Offered Papers Theme C: Delivering the Benefits from Grassland
Description
The rangelands of KwaZulu-Natal play a fundamental role in the wealth and security of communal populations who are dependent on these forage-producing lands for their livelihoods. In most communal areas of the Province, there is an absence of satisfactory range management practices and the utilization of resources is generally non-sustainable. A major threat to the productivity of rangeland is inappropriate land use, such as overgrazing and incorrect burning practices, leading to extensive degradation of both the vegetative and soil components. Range vegetation and soil reserves show vastly reduced productivity. Degradation also results in increased susceptibility to erosion, loss of vegetative cover and palatable species, loss of biodiversity and reduced productivity, directly threatening food security of vast numbers of people in the rural areas. Social issues such as weakened and marginalized traditional authorities and reduced control of resource utilization is partly responsible. In addition, the value placed on livestock for draught power, meat, milk and other products, and for financial security against calamity, entrenches a reluctance to diminish stock numbers. Alternative strategies to reduce pressure on stressed range systems need to be formulated in participation with affected communities to, among other benefits, increase the contribution from animals to household security.
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Degraded Rangeland: Can the Balance Be Restored in the Absence of Satisfactory Range Management Practices?
The rangelands of KwaZulu-Natal play a fundamental role in the wealth and security of communal populations who are dependent on these forage-producing lands for their livelihoods. In most communal areas of the Province, there is an absence of satisfactory range management practices and the utilization of resources is generally non-sustainable. A major threat to the productivity of rangeland is inappropriate land use, such as overgrazing and incorrect burning practices, leading to extensive degradation of both the vegetative and soil components. Range vegetation and soil reserves show vastly reduced productivity. Degradation also results in increased susceptibility to erosion, loss of vegetative cover and palatable species, loss of biodiversity and reduced productivity, directly threatening food security of vast numbers of people in the rural areas. Social issues such as weakened and marginalized traditional authorities and reduced control of resource utilization is partly responsible. In addition, the value placed on livestock for draught power, meat, milk and other products, and for financial security against calamity, entrenches a reluctance to diminish stock numbers. Alternative strategies to reduce pressure on stressed range systems need to be formulated in participation with affected communities to, among other benefits, increase the contribution from animals to household security.
