Marloth Park Management Plan. - Nkomazi Local Municipality

Lightning induced fires can also cause a substantial loss of grazing land if adequate firebreaks
are not in place. However, the simulation of a natural fire regime should be attempted to
compensate for the absence of natural fires.
The following are the objectives for using fire in veld management:
Removal of old, unpalatable and unacceptable growth from the previous season, which
can smother new growth.
To destroy parasites such as ticks.
Control of undesirable woody or herbaceous invaders that reduce the production of the
grass layer.
Areas can be burnt to induce rotational grazing.
Firebreaks can be made to protect the veld.
Another reason quoted for burning veld is to stimulate an out-of-season “green-pick”. This is
often done during the summer, late autumn or late winter to provide green forage for grazing
animals. Burning at these times is harmful because it:
Reduces the vigour of the grass sward
Reduces the canopy and basal cover of the grass sward
Increases the run-off rainwater
Results in increased soil erosion
Adequate removal of top-growth by grazing alone is difficult in sourveld areas, although it
may be achieved in intensive grazing systems. In sourveld areas, unpalatable low quality
material accumulates on the less acceptable plants in particular, and burning must be resorted
to remove this material if the plants are not to become moribund and die. Veld will deteriorate
if it remains unutilised for any length of time. Therefore, where grass growth is rapid, and
where there is no alternative method of utilizing the top growth (such as by grazing or
mowing), frequent burning is advisable.
Although fire can be used to control ticks, this is considered ineffective and generally not
recommended. Fire is considered as a natural phenomenon in regulating bush encroachment
and maintaining grasslands. The effectiveness of fire for the control of bush encroachment is,
however, doubtful. Fire is generally more effective in controlling bush encroachment in the
initial growth stages, but become less effective as the trees grow above the grass layer.
© Ecological Associates/ Marloth Park 104