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Different Types of Natural and Cultural Attractions Page 14 of 31 LEARNING UNIT 2: DIFFERENT TYPES OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS Biomes MGT These areas throughout the world are easily recognised because of the regional climate that interacts with the DEFINITION different factors and substrates of an area. These are the largest recognised communities on land. The specific names of biomes come from the climax species of vegetation that occurs in the region. South Africa has 9 vegetation biomes http://bgis.sanbi.org/vegmap/biomes.asp viewed on 12 July 2015 Savannah Mixed grassland and trees and generally known as bushveld Biome eg. Protected areas within this biome: Kruger National-, Kglagadi Transfrontier -, Hluhluwe-Umfolozi – and Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park. Nama- Mainly scrubland and grass, with trees limited to Karoo watercourses. Due to overgrazing and easily eroded soil Biome surfaces, it is extending into the neighbouring Savannah. Examples are the Karoo - and Augrabies National Parks. Desert This is a true desert environment (Namib desert) with biome extremely harsh conditions. Only a small part occurs in South Africa (Richtersveld). The climate is summer rainfall but characterised by very dry conditions. Grassland Summer-rainfall area with heavy thunderstorms and hail, frost Biome in the winter. Trees are scarce. It contains a high percentage of indigenous plants, three mammal species (black wildebeest, blesbok and eland) that don’t occur outside this biome and a large variety of birds. Tour operator TIN-113 2017-06 © MGT Training Solutions Page 15 of 31 Succulent Winter rainfall area with extremely dry and hot summers. For Karoo this reason, succulents are plentiful. One of the natural Biome wonders of South Africa is the annual blossoming of Namaqualand wild flowers (Mainly Asteraceae-family) The Richtersveld has typical quiver tree. Other parks: Tankwa- Karoo and Namaqua National Parks. Fynbos Winter rainfall-area, and fynbos vegetation similar to that of Biome Mediterranean regions. Fynbos is the name given to a group of evergreen plants with small, hard leaves. Made up of three groups of plants namely the proteas, the heathers (e.g. Erica family) and restios. Not very rich in bird and mammal life. Forest The only significant ones are the Knysna and Tsitsikamma Biome forests. Animals included the endangered samango monkey, the bushbuck, the bushpig and the blue duiker. Thicket Subtropical thicket is a closed shrubland to low forest, Biome dominated by evergreen succulent trees, shrubs and vines. Indian Covers the whole of the KwaZulu-Natal coast and the the ‘Wild Ocean coast’ (Eastern Cape. n summer the climate is very hot and Coastal humid, and winters are mild, with less rain and hardly any Belt Biome frost. BIODIVERSITY / BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY • The variety of life on Earth. • It is the variety within and between all species of plants, animals and micro-organisms and the ecosystems within which they live and interact. Adapted from http://www.wwf.org.au/our_work/saving_the_natural_world/ what_is_biodiversity/ Tour operator TIN-113 2017-06 © MGT Training Solutions Page 16 of 31 FACTS ABOUT SOUTH AFRICAN BIODIVERSITY South Africa, as a biodiversity-rich country, is committed to the conservation and sustainable management of biological resources. Biodiversity-related multi-lateral agreements include: Convention on Biological Diversity Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety Ramsar Convention Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Convention to Combat Desertification Convention on Migratory Species Nagoya Protocol South Africa occupies only 2% of the world's surface area but is home to: - nearly 10% of the world's plants (approximately 24 000 species) - around 7% of the world's vertebrate species - and 5,5% of the world's known insect species (only about half of the latter have been described), In terms of the number of endemic species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, South Africa ranks as the fifth richest country in Africa and the 24th-richest in the world. Marine biological diversity is also high, over 11 000species are found in South African waters, which is about15% of global species, with more than 25% of these marine species (or 3 496 species) being endemic to South Africa. A high proportion are threatened, especially in river ecosystems (82%) and estuaries (77%). Tour operator TIN-113 2017-06 © MGT Training Solutions Page 17 of 31 Table 1.1 Recorded species South Africa NB: These numbers are constantly being adjusted. Birds 900 Lizards 250 Terrestrial 243 Freshwater fish 220 mammals Marine 37 Butterflies Over 660 mammals Marine Fishes Over 2 00 Trees 1 500 Crocodiles 1 Flowering Plants 24 000 Snakes 130 Cycads 39 Terrapins Insects About - 80 000 Tortoise (land) 13 Turtles Amphibians 130 (Frogs) BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS These areas hold especially high numbers of endemic species, yet their combined area of remaining habitat cover only 2.3 percent of the Earth's land surface. Each hotspot faces extreme threats and has already lost at least 70 percent of its original natural vegetation. Over 50 percent of the world’s plant species and 42 percent of all terrestrial vertebrate species are endemic to the 34 biodiversity hotspots. Adapted from http://www.cepf.net/resources/hotspots/Pages/default.aspx Tour operator TIN-113 2017-06 © MGT Training Solutions Page 18 of 31 Three internationally recognised biodiversity hotspots are found in South Africa: the Cape Floral Kingdom (equivalent to the Fynbos Biome) Succulent Karoo Biome (shared with Namibia) – it is one of only two arid biodiversity hotspots in the world (the other being the Horn of Africa). Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Centre of Plant Endemism, which stretches from the Albany Centre in the Eastern Cape, through the Pondoland Centre of Plant Endemism and KwaZulu-Natal, the eastern side of Swaziland and into southern Mozambique and Mpumalanga. PROTECTED AREAS AND RESERVES IN SOUTH AFRICA By mid-2011, South Africa had 528 protected areas, of which 20 were marine (South African Yearbook 2012/13). NATIONAL AND PROVINCIAL PARKS SAN Parks manages a system of parks which represents the indigenous fauna, flora, landscapes and associated cultural heritage of the country. Of all the national parks, most have overnight tourist facilities, with an unrivalled variety of accommodation in arid, coastal, mountain and bushveld habitats. The Kruger National park is the flagship of the South African national parks. South African National Parks Emzemvelo KZN Wildlife (SANParks) Controls more than a 100 Nature 1. Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Reserves in KwaZulu-Natal. Park Some of the most prominent are 2. Addo Elephant National Park the following: 3. Agulhas National Park St Lucia Wilderness (World 4. Augrabies Falls National Park heritage site) 5. Bontebok National Park uKhahlamba-Drakensberg 6. Camdeboo National Park Park Tour operator TIN-113 2017-06 © MGT Training Solutions Page 19 of 31 7. Garden Route National Park Huluhluwe-Umfolosi 8. Golden Gate Highlands Mkuzi National Park Itala 9. Karoo National Park Oribi Gorge 10. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 11. Kruger National Park Other Provincial/Regional 12. Mapungubwe National Park Parks To mention a few: 13. Marakele National Park Pilanesberg 14. Mokala National Park Blyde River Canyon (previously Vaalbos) Wolkberg wilderness 15. Mountain Zebra National Park Baviaanspoort wilderness 16. Namaqua National Park area 17. Table Mountain National Park Ceder 18. Tankwa Karoo National Park 19. West Coast National Park Honorary Officers (Rangers) Thirty years ago, the Natal Parks Board accepted the offer of the public (who were interested in conserving nature for future generations) to assist them. Today, Honorary Officer, as they have become known, still plays an important role in participating in Conservation in the province. They work over weekends or busy periods, providing skills and service, all of this without any remuneration. TRANSFRONTIER CONSERVATION AREAS / ‘PEACE PARKS’ South Africa is in the process of establishing transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs) in cooperation with its neighbouring countries. They are managed jointly for long-term sustainable use of natural resources although the areas are still separated by fences, or other barriers. Tour operator TIN-113 2017-06 © MGT Training Solutions Page 20 of 31 TFCAs aim to facilitate and promote regional peace, cooperation and socio-economic development. It facilitates easy movement across international boundaries into adjoining conservation areas. South Africa is involved in the following transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs), also known as "peace parks": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protected_areas_of_South_Africa#Transfron tier_conservation_areas Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park: includes the Richtersveld in South Africa and the Fish RiverCanyon and Ai-Ais Hot Springs in Namibia. Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park: includes Kruger National Park and parks in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: includes the former Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in South Africa and Gemsbok National Park and Mabuasehube Game Reserve in Botswana. Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area: includes Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve, uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park and Royal Natal National Park in South Africa, and Sehlabathebe National Park in Lesotho. Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area: Mapungubwe National Park in South Africa, Northern Tuli Game Reserve in Botswana, and Tuli Circle Safari Area in Zimbabwe. Nsubane Pongola
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