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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STOCKING RATES<br />
Current stocking<br />
The current stocking rate based on the latest game counts conducted during September 2005<br />
and the grazing and browsing capacities calculated for <strong>Marloth</strong> <strong>Park</strong> are analysed using the<br />
ECOCAP 6 programme. This programme calculates the percentage contribution of Graze and<br />
Browse Animal Units based on the potential of <strong>Marloth</strong> <strong>Park</strong> to support animal stocking rates,<br />
without deterioration of the environment. The Graze and Browse Animal Units are based on<br />
the percentage of graze, browse and forbs in their diet as well as metabolic energy<br />
requirements of the different animal species.<br />
Three different scenarios are analysed; the first is based on the assumption that the whole of<br />
<strong>Marloth</strong> <strong>Park</strong>, excluding the current development footprint and actual road surfaces, is<br />
suitable for utilisation (Table 9). In this scenario only 38.15 percent of the ecological grazing<br />
capacity is being utilised, but 208.80 percent of the ecological browse capacity. Even though<br />
the giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis are not considered to be competing for the natural<br />
resources, as they can feed up to a maximum browse height of 5.5 m, the ecological browse<br />
capacity will still be exceeded by 25.44 percent. The recommended ratio of 1:1 between the<br />
low selectivity grazers and the remaining grazers is also skewed, with common impala<br />
Aepyceros melampus melampus being the dominating contributor at 95.95 percent of the<br />
ecological capacity.<br />
In the second scenario the current building footprints, actual road surfaces and landscaped<br />
gardens are subtracted from the available area (Table 10). Although the ratio of low<br />
selectivity grazers and other remaining grazers are still skewed, stocking rate is well below<br />
the ecological grazing capacity. However, the ecological browsing capacity, excluding the<br />
requirements of giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis, is now exceeded by 54.07 percent; with<br />
impala Aepyceros melampus melampus still being the dominating contributor.<br />
In the third scenario only the parkland and current road reserves are available for utilisation<br />
(Table 11). Although the ratio of low selectivity grazers and other remaining grazers are still<br />
skewed, the stocking rate is approaching the ecological grazing capacity. However, the<br />
ecological browse capacity, excluding the requirements of giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis, is<br />
exceeded by 195.29 percent of the ecological browsing capacity.<br />
6 ECOCAP. Ecological Capacity computer database for the determination of stocking rates<br />
© Ecological Associates/ <strong>Marloth</strong> <strong>Park</strong> 60