Land rehabilitation programmes
Degradation and Rehabilitation Programme
The purpose of this programme is to assess the habitat degradation status and implement mitigation measures needed to facilitate the improvement of ecological processes and enhancement of ecosystem functioning in affected areas.
The national policy on the conservation and sustainable use of South Africa’s biodiversity, produced by DEA calls for the identification of key sites for rehabilitation based upon biological and socioeconomic criteria, and the development and implementation of rehabilitation plans for identified sites. Similarly, the Convention on Biological Diversity lists rehabilitation as an important tool for promoting the conservation of biodiversity.
Soil erosion is dominant in old cultivated lands, along drainage lines and in some wetland systems where erosion head-cuts result in transformation or desiccation of the wetlands. Often degradation is accompanied by loss of ecosystem functioning and the extent of transformation or change in some areas results in these areas being unable to undergo passive rehabilitation without mitigation measures to facilitate recovery. Vegetation degradation includes changes in vegetation community in terms of richness, abundance, diversity and structure. Degradation resulting from various factors, including climate perturbations and extreme events, inappropriate fire or herbivory regimes, alien species invasion, as well as human activities, generally reduces flows of ecosystem goods and services. Although some of these are natural processes, intervention may be required to aid recovery in protected areas where natural recovery processes are retarded or prohibited as a result of fragmented habitat surrounded by alternative land use. Degradation affects the capacity of the habitat to support life, thereby contributing to an unsustainable ecological system.
The programme is aimed to firstly understand the scale of soil erosion degradation within the Protected Environment, then to prioritise the sites for intervention and to rehabilitate these sites. The aim is to focus on capacitiating landowners and their farm staff to rehibilitate their own properties through training oppertunities and the access to rehabilitation equipment and materials. SANParks is committed to providing assistance though the Biodiveristy Social Project.
The MZCPE conducted a survey of the area to idenitfy areas of soil erosion, classify the types and their extent. This survey was done by Bruce Taplin under Conservation Management Services and has become a valuable resource in guiding the member’s interventions in the landscape. Photo supplied by Bruce Taplin
A number of the MZCPE members are participating in the Responsible Wool and Mohair Standard which is an industry driven assurance programme. As part of the RWS/RMS, there is a land management module that addresses soil erosion. Members participating in this are assisted by the MZCPE and its management plan tool.
Alien and invasive species programme
The purpose of this programme is to control invasive alien species where possible in order to reduce their distribution, abundance and impacts, thereby maintaining the integrity of the indigenous biodiversity of the Protected Environment. CARA requires the management of listed alien invasive plants.
There are three categories of plants, each with its own management and control regulations. In South Africa, the management of alien invasive species (AIS) is mandatory under NEM: BA. CARA provides additional guidance for the management of AIS plants.
Alien and invasive species are accepted to be one of the largest, and fastest growing threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services. These species can transform the structure and species composition of ecosystems by replacing indigenous species, either by directly outcompeting indigenous species for resources or by changing the way nutrients are cycled through the ecosystem. AIS also increase biomass, which in turn changes fire regimes and fire intensity (McNeely et.al, 2001). Foxcroft et.al. (2013) identified biological invasions as one of the greatest threats to Protected Areas. The likelihood of protecting the Protected Environment from the threat of AIS is dependent on sound management strategies, adequate resources and effective engagement with key stakeholders, effective legislation and policing of legislation. The likelihood of eradication or maintenance control varies considerably with species and terrain invaded. Rapid response is required to remove species before they build up to become large populations.
As part of this programme, an alien species identification and abundance study will be implemented to understand the extent of AIS invasion and with this mind, a priority plan for the control of key areas of concern will be developed.
The MZCPE conducted a survey of the area to identify alien and invasive species, their distribution and abundance. This survey was done by Bruce Taplin under Conservation Management Services and has become a valuable resource in guiding the member’s interventions in the landscape.
Photo supplied by Bruce Taplin
The MZCPE has partnered with Rhodes UNiversity and their Center for Biological Control in an attempt to release bio-control on the landscape to control those alien and invasive species that can managed with bio-controls. To date, together with Rhodes, bio-control has been released on a number of properties and the work is already showing great results.
A number of the MZCPE members are participating in the Responsible Wool and Mohair Standard which is an industry driven assurance programme. As part of the RWS/RMS, there is a land management module that addresses the control of alien species. Members participating in this are assisted by the MZCPE and its management plan tool.
Freshwater ecosystem programme
The purpose of the freshwater ecosystem programme is to ensure the functionality of key wetlands and rivers in the Protected Environment. Although the freshwater ecosystems programme deals primarily with key wetland habitats, it cannot be seen in isolation of groundwater resources. Groundwater feeds many wetlands as well as rivers and is particularly important in arid systems and for seasonal or ephemeral rivers. In the Protected Environment, groundwater is also the main source of drinking water and as such it relates to the objective of effective agricultural management (where agriculture constitutes the major land use type in the Protected Environment). The Protected Environment largely contains modified freshwater ecosystems, for example a dammed rivers, modified wetlands and manmade dams.
