Marloth Park Management Plan. - Nkomazi Local Municipality
Marloth Park Management Plan. - Nkomazi Local Municipality Marloth Park Management Plan. - Nkomazi Local Municipality
If more than 80 percent of the property is within 10 km reach of permanent water, artificial watering points should be closed, beginning with those that are not stabilising natural semi- permanent supplies. If animal production for hunting or life sales of water-dependent animals is the main purpose of the enterprise, relatively higher densities of waterholes are recommended. If more than 80 percent of the area is within 5 km reach of permanent water in the dry season, rotation of watering points should be accomplished. If less than 80 percent of the property is within 5 km reach of a water point, water should be supplied to semi- permanent pans and pools in streams or even to temporary pans and pools. Generally the provision of one water point per 1000 ha is considered to be sufficient. When constructing new waterholes, certain criteria concerning the animals and their behaviour as well as the environment need to be observed: • Sufficient water must be available and used economically. • The drinking preferences of different animal species need to be considered when designing the waterhole. • Interspecies competition has to be kept low at the waterhole, to limit game loss. • The water quality must be suitable for game. High salt content of the water is detrimental. • Shade must be available in the vicinity of the waterhole, to provide game with resting places after drinking. • The waterhole must be controllable, opened or closed, to influence game movement. • Valves need to be checked regularly against damage through rust. • Ball valves need to be protected against destruction by animals such as baboon. • Pipes need to be buried for protection against animals and from ultraviolet rays. Temperature fluctuations decrease the lifespan of the pipes and high temperatures can impede the water quality. • Pumps should be placed in houses of at least 3 x 3 x 2 m for protection against animals such as buffalo and rhinoceros. • Inspection covers should be installed every 200 to 300 m to allow air release from pipes as well as maintenance. • The ground should be level. • Waterholes should not be placed on soil susceptible to erosion. • The Waterhole should look as natural as possible. © Ecological Associates/ Marloth Park 113
Several different types of waterholes provide water: Rivers, natural pans, pans with artificial water supply, artificial earth dams or cement dams and troughs. Earth dams are artificial depressions in the ground, filled with run-off water from the veld or water from a reservoir or borehole. When correctly placed these waterholes seldom lead to soil erosion. Sandy soils are ideal for such waterholes. Dams on soils with relatively high clay content loose less water, but trampling and erosion causes problems in such areas. Cement dams resemble earth dams, where dam floor and rim are fortified. The transition from dam foundation to surrounding soil needs to be level and smooth, to avoid injuries of animals visiting the waterhole. Pans with artificial water supply and natural pans with only seasonal water blend in more naturally with the environment. Recommendations for Marloth Park Although Marloth Park had sufficient access to water along the Crocodile River, without requiring any additional water sources on the property, the erection of a new game fence along boundary effectively denies access. The availability of resources on Marloth Park is, however, not a limiting factor as not only is natural open water available, but many owners have constructed their own little waterholes on their properties. This effectively gives all animals’ access to water without much competition, reducing the concentration of large animal groups around waterholes and limiting the formation of piospheres. The disadvantage of this practice is the uniformed utilisation of the natural resources, without any areas with reduced impact. This will in time lead to more uniform vegetation formations, reducing ecotonal effects and thus habitat diversity. This will indirectly lower species diversity for Marloth Park. It is recommended that owner’s co-operation be obtained in managing water access to animals on Marloth Park, through education and guidance. This can be achieved by making available a standard, acceptable design (Figure 13 and Figure 14) for a waterhole with a regulating valve. All waterhole locations must then be recorded, and using the plant communities identified, these waterholes can then be opened or closed on a rotational basis to induce some form of rotational resting. This action will facilitate fragmented utilisation; increase habitat diversity and ultimately species diversity. In the interim period, it is recommended that all owners be requested to close water points that are located in or adjacent to the degraded Dichrostachys cinerea – Tragus berteronianus Low bushland plant communities, until after successful rehabilitation of these areas. © Ecological Associates/ Marloth Park 114
- Page 69 and 70: Table 10: The current stocking dens
- Page 71 and 72: Recommendations on stocking rates C
- Page 73 and 74: High selectivity grazers Blue wilde
- Page 75 and 76: Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus Ogil
- Page 77 and 78: Space requirements: Kudu have range
- Page 79 and 80: Recommendation: The range requireme
- Page 81 and 82: Food preference: Steenbok utilise A
- Page 83 and 84: Table 12: The potential stocking de
- Page 85 and 86: Table 14: The potential stocking de
- Page 87 and 88: Table 15: The recommended stocking
- Page 89 and 90: The proteins may be less available
- Page 91 and 92: When urea is incorporated into a ph
- Page 93 and 94: Recommended intake for game is 150
- Page 95 and 96: Ticks The main parasite of concern
- Page 97 and 98: Figure 12: Sketch of Cyphostemma /C
- Page 99 and 100: NOXIOUS AND INVASIVE WEEDS An invas
- Page 101 and 102: Management plans need to be reviewe
- Page 103 and 104: Ricinus communis, Solanum sisymbrii
- Page 105 and 106: Although soil treatment with chemic
- Page 107 and 108: Planning errors must be expected, a
- Page 109 and 110: To further reduce grazing pressure
- Page 111 and 112: Lightning induced fires can also ca
- Page 113 and 114: TIME OF BURNING Least damage is cau
- Page 115 and 116: A low intensity fire will be achiev
- Page 117 and 118: Recommendations for Marloth Park Ma
- Page 119: Surface erosion will reduce water i
- Page 123 and 124: Stones Ground level Reinforced conc
- Page 125 and 126: For safety reasons these requiremen
- Page 127 and 128: Adaptive management Applying adapti
- Page 129 and 130: Figure 15: Location of the monitori
- Page 131 and 132: Appendix 1 (Continue) A list of tre
- Page 133 and 134: Appendix 2 (Continue) A list of gra
- Page 135 and 136: Appendix 3 (Continue) A list of for
- Page 137 and 138: Appendix 3 (Continue) A list of for
- Page 139 and 140: Appendix 4: Alien invaders found on
- Page 141 and 142: Appendix 5: Frequency occurrence of
- Page 143 and 144: Appendix 5: Frequency occurrence of
- Page 145 and 146: Appendix 5: Frequency occurrence of
- Page 147 and 148: Appendix 5: Frequency occurrence of
- Page 149 and 150: Appendix 5: Frequency occurrence of
- Page 151 and 152: Appendix 5: Frequency occurrence of
- Page 153 and 154: Appendix 5: Frequency occurrence of
- Page 155 and 156: Appendix 6: Photographs of each veg
- Page 157 and 158: Appendix 6: Photographs of each veg
Several different types of waterholes provide water: Rivers, natural pans, pans with artificial<br />
water supply, artificial earth dams or cement dams and troughs. Earth dams are artificial<br />
depressions in the ground, filled with run-off water from the veld or water from a reservoir or<br />
borehole. When correctly placed these waterholes seldom lead to soil erosion. Sandy soils are<br />
ideal for such waterholes. Dams on soils with relatively high clay content loose less water, but<br />
trampling and erosion causes problems in such areas. Cement dams resemble earth dams,<br />
where dam floor and rim are fortified. The transition from dam foundation to surrounding soil<br />
needs to be level and smooth, to avoid injuries of animals visiting the waterhole. Pans with<br />
artificial water supply and natural pans with only seasonal water blend in more naturally with<br />
the environment.<br />
Recommendations for <strong>Marloth</strong> <strong>Park</strong><br />
Although <strong>Marloth</strong> <strong>Park</strong> had sufficient access to water along the Crocodile River, without<br />
requiring any additional water sources on the property, the erection of a new game fence<br />
along boundary effectively denies access. The availability of resources on <strong>Marloth</strong> <strong>Park</strong> is,<br />
however, not a limiting factor as not only is natural open water available, but many owners<br />
have constructed their own little waterholes on their properties. This effectively gives all<br />
animals’ access to water without much competition, reducing the concentration of large<br />
animal groups around waterholes and limiting the formation of piospheres. The disadvantage<br />
of this practice is the uniformed utilisation of the natural resources, without any areas with<br />
reduced impact. This will in time lead to more uniform vegetation formations, reducing<br />
ecotonal effects and thus habitat diversity. This will indirectly lower species diversity for<br />
<strong>Marloth</strong> <strong>Park</strong>.<br />
It is recommended that owner’s co-operation be obtained in managing water access to animals<br />
on <strong>Marloth</strong> <strong>Park</strong>, through education and guidance. This can be achieved by making available<br />
a standard, acceptable design (Figure 13 and Figure 14) for a waterhole with a regulating<br />
valve. All waterhole locations must then be recorded, and using the plant communities<br />
identified, these waterholes can then be opened or closed on a rotational basis to induce some<br />
form of rotational resting. This action will facilitate fragmented utilisation; increase habitat<br />
diversity and ultimately species diversity.<br />
In the interim period, it is recommended that all owners be requested to close water points<br />
that are located in or adjacent to the degraded Dichrostachys cinerea – Tragus berteronianus<br />
Low bushland plant communities, until after successful rehabilitation of these areas.<br />
© Ecological Associates/ <strong>Marloth</strong> <strong>Park</strong> 114
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