysing na grondwaterontrekking en aanvulling, distrik:

Warmbad/Waterberg 1992.Anonymous Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.

GH3787, 1992.

Reprint : Not in File,

Notes : DWAF technical report no. GH 3787.

Ref ID : 2165

1506. Nel, M. Grootvlei saga continues. African Wildlife 51(6):6-9, 1997.

Reprint : Not in File,

Ref ID : 209

1507. Nel, N. Veld condition in South Africa. Part 3. Desert danger is

overrated. Farmer's Weekly :22-24, 1991. Makes the point (p.22): "However, these

preditions [of an expanding Karoo] were primarily based on conditions prevailing

before the late 1940's when the vegetation cover in the arid regions was

generally relatively sparse and soil erosion occurred at a higher rate (Roux &

Vorster, 1983) than today....but this relatively well-established school of

thought is today no longer as valid as 40 years ago, although a considerable

deterioratin in the vegetation certainly did take place. "IT IS TIME WE

DISCARDED THE NOTION THAT SA IS BECOMING A DESERT OR IS BEING OVERRUN BY

WORTHLESS KAROO VEGETATION". I.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : KAROO DESERTIFICATION; VELD CONDITION; NAMA KAROO; VELD MANAGEMENT;

VEGETATION CHANGE

Ref ID : 2055

1508. Neser, S. and Annecke, D.P. Biological control of weeds in South

Africa.Department of Agricultural technical Services. 28, 1973.

Reprint : Not in File,

Notes : Entomology memoir no 28, Department of Agricultural technical Services.

Ref ID : 201

1509. Neville, D., Sampson, B.E., and Sampson, C.G. The frontier wagon track

system in the Seacow River valley, north-eastern Cape. South African

Archaeological Bulletin 49:65-72, 1994.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY; ARCHAEOLOGY; KAROO DESERTIFICATION

Notes : Makes the comment (p.70) "We propose that the spatial development of

Karoo veld degradation in the valley was largely determined by the growth of

this (wagon) track network.".

Abstract : Nineteenth century wagon roads in a segment of the Cape Colony's

northeastern border are reconstructed. Track fragments were collated from the

survey diagrams attached to original quitrent title deeds of farms drawn up

between 1823-1841. Land surveyors engaged in this work were under instructions

to draw in wagon tracks radiating from each farm homestead to the limits of the

farm property. Track destinations were usually marked. Routes across uncharted

Crown Land between farms can be interpolated from straight erosion features and

from the positions of ruined stone kraals along the way. Growth of the track

network from c.1840 to c.1875 is described. The Seacow River valley was heavily

used by a wide variety of travellers, some 25 of whom have left personal

accounts. The reconstructed maps are invaluable tools for pinpointing their

published observations of Bushmen, Trekboers, game, and other aspects of

frontier life.

Ref ID : 1344

1510. Neville, D.E. Colonial impacts on the natural resouces of the Seacow river

Bushmen, AD 1770-1900. Cape Town:University of Cape Town. , 1993.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : POPULATION; CARRYING CAPACITY; DROUGHT

Notes : This is a project proposal for a BA Honours in Archaelogy. The goals of

the thesis will be to document the timing and distribution of destruction to

those parts of the valley's habitat vital to the Bushmen's survival. Their

tactics to compensate for losses will also be investigated. Losses of mammals,

amphibians, tortoises & reptiles, bird life (especially ostriches), fish and

mollusca, and insects (especially locusts) will be mapped through time. Plant

losses to be investigated will include both geophytes and sources of arrow

poison. The effect of human diseases on population numbers will be noted, but

is not intended to be part of the central theme. The author intimates that he

may change this when he knows more. The destructive pathways to be

reconstructed will include game slaughter, overstocking, introduced stock

diseases, carnivore/raptor/scavenger extermination, drop land growth, wagon road

development, veld burning, and overgrazing. These trajectories must be overlaid

on a documented background of carrying capacity fluctuations caused by droughts,

locusts, caterpillar plagues and springbok migrations.

Ref ID : 265

1511. Newby, T., Van Zyl, A., Van Staden, J., Danckwerts, J.E., Monnik, K., and

Stimie, C. Report on the extent of natural resource degradation in South Africa:

(A contribution to the "Policy on Sustainable Resource Use"). 1997.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : SOIL EROSION; DESERTIFICATION ASSESSMENT; LAND DEGRADATION; VELD

CONDITION; SEDIMENTATION; CULTIVATION; EROSION; FREE STATE; NORTHERN PROVINCE

Notes : This report was compiled by various experts in the Agricultural Research

Council. The report is summarised as follows: The effect of cultivation on the

soil resource is most important. This includes heavy soil loss as in unmulched

pineapple fields, salination, acidification, reduction in soil fertility and

increase of toxic substances. One particular type of degradation of soil is

compaction and crusting resulting from cultivation. This drastically lowers the

infiltration rate of water into soil which keeps water away from the complete

root zone and cause increase in run off intensity. The effect of degradation on

cultivation is mainly the loss of available land because of salinisation

reduction in yields and loss of productive, nutrient rich soil. Cultivation and

crops also have an effect on water resources in limiting run off volumes or

increasing run off intensities from hardened soil. The effect of degraded water

on cultivation is loss of production and worsened quality of the produce.

Vegetative cover is obviously affected when it is cleaned for crop cultivation.

When this is the case, soil erosion caused by wind often occurs where light

soils predominate, for example in the Free State. On the Springbok flats in

Northern Province the lack of natural vegetation caused a drastic decrease in

infiltration rate of water into the soil. This caused floating and soil

erosion.

Ref ID : 1159

1512. Newby, T., Wessels, K.J., Monnik, K., Stimie, C., Uys, W.J., Van Heerden,

J., Van Zyl, A., Van Staden, J., Danckwerts, J.E., and Heyns, M.L. Report on the

extent of natural resource degradation in South Africa. (A contribution to the

"Policy on Sustainable Resource Use").Anonymous Agricultural Research Council.

GW/A/97/57:ii-126, 1997.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : SOIL EROSION; DESERTIFICATION ASSESSMENT; LAND DEGRADATION; VELD

CONDITION; SEDIMENTATION

Ref ID : 2549

1513. Ngcobo, S. and Lejabe, P. Women's land rights in Mgwali. National Land

Committee Publication , 1998.

Reprint : Not in File,

Keywords : LEGISLATION; LAND TENURE; CISKEI; LAND REFORM; GENDER ASPECTS;

POLITICAL ASPECTS

Notes : The purposes of the study were to reflect: how previous legislation

influenced social and cultural ethics relating to women's access to land in

Mgwali; how legislation has affected women's political and personal relations

within the community in relation to their land rights; on control over the land;

and on related resources. The method used was case study, supported by

secondary sources of information. The study found that Mgwali has an area of

5000 ha of land and is occupied by approximately 12 000 people living in six

villages. The study area has the following tenure systems: freehold, quitrent,

permission to occupy certificates, tenants and informal squatting. Despite the

very constraining and discriminatory legal and social context, some women in

Mgwali have been able to access land and even own it. The research, however,

confirms that succession through male lines, when it comes to land transfers, is

used as a norm. The authors generally feel that the current Land Tenure Act

should properly address the issue of tenure reform for rural women. In other

words, the 1994 upgrading of Land Tenure Act that provides that both the

quitrent titles and certificate of occupation are to be legally upgraded to

freehold if one can prove that they are the rightful owners, must be revised.

This is so, because automatic upgrading of tenure can push a significant number

of women off the land since they are not the rightful owners of the land. This

publication is obtainable from the Border Rural Committee resource centre, East

London. See also ID ref. no. 2339.

Ref ID : 78

1514. Nicholas, G.W. Answer to desert encroachment methods (used by FPR van Wyk

at "Celeryfontein"). Farmer's Weekly 83(1952/6/25):14-17, 1952.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : DESERTIFICATION CONTROL; KAROO DESERTIFICATION; VELD MANAGEMENT;

CONSERVATION

Notes : That the answer to desert encroachment in the Karoo is conservation

farming based on a sound system of rotational grazing has been strikingly proved

by Mr. F.P.R. van Wyk of "Celeryfontein", between Sutherland and Fraserburg.

This farm is mentioned by the Desert Encroachment Committee as a good example of

the excellent results that can be achieved by restoring vlei-like conditions in

suitable valleys and so reviving former springs.

Ref ID : 1041

1515. Niemann, P.J. Bibliography of agricultural literature in the Karoo region,

Middelburg:Department of Agriculture, 1983.pp. 2-119.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : BIBLIOGRAPHY; KAROO DESERTIFICATION

Notes : This bibliography attempts to list literature which has been collected

for about 75 years concerning the Karoo region.

Ref ID : 670

1516. Nilsen, C.T. Soil and water conservation with particular reference to

conditions obtaining in Zululand.Anonymous :2-61, 1969.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : KWAZULU NATAL; SOIL CONSERVATION; HYDROLOGY; RESTORATION; RAINFALL;

CONSERVATION; DROUGHT; WATER CONSERVATION; FOREST

Notes : The author concludes that, if grazing systems as suggested by him,

besides increasing the carrying capacity of the veld and encouraging veld

reclamation, can, by the restoration of good veld cover, prevent or reduce the

large loss of water through evaporation and at the same time greatly increase

both the availability of rain water (30 - 40%) to the soil and increase its

absorption rate, thus restoring the tremendous storage capacity of our

underlying subsoil and valuablel geological aquifers, they should be given our

utmost attention. If in addtion to reducing the loss of our water through

evaporation, by introducing these grazing systems into our large pastoral areas,

we could evoke a saving of 30% of our rainfall by encouraging and inducing it to

sink into the soil and water storing formations, the results would be fantastic.

A saving of 30% of our rainfall which is now lost to the sea via our new storm

water drains and by increased evaporation, amounts to 36,000,000,000,000 gallons

of 137,000,000 acre feet. Of this amount we are able to save by every available

means, including exceedingly expensive but relatively puny and flamboyant dams,

a meagre 7,000,000 acre feet. The restoration of 36 Billion gallons to our soil

and aquifers will be of tremendous economic importance, besides boosting our

flagging morale in regard to soil conservation. It would in the first place

have a great buffering effect against our natural periodic droughts by giving

our veld and water sources a much better chance of withstanding its devastating

effects. Inevitably this stored water or "rainfall from below" must restore our

springs, and greatly increase and bring back the former flow of our once

bountiful rivers, and of special import, maintain their vital winter flow. In

addition the resulting increased veld cover would to a great extent solve the

problem of silting in all its aspects. To prove these contentions, and proved

they will be, it will only be necessary to allocate a relatively small amuont

of money, - say R200,000 - to institute practical experimental grazing systems

together with planned fencing of springs and sections of streams on the farms in

a catchment area such as that of the Umhlatuzi River. This is a relatively

small catchment and the farmers in general form a progressive highly intelligent

and enthusiastic community, who have given active support in the formation of

the Umhlatuzi River Catchment Association. It is highly probably that within

two to three years the flow of the Umhlatuzi River could be so increased as to

produce as much water as could be produced by the building of the envisaged

R8,000,000 dam, especially if by example, the co-operation of the Department of

Bantu Affairs could be obtained. Strong support for these views is given by a

Report by Dr. Grobbelaar, Chief of the Highveld Region of the Transvaal,

Agricultural Technical Services, when commenting on the highlight of his recent

tour of Australia and New Zealand in connection with Soil Conservation. This

was a description of the improvement of a catchment area and dam in Victoria,

Australia. Finally, it is abundantly evident that, over the years, nature has

set up perfect conditions for soil and water conservation by the provision of a

vital insulation layer of grass and forest cover, which efficiently combats and

neutralises the devastating effects of the sun's rays and heat, but which at the

same time makes use of them to produce all mankinds food requirements. Under

conditions of good veld cover it appears therefore that this insulating layer

keeps the temperature of the underlying soil at or below the point, at which

water does not evaporate. The only loss of water under these conditions is by

transpiration. Our present grazing and farming practices tend to either

diminish or destroy this vital insulation, and if persisted with they will

inevitably lead to our total destruction.

Ref ID : 1253

1517. Njobe-Mbuli, B. National Department of Agriculture Annual Report 1 April

1996 to March 1997.Anonymous Pretoria:National Department of Agriculture. :i-81,

1998.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : POLICY; DROUGHT

Notes : The stated national policy goals were to promote the contribution of all

communities, society at large and the national economy in order to enhance

income, food security, employment and quality of life in a sustainable manner.

To this end, various efforts were made within the National Department of

Agriculture to re-orient its budget. The most significant achievement in terms

of policy change was deregulation of the marketing sector, to bring it in line

with the social and economic democratisation of the country and with

international trends towards deregulation. Deregulation of marketing impacted

on departmental activities and raised questions on the role and responsibilities

of government in the provision of agricultural support services. As part of the

transformation process, greater emphasis was placed on developing agriculture.

The Veterinary Services Directorates of the Department, in focusing on food

security, emphasised primary preventive health care in order to support greater

availability of safe and nutritious food at affordable prices. A different

approach to drought and natural disasters, together with concerns about

overexploitation and the relinquishing of agricultural land for non-

agricultural purposes, led to a campaign to promote the sustainable use of the

country's natural resurces. Appropriate information to support departmental

initiatives and build capacity was made available to the farming community

through a wide range of media, including radio, TV, and printed information.

The role of women in agriculture received special attention. Further, the

Department's contribution to the National Crime Prevention Strategy was to

address the sharp increase in stock theft by means of an animal identification

system which will ultimately be applied in the entire region. Organisational

restructuring within the Department was designed to meet the challenge of

transforming the public service. In the interests of effective and efficient

government, the Department explored capacity-building initiatives on a range of

issues, including training programmes for policy analysis as well as project

design and analysis.

Ref ID : 1258

1518. Nkansa-Dwamena, Y. Natural resources and local management in the HEWU

district of the Eastern Cape: limitations to achieving sustainability.Rhodes

University. :1-104, 1998. The Mceula Commonage Land in the Hewu district lies

due northwest of Whittlesea and west of Queenstown in the Eastern Cape. This

thesis has three main objectives. Firstly, to survey and analyse the condition

of the natural resource base in the Hewu district with particular reference to

water, soil, vegetation and land use. Secondly, to investigate and promote

mechanisms which ensure the sustainable management of natural resources in the

rural environment of the Hewu district, and thirdly, to make recommendations

that allow for local participation and give support to community level

management of the natural resources. Random quadrats (4m2) were sampled and

corresponding line transects were done with increasing distances from the

villages. The Braun-Blanquet method was used to find the cover and abundance of

the various species of plants. Data obtained from point sampling along 100

metre line transects was used to assess the condition of the veld using

Trollope's technique. Six communities were defined using TWINSPAN, and grazing

capacities and veld condition scores of the respective sites were calculated.

It was concluded that the six communities were distributed along a gradient of

palatable to non-palatable grass and grasslike species. Rangelands close to the

villages had low veld condition scores and percentage plant cover as opposed to

that farther awy from the villages. The null hypothesis of no significant

difference between the percentage plant cover and the condition of the veld

close to the villages and father away from the villages was rejected. Whilst it

is urgent to resolve political disputes around land through land distribution, a

key issue for the future is sustainability of the natural resource base of SA.

To attain this, the old tranditional methods of research must be supplemented

with the participatory method, where the local community becomes fully involved.

The central theme of the participatory approach was to investigate the

possibility of promoting local management of the natural resources. Workshops

were conducted to invovle the local community in the project. The community

formed six discussion groups that met regularly to discuss environmental issues.

The six groups that were formed were: Firewood or woodlot collecters, shepherds

/ livestock raisers, crop farmers / agriculturists, water collectors, building

material / soil collectors and medicinal plant users. The results obtained from

the meeting of the discussion groups were used to compare the scientific results

obtained from Braun-Blanquet method. Perceptions about their environment, which

came out of the results of the discussion groups showed that the local knowledge

of the rural community of Mceula was sufficient to train them to manage their

environment sustainably.Masters.Science.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : EASTERN CAPE; LAND USE; VELD CONDITION

Ref ID : 2056

1519. Noble, I.R. Attributes of invaders and the invading process. In:

Biological invasions. A global perspective, edited by Drake, J.A., Mooney,

H.A., Di Castri, F., Groves, R.H., Kruger, F.J., Rejmanek, M., and Williamson,

M.Chichester, UK:John Wiley & Sons, 1988,p. 315-328.

Reprint : Not in File,

Ref ID : 231

1520. Noble, J. The Official Handbook of the Cape of Good Hope, Cape

Town:Government of the Cape of Good Hope, 1886.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES; KAROO DESERTIFICATION; STOCKING RATE;

ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY; DESERTIFICATION CONTROL; VELD MANAGEMENT; VELD CONDITION

Notes : Only copied pp.242-243.

Abstract : See pages 242-243 on desertification. "The decrease of stock and the

deterioration of some farms on the frontier which formerly carried sheep well,

led the Government, in 1876, to appoint a Commission to inquire into the matter.

This Commission attributed the evils complained of to three causes, namely,

overstocking, whereby the best and most nutritiuous food was trampled and eaten

down without any opportunity of propagating itself; the wearing out of the veld

by the sheep travelling to and from the kraals morning and night; and the

conditions of the kraals - chiefly the manure accumulations of years - favouring

he development of various kinds of parasites. The remedies they proposed were

fencing and subdividing the farms; allowing portions yearly to seed down and

recover; sowing grasses and Karoo plants; and making provision for times of

drought by preserving the veld for any such emergency". etc, etc.

Ref ID : 2166

1521. Noble, R.G. and Hemens, J. Inland water ecosystems in South Africa - a

review of research needs.Anonymous Pretoria:CSIR. 34, 1978.

Reprint : Not in File,

Notes : South African National Scientific Programmes Report no. 34.

Ref ID : 2423

1522. Nokuzola, M. Decentralisation in development. TATU Development Forum 1(4),

1991.

Reprint : Not in File,

Keywords : TRANSKEI; RURAL DEVELOPMENT; SOCIOECONOMIC ASPECTS; POVERTY

Notes : The purpose of the paper was to show how decentralization in development

enabled Insinamva to uplift the rural poor in Mt. Frere, Tabankulu and Mt.

Ayliff, of the former Transkei. The paper was developed from the author's ideas

and experience accumulated in the field. The Isinamva Development Community

Centre is engaged in programmes of education and training that are aimed at

enabling people in the rural areas suffering from oppression and deprivation to

regain their rightful human life and dignity. The conditions in the rural areas

are not that conducive to development because people in rural areas are isolate