Marloth Park Management Plan. - Nkomazi Local Municipality
Marloth Park Management Plan. - Nkomazi Local Municipality Marloth Park Management Plan. - Nkomazi Local Municipality
When selecting the reference site, similar veld type, habitat and most importantly, environmental factors such as soil type and depth, topography, rockiness, aspect, and soil- moisture must be taken into account; as well as the objectives for future utilisation. Veld condition is assessed in different ways. The method applied is selected based on predetermined objectives of the enterprise. An agronomic and/or an ecological approach can be used. The agronomical approach is used where maximum production is required, not considering ecological requirements. The ecological approach is based on evaluating climate and other natural events such as fire, and considering the potential impacts of applied management principles on the environment. The seral stage is the measure of veld condition, where the pioneer stage represents poor veld condition, and the sub-climax to climax stages represents good veld conditions. Methods commonly used throughout South Africa are the Benchmark Method, the Ecological Index Method, the Key Species Method, the Weighted Key Species Method and the use of degradation gradients. The Benchmark Method is based on comparing the sample site with an ecologically similar reference site in excellent veld condition. The Key Species Method rates veld condition according to specially pre-selected grazing-responsive grass species. The Benchmark Method and Key Species Methods are used less frequently due to several shortcomings. With the Benchmark Method veld condition is calculated according to the limitations of the subjectively selected benchmark, which means that only species occurring in the benchmark site are considered. Furthermore, re-evaluation of the benchmark, due to short-term seasonal fluctuations, is necessary every 5 to 10 years to monitor long-term environmental changes. The disadvantage of the Key Species Method is that the veld condition score alone might not distinguish between differences in ecological categories of grass species. By weighting the key species, as in the Weighted Key Species Method, the veld condition score is correlated to the grazing history. This gives a good indication of veld condition if the survey sites are positioned along a gradient of grazing intensity. The Ecological Index Method and Degradation Gradients Method are mainly used for veld condition assessments. The Degradation Gradient Method (DGM) makes use of degradation gradients and bases its´ approach, to assessing veld condition, on the reaction of the veld to disturbance such as overgrazing. In fact, the reaction to any biotic or abiotic environmental influence on the vegetation is considered with the Degradation Gradient Method. © Ecological Associates/ Marloth Park 35
Degradation gradients are models that describe changes in long-term vegetation status and habitat characteristics due to utilisation, which can range from under-utilisation to severe over-utilisation. Only grass species that are significant indicators of grazing condition are surveyed. The Ecological Index Method aims to determine veld condition by classifying plant species into ecological categories based on their reaction to grazing and burning. The proportional composition of the different ecological categories are expressed as frequencial occurrence and then weighted, using specific ecological index values. The veld condition score is then evaluated on a predetermined scale of system potential and health. The Ecological Index Method meets most of the requirements for successful veld condition assessments with regards to reliability, speed, objectivity and repeatability. Grazing capacity The grazing capacity of an area refers to its potential to support a number of a grazer animal populations. Ideally, based on ecological principles to ensure sustainability, the grazing capacity is calculated in such a way as to ensure that the condition of the veld does not deteriorate over time, while the animals are kept in good productive and reproductive condition. The relationship between animal numbers to be supported and the area of land required is expressed by the grazing capacity, which is quantified as either the number of animal units per area, usually hectares or as hectares per animal unit. A Large Stock Unit is defined as a bovine of 450 kg body mass, where body mass should increase by 500 g a day on grassland with a mean digestibility of 55 percent. Wildlife grazing requirements are based on the metabolic energy requirements in relation to a Large Stock Unit. Furthermore, the growth rate, basal heat production and maintenance requirements, efficiency of energy utilisation and food preference is taken into account when calculating livestock unit equivalences for wild southern African ungulates. This approach does not take into account that domestic and wild animals show differing feeding behaviour. Impala Aepyceros melampus melampus and blue wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus prefer to graze on short grasses, while zebra Equus burchelli and buffalo Syncerus caffer as well as domestic bovine prefer medium to tall grasses. A further difference is found in the selectivity for grass species. Another important aspect is that game and domestic animals do not compare in terms of weight gain. For more accurate calculations of grazing capacities the use of Graze Animal Units (GAU), is used. © Ecological Associates/ Marloth Park 36
- Page 1 and 2: Ecological Associates Environmental
- Page 3 and 4: THE ASSESSMENT OF AVAILABLE BROWSE
- Page 5 and 6: LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Location
- Page 7 and 8: LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix 1: A li
- Page 9 and 10: Three different scenarios are analy
- Page 11 and 12: Ecosystems disturbed by clearing op
- Page 13 and 14: INTRODUCTION Although only a few ve
- Page 15 and 16: Figure 1: Location of the Marloth P
- Page 17 and 18: GEOMORPHOLOGY Looking down from the
- Page 19 and 20: Figure 4: Geology of the Marloth Pa
- Page 21 and 22: Tonalitic granite and gneiss A sect
- Page 23 and 24: Figure 6: Soil depth of the Marloth
- Page 25 and 26: Figure 7: Land Types of the Marloth
- Page 27 and 28: Figure 8: Land use in the Marloth P
- Page 29 and 30: A 610.1 B 104.0 C 7.4 D 19.9 E 39.8
- Page 31 and 32: INTRODUCTION VEGETATION CLASSIFICAT
- Page 33 and 34: METHOD For an initial and broad sca
- Page 35 and 36: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Analysis and
- Page 37 and 38: The dominant grass species are broa
- Page 39 and 40: The characteristic tree species are
- Page 41: VELD CONDITION ASSESSMENT AND THE C
- Page 45 and 46: The nearest grass species to each s
- Page 47 and 48: Calculation of grazing capacity The
- Page 49 and 50: Table 2: Contribution of ecological
- Page 51 and 52: Table 3: Grazing capacities for the
- Page 53 and 54: THE ASSESSMENT OF AVAILABLE BROWSE
- Page 55 and 56: X Y D1 Y Dimensional measurements:
- Page 57 and 58: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The browsing
- Page 59 and 60: Table 6: Browsing capacities for th
- Page 61 and 62: INTRODUCTION ESTIMATION OF HERBACEO
- Page 63 and 64: The resulting Large Stock Units are
- Page 65 and 66: INTRODUCTION GAME MANAGEMENT ON MAR
- Page 67 and 68: STOCKING RATES Current stocking The
- 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
Degradation gradients are models that describe changes in long-term vegetation status and<br />
habitat characteristics due to utilisation, which can range from under-utilisation to severe<br />
over-utilisation. Only grass species that are significant indicators of grazing condition are<br />
surveyed.<br />
The Ecological Index Method aims to determine veld condition by classifying plant species<br />
into ecological categories based on their reaction to grazing and burning. The proportional<br />
composition of the different ecological categories are expressed as frequencial occurrence and<br />
then weighted, using specific ecological index values. The veld condition score is then<br />
evaluated on a predetermined scale of system potential and health.<br />
The Ecological Index Method meets most of the requirements for successful veld condition<br />
assessments with regards to reliability, speed, objectivity and repeatability.<br />
Grazing capacity<br />
The grazing capacity of an area refers to its potential to support a number of a grazer animal<br />
populations. Ideally, based on ecological principles to ensure sustainability, the grazing<br />
capacity is calculated in such a way as to ensure that the condition of the veld does not<br />
deteriorate over time, while the animals are kept in good productive and reproductive<br />
condition. The relationship between animal numbers to be supported and the area of land<br />
required is expressed by the grazing capacity, which is quantified as either the number of<br />
animal units per area, usually hectares or as hectares per animal unit.<br />
A Large Stock Unit is defined as a bovine of 450 kg body mass, where body mass should<br />
increase by 500 g a day on grassland with a mean digestibility of 55 percent. Wildlife grazing<br />
requirements are based on the metabolic energy requirements in relation to a Large Stock<br />
Unit. Furthermore, the growth rate, basal heat production and maintenance requirements,<br />
efficiency of energy utilisation and food preference is taken into account when calculating<br />
livestock unit equivalences for wild southern African ungulates. This approach does not take<br />
into account that domestic and wild animals show differing feeding behaviour. Impala<br />
Aepyceros melampus melampus and blue wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus prefer to graze<br />
on short grasses, while zebra Equus burchelli and buffalo Syncerus caffer as well as domestic<br />
bovine prefer medium to tall grasses. A further difference is found in the selectivity for grass<br />
species. Another important aspect is that game and domestic animals do not compare in terms<br />
of weight gain. For more accurate calculations of grazing capacities the use of Graze Animal<br />
Units (GAU), is used.<br />
© Ecological Associates/ <strong>Marloth</strong> <strong>Park</strong> 36
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