DOCSLIB.ORG

Different Types of Natural and Cultural Attractions

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

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
Recommended publications
  • Waterberg Biosphere Reserve 2001 - 2012

    Waterberg Biosphere Reserve 2001 - 2012

    WATERBERG BIOSPHERE RESERVE 2001 - 2012 APPLICATION FOR EXPANSION OF RESERVE TO UNESCO MAB COMMISSION EXECUTIVE SUMMARY September 2012 1 INTRODUCTION Some years ago renowned conservationist Clive Walker predicted that the Waterberg would yet emerge as one of the most important and significant conservation areas in South Africa. With a great potential for tourism, game ranching, hunting and environmental awareness, together with the richness and abundance of biodiversity in both plant and animal life, the Waterberg is an incredibly important area for conservation in the South African context. Recent conservation plans at both the provincial and national levels recognise the importance of the Waterberg Mountain Complex ecosystem and with this support the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve’s next step to ensure good governance of the area is to expand the current biosphere to include all of the Waterberg Mountain Complex to provide ecosystem and land use planning integrity. A biosphere reserve is a designated area of importance that falls outside the confined protected areas network such as provincial game reserves and national parks. It is also an area where people live and work. The area can include villages, towns, farming and agriculture, tourism, hunting, businesses and services. The main aim of the biosphere reserve is to ensure that while people utilise the area for their livelihoods and produce a strong economy, negative impacts on the environment and the area‟s reputation as a tourism destination are kept to a minimum and ecosystems remain intact and in good health. There are specific criteria that an area must have to qualify for biosphere reserve status.
  • Resource Partitioning Between Black-Backed Jackal and Brown Hyaena in Waterberg Biosphere Reserve, South Africa

    Resource Partitioning Between Black-Backed Jackal and Brown Hyaena in Waterberg Biosphere Reserve, South Africa

    Ramnanan et al. Jackal and hyaena in South Africa Copyright © 2016 by the IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group. ISSN 1478-2677 Research report Resource partitioning between black-backed jackal and brown hyaena in Waterberg Biosphere Reserve, South Africa Rivona Ramnanan1, Michelle Thorn1, Craig J. Tambling2 and Michael J. Somers 1, 3* 1 Centre for Wildlife Management, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. 2 Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa. 3 Centre for Invasion Biology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. Email: [email protected] * Correspondence author Keywords: apex predators, dietary niche, human modification, resource partitioning. Abstract Understanding resource partitioning by predators is important for understanding coexistence patterns, with this becoming more relevant as historical food webs are altered through human impacts. Using scat analysis, we investigated the diet overlap of two sympatric meso-carnviores, the black-backed jackal Canis mesomelas and brown hyaena Hyaena brunnea, in Waterberg Biosphere Reserve, South Africa. Scats (n = 30 jackal, 42 brown hyaena) were collected in April 2012 from game and livestock farms. When comparing main prey categories (medium-large mam- mal, small mammal, fruit, invertebrate, reptile, and bird) we found little difference in diets, with both carnivores con- suming predominantly medium-large mammals (10-100kg). Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus was the most commonly consumed large mammal species for both predators. Jackal and brown hyaena had, on average, 1.3 and 1.4 main prey categories per scat respectively which resulted in diet diversities of 3.9 for jackal and 2.5 for brown hyaena.
  • Recognition and Management of Ecological Refugees: a Case Study of the Cape Mountain Zebra

    Recognition and Management of Ecological Refugees: a Case Study of the Cape Mountain Zebra

    Biological Conservation 203 (2016) 207–215 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Biological Conservation journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/bioc Recognition and management of ecological refugees: A case study of the Cape mountain zebra Jessica MD Lea a,b,⁎, Graham IH Kerley c, Halszka Hrabar c,TomJBarryd, Susanne Shultz a a Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, UK b Chester Zoo, Caughall Road, Upton-by-Chester CH2 1LH, UK c Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, PO Box 77000, NMMU, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa d Gamka Mountain Nature Reserve, Western Cape Nature Conservation Board, Oudtshoorn 6620, South Africa article info abstract Article history: Anthropogenic activities have led to long-term range contraction in many species, creating isolated populations Received 19 February 2016 in ecologically marginal and suboptimal habitats. ‘Refugee’ species have a current distribution completely re- Received in revised form 6 September 2016 stricted to suboptimal habitat. However, it is likely that many species are partial refugees, where one or more Accepted 17 September 2016 populations are managed in ecologically unsuitable habitat. Here, we develop a framework to assess potential Available online xxxx refugee populations in marginal habitats using a model species: the Cape mountain zebra. We assessed habitat quality by the abundance and palatability of grass and diet quality using proximate nutrient and element analysis. Keywords: Refugee species High grass abundance was associated with higher population growth rates and zebra density and less skewed Gap species adult sex ratios. Furthermore, faecal nutrient and dietary element quality was also positively associated with Conservation management grass abundance.
  • Game Management Plan for Honingfontein Game Farm

    Game Management Plan for Honingfontein Game Farm

    HONINGFONTEIN GAME FARM GUIDELINES FOR THE INTRODUCTION & MANAGEMENT OF INDIGENOUS AND EXTRALIMITAL WILDLIFE PREPARED FOR Mr. Gerhardus Wendt SEPTEMBER 2019 - updated October 2020 CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT SERVICES – KEN COETZEE 4 CHESTNUT STREET, HEATHER PARK GEORGE, 6529 TEL / FAX: 044 – 8708472 www.conservationmanagementservices.co.za CONTENTS 1. Introduction and objectives .................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………… 1 1.2 Objectives of the plan …………………………………………………………….. 2 2. Description of the habitat ....................................................................................... 3 2.1 Vegetation description ..................................................................................... 3 A. Albertinia sand fynbos ............................................................................... 3 B. Canca limestone fynbos ............................................................................ 5 C. Eastern Ruens shale renosterveld……… …………………………………….. 6 D. Transformed pasture areas……..………………………………………………..7 2.2 Habitat condition and capability ....................................................................... 8 2.3 Conservation status ......................................................................................... 9 3. Wildlife management ............................................................................................. 10 3.1 Already introduced species ............................................................................
  • South African Biosphere Reserve National Committee

    South African Biosphere Reserve National Committee

    SOUTH AFRICAN BIOSPHERE RESERVE NATIONAL COMMITTEE BIENNIAL REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LIMA ACTION PLAN UNESCO MAN AND BIOSPHERE PROGRAMME ICC INTERNATIONAL COORDINATING COUNCIL 31ST SESSION, PARIS, FRANCE 17-21 JUNE 2019 JUNE 2019 1. BACKGROUND 1.1 Coordination of Man and Biosphere Programme South Africa has started participating in the Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme since 1995 at the Seville Conference in Spain. The South African National Biosphere Reserve Committee (SA BR NATCOM), which is chaired by the National Department of Environmental Affairs coordinates the Man and Biosphere Programme in South Africa. The SA MAB NATCOM is financially supported by the National Department of Environmental Affairs. The SA MAB NATCOM is operational in accordance with the Lima Action Plan and is comprised of representatives from National, Provincial, local, Non-Profit Organisations and research institutions. SA National BR Committee has met once since the previous MAB ICC Session, in June 2018. South Africa is the current member of the MAB International Coordinating Committee (ICC) elected in November 2017 and also a member of the African Network of Man and Biosphere (AfriMAB) Bureau as coordinator for Southern Africa sub-region, elected in September 2017. The provinces supports Biosphere Reserves with operational funding. At the local level, there are Biosphere Reserve Forum, which meets on quarterly basis. These Forums are comprised of Provincial Government, Local Government, Non-Governmental Organizations and Biosphere
  • Private Governance of Protected Areas in Africa: Case Studies, Lessons Learnt and Conditions of Success

    Private Governance of Protected Areas in Africa: Case Studies, Lessons Learnt and Conditions of Success

    Program on African Protected Areas & Conservation (PAPACO) PAPACO study 19 Private governance of protected areas in Africa: case studies, lessons learnt and conditions of success @B. Chataigner Sue Stolton and Nigel Dudley Equilibrium Research & IIED Equilibrium Research offers practical solutions to conservation challenges, from concept, to implementation, to evaluation of impact. With partners ranging from local communities to UN agencies across the world, we explore and develop approaches to natural resource management that balance the needs of nature and people. We see biodiversity conservation as an ethical necessity, which can also support human wellbeing. We run our own portfolio of projects and offer personalised consultancy. Prepared for: IIED under contract to IUCN EARO Reproduction: This publication may be reproduced for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission, provided acknowledgement to the source is made. No use of this publication may be made for resale or any other commercial purpose without permission in writing from Equilibrium Research. Citation: Stolton, S and N Dudley (2015). Private governance of protected areas in Africa: Cases studies, lessons learnt and conditions of success. Bristol, UK, Equilibrium Research and London, UK, IIED Cover: Private conservancies in Namibia and Kenya © Equilibrium Research Contact: Equilibrium Research, 47 The Quays Cumberland Road, Spike Island Bristol, BS1 6UQ, UK Telephone: +44 [0]117-925-5393 www.equilibriumconsultants.com Page | 2 Contents 1. Executive summary
  • Know Your National Parks

    Know Your National Parks

    KNOW YOUR NATIONAL PARKS 1 KNOW YOUR NATIONAL PARKS KNOW YOUR NATIONAL PARKS Our Parks, Our Heritage Table of contents Minister’s Foreword 4 CEO’s Foreword 5 Northern Region 8 Marakele National Park 8 Golden Gate Highlands National Park 10 Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage site 11 Arid Region 12 Augrabies Falls National Park 12 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 13 Mokala National Park 14 Namaqua National Park 15 /Ai/Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park 16 Cape Region 18 Table Mountain National Park 18 Bontebok National Park 19 Agulhas National Park 20 West Coast National Park 21 Tankwa-Karoo National Park 22 Frontier Region 23 Addo Elephant National Park 23 Karoo National Park 24 DID YOU Camdeboo National Park 25 KNOW? Mountain Zebra National Park 26 Marakele National Park is Garden Route National Park 27 found in the heart of Waterberg Mountains.The name Marakele Kruger National Park 28 is a Tswana name, which Vision means a ‘place of sanctuary’. A sustainable National Park System connecting society Fun and games 29 About SA National Parks Week 31 Mission To develop, expand, manage and promote a system of sustainable national parks that represent biodiversity and heritage assets, through innovation and best practice for the just and equitable benefit of current and future generation. 2 3 KNOW YOUR NATIONAL PARKS KNOW YOUR NATIONAL PARKS Minister’s Foreword CEO’s Foreword We are blessed to live in a country like ours, which has areas by all should be encouraged through a variety of The staging of SA National Parks Week first took place been hailed as a miracle in respect of our transition to a programmes.
  • Biosphere Reserves in the Mediterranean Region: Development of a 14

    Biosphere Reserves in the Mediterranean Region: Development of a 14

    MAB Report Seville+5 page1(EN) 18/09/01 9:47 Page 1 (Noir/Process Black film) The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this publication do not imply the impression of any opinion on the part of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The opinions expressed in this digest are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of UNESCO or the authors’ employers. Published in 2001 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 7, place de Fontenoy, 75352 Paris 07 SP France (SC-2001/WS/28) Previous reports in this series 1. International Co-ordinating Council of the Programme on Man and the Biosphere 34. Regional meeting on integrated ecological research and training needs in the (MAB). First session. Paris, 9–19 November, 1971. southern Asian mountain systems, particularly the Hind u Kush-Himalayas. 2. Expert panel on the role of systems analysis and modelling approaches in the Kathmandu, 26 September–2 October, 1975. Programme on Man and the Biosphere (MAB). Paris, 18–20 April, 1972. 35. Regional meeting on integrated ecological research and training needs in tropical 3. Expert panel on Project 1: Ecological effects of increasing human activities on deciduous and semi-deciduous forest ecosystems of South Asia. Varanasi, tropical and subtropical forest ecosystems. Paris, 16–18 May, 1972. 5–11 October, 1975. 4. Expert panel on Project 12: Interactions between environmental transformations 36. Regional meeting on integrated ecological research and conservation activities in and genetic and demographic changes.
  • Biodiversity Sector Plan for the Zululand District Municipality, Kwazulu-Natal

    Biodiversity Sector Plan for the Zululand District Municipality, Kwazulu-Natal

    EZEMVELO KZN WILDLIFE Biodiversity Sector Plan for the Zululand District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Technical Report February 2010 The Project Team Thorn-Ex cc (Environmental Services) PO Box 800, Hilton, 3245 Pietermaritzbur South Africa Tel: (033) 3431814 Fax: (033) 3431819 Mobile: 084 5014665 [email protected] Marita Thornhill (Project Management & Coordination) AFZELIA Environmental Consultants cc KwaZulu-Natal Western Cape PO Box 95 PO Box 3397 Hilton 3245 Cape Town 8000 Tel: 033 3432931/32 Tel: 072 3900686 Fax: 033 3432033 or Fax: 086 5132112 086 5170900 Mobile: 084 6756052 [email protected] [email protected] Wolfgang Kanz (Biodiversity Specialist Coordinator) John Richardson (GIS) Monde Nembula (Social Facilitation) Tim O’Connor & Associates P.O.Box 379 Hilton 3245 South Africa Tel/ Fax: 27-(0)33-3433491 [email protected] Tim O’Connor (Biodiversity Expert Advice) Zululand Biodiversity Sector Plan (February 2010) 1 Executive Summary The Biodiversity Act introduced several legislated planning tools to assist with the management and conservation of South Africa’s biological diversity. These include the declaration of “Bioregions” and the publication of “Bioregional Plans”. Bioregional plans are usually an output of a systematic spatial conservation assessment of a region. They identify areas of conservation priority, and constraints and opportunities for implementation of the plan. The precursor to a Bioregional Plan is a Biodiversity Sector Plan (BSP), which is the official reference for biodiversity priorities to be taken into account in land-use planning and decision-making by all sectors within the District Municipality. The overall aim is to avoid the loss of natural habitat in Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) and prevent the degradation of Ecological Support Areas (ESAs), while encouraging sustainable development in Other Natural Areas.
  • Biodiversity Plan V1.0 Free State Province Technical Report (FSDETEA/BPFS/2016 1.0)

    Biodiversity Plan V1.0 Free State Province Technical Report (FSDETEA/BPFS/2016 1.0)

    Biodiversity Plan v1.0 Free State Province Technical Report (FSDETEA/BPFS/2016_1.0) DRAFT 1 JUNE 2016 Map: Collins, N.B. 2015. Free State Province Biodiversity Plan: CBA map. Report Title: Free State Province Biodiversity Plan: Technical Report v1.0 Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs. Internal Report. Date: $20 June 2016 ______________________________ Version: 1.0 Authors & contact details: Nacelle Collins Free State Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs [email protected] 051 4004775 082 4499012 Physical address: 34 Bojonala Buidling Markgraaf street Bloemfontein 9300 Postal address: Private Bag X20801 Bloemfontein 9300 Citation: Report: Collins, N.B. 2016. Free State Province Biodiversity Plan: Technical Report v1.0. Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs. Internal Report. 1. Summary $what is a biodiversity plan This report contains the technical information that details the rationale and methods followed to produce the first terrestrial biodiversity plan for the Free State Province. Because of low confidence in the aquatic data that were available at the time of developing the plan, the aquatic component is not included herein and will be released as a separate report. The biodiversity plan was developed with cognisance of the requirements for the determination of bioregions and the preparation and publication of bioregional plans (DEAT, 2009). To this extent the two main products of this process are: • A map indicating the different terrestrial categories (Protected, Critical Biodiversity Areas, Ecological Support Areas, Other and Degraded) • Land-use guidelines for the above mentioned categories This plan represents the first attempt at collating all terrestrial biodiversity and ecological data into a single system from which it can be interrogated and assessed.
  • Common Eland

    Common Eland

    Tragelaphus oryx – Common Eland recognised, though their validity has been in dispute (Thouless 2013): Tragelaphus o. livingstonii (Sclater 1864; Livingstone's Eland): also called kaufmanni, niediecki, selousi and triangularis. It is found in the Central Zambezian Miombo woodlands i.e. south- central Africa (Angola, Zambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi). Livingstone's Eland has a brown pelt with up to twelve stripes. Tragelaphus o. oryx (Pallas 1766; Cape Eland): also called alces, barbatus, canna and oreas. This subspecies is found south of the Zambezi river (South Africa, Botswana and Namibia). The fur is tawny, and adults lose their stripes. Regional Red List status (2016) Least Concern Tragelaphus o. pattersonianus (Lydekker 1906; East National Red List status (2004) Least Concern African Eland or Patterson's Eland): also called Reasons for change No change billingae. It is found in east Africa extending into the Somali arid areas, hence its common name. Its coat Global Red List status (2008) Least concern can have up to 12 stripes. TOPS listing (NEMBA) None Tragelaphus o. oryx occurs throughout the larger part of South Africa, but the far northern Limpopo Province CITES listing None bordering Zimbabwe is regarded as a transitional zone Endemic No between T. o. oryx and T. o. livingstonii or an area where they overlap. This argues the case that they should rather During drought conditions Eland roam extensively be described as ecotypes (in ecotypes, it is common for in order to meet forage and water requirements; in continuous, gradual geographic variation to impose the southern Kalahari during abnormally dry analogous phenotypic and/or genetic variation; this conditions, Eland were found to cover more than situation is called cline.).
  • Explore South Africa – Mokala National Park

    Explore South Africa – Mokala National Park

    slither of wildlife-rich wilderness hidden among the Although officially opened to the public in June 2007, it was only prosperous diamond fields of the Northern Cape, in 2008 that park authorities overcame the monumental challenge A Mokala National Park – positioned a mere 70 kilome- of translocating all the animals from Vaalbos to the new reserve. tres from Kimberley – was officially opened to the public on Prompted by the arrival of hundreds of herbivores to supplement 19 June 2007. Deriving its name from the Setswana word for existing wildlife populations, SANParks soon set about expanding the ubiquitous camel thorn trees that pepper its semi-arid the protected area. landscapes, Mokala is South Africa’s newest national park. Lilydale farm to the east of Mokala was purchased during 2008, and in 2010 park authorities secured ownership of the inter-leading After land claimants secured control of a large portion of Vaalbos Valsfontein farm, linking Mokala to the Lilydale sector, and creating Back into National Park in 2005 and announced their intention to mine a contiguous conservation area of 26 485 hectares. the soon-to-be de-proclaimed wildlife sanctuary, South African The new reserve, which typically receives between 300 millime- National Parks (SANParks) immediately began scouring the tres and 500 millimetres of rainfall per annum, boasts a surprisingly Northern Cape for a suitable chunk of prime wilderness to replace diverse range of habitats for a comparatively small national park. the defunct national park. Five potential replacement locations Over and above the unusual game species that roam within its were short-listed before a game ranch known as Wintershoek in confines, Mokala’s pristine and varied natural landscapes give it the Plooysburg area, southwest of Kimberly, was selected.