Marloth Park Management Plan. - Nkomazi Local Municipality
Marloth Park Management Plan. - Nkomazi Local Municipality
Marloth Park Management Plan. - Nkomazi Local Municipality
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Adaptive management<br />
Applying adaptive management require baseline data that can be used as a reference system in<br />
measuring change. This study will thus serve as reference system for future management<br />
decisions. By monitoring these changes, the effects of applied management can be gauged.<br />
However, no management decision can be made without clear set objectives. Periodically,<br />
fixed points on <strong>Marloth</strong> <strong>Park</strong> must be surveyed and the veld condition compared to the initial<br />
baseline data gathered. If any degradation is occurred in that time period, management<br />
decisions, such as stocking rate, must be re-evaluated and adjusted to achieve the objective or<br />
desired results. A new management decision must then be applied and the process repeated. If<br />
this process continues long enough a model specifically adapted to <strong>Marloth</strong> <strong>Park</strong> can be<br />
devised. It is crucial that adequate records be kept on all aspects of veld and wildlife<br />
management. Without adequate records constructive progress will be vague and<br />
unsubstantiated.<br />
Monitoring<br />
Monitoring of the habitat aims at purposeful and repeated examination of the state or<br />
condition of the veld that involves the frequent testing for differences between baseline data<br />
or initial surveys and follow-up surveys. Certain components of the habitat can be regarded as<br />
key components as they are indicators of change. These components are rainfall, soil erosion,<br />
permanent surface water, fire, vegetation structure, cover and composition, animal<br />
productivity, numbers and growth rate.<br />
Rainfall<br />
Long-term rainfall is important for determining trends of change in vegetation. Rainfall has<br />
the greatest influence on the productivity of vegetation and ecological capacity. Although<br />
rainfall should ideally be recorded on <strong>Marloth</strong> <strong>Park</strong>, sufficiently reliable data can be obtained<br />
from the weather station on Malelane.<br />
Habitat<br />
To conduct monitoring surveys of the habitat, fixed survey sites should be established on<br />
<strong>Marloth</strong> <strong>Park</strong>, in each of the plant communities. Veld condition should then be measured and<br />
evaluated against the existing baseline data.<br />
Game<br />
The seasonal distribution and numbers of game should be monitored continually and<br />
population growth rates calculated. These can then be used to determine the health of the<br />
population.<br />
© Ecological Associates/ <strong>Marloth</strong> <strong>Park</strong> 120