Track 3-2-1: Grazing Pressure, Industrialisation, Land Use Change, Policies and Social Programmes
Description
The Kingdom of Lesotho is characterized by its unique geographical feature of being dominated by rugged mountainous terrain. It is also the only true alpine region in southern Africa that supports high plant species diversity. Large areas suffer from overgrazing and erosion, as well as over exploitation of its natural resources. The livestock industry in Lesotho has long been a vital component of the economic and social structure of the country and the alpine region is considered as an important grazing resource by local Basotho herdsmen. Consequently, a study was conducted with the two objectives: to determine the phytomass, grazing capacity and crude protein of the vegetation in two areas of the Lesotho alpine grassland with different grazing histories, and to assess the vegetation dynamics in relation to land use with specific reference to productivity, degradation and sustainability.
Citation
Smit, Nico and van Rensburg, G. Janse, "Vegetation Dynamics in Relation to Land Use within the High Altitude Alpine Grasslands of Lesotho, Southern Africa" (2020). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 1.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/23/3-2-1/1
Included in
Vegetation Dynamics in Relation to Land Use within the High Altitude Alpine Grasslands of Lesotho, Southern Africa
The Kingdom of Lesotho is characterized by its unique geographical feature of being dominated by rugged mountainous terrain. It is also the only true alpine region in southern Africa that supports high plant species diversity. Large areas suffer from overgrazing and erosion, as well as over exploitation of its natural resources. The livestock industry in Lesotho has long been a vital component of the economic and social structure of the country and the alpine region is considered as an important grazing resource by local Basotho herdsmen. Consequently, a study was conducted with the two objectives: to determine the phytomass, grazing capacity and crude protein of the vegetation in two areas of the Lesotho alpine grassland with different grazing histories, and to assess the vegetation dynamics in relation to land use with specific reference to productivity, degradation and sustainability.
