View of the KarkloofRange, taken from the summit of Mount Gilboa, looking south-east. Location of trial planting (ringed) of Themeda triandra 'grass plugs' on the farm 'Skoven' located in the north-eastern part of the catchment (Source: LE, Granger).
LIST OF TABLES
ACKNOWLEDEGMENTS
INTRODUCTION
- THE IMPORTANCE OF LAND AND ITS TRANSFORMATION
- DEFINITION OF LAND TRANSFORMATION
- IMPORTANCE OF THE KARKLOOF CATCHMENT
- OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
To provide a biophysical description of the Karkloof Catchment, a historical overview and a study of integrated river basin management. This was essential to provide background information for understanding catchment dynamics and land transformation.
BIOPHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE KARKLOOF CATCHMENT
- LOCALITY AND EXTENT
- TOPOGRAPHY
LEGEND
PRINCIPAL RIVER SYSTEMS
The Mholweni tributary begins in the northeast and joins the Karkloof River near Yarrow. The Kusane tributary rises in the west and joins the Karkloof River near the KarkloofClub. The Karkloof River dominates the watershed and originates in the northwest and flows south (Figure 2.4. The Karkloof River flows south from the catchment and empties into the Mgeni River which then empties into the Albert Falls Dam.
GEOLOGY AND SOILS
1977».The series with adequate protection and corrective fertilization has a moderate to high potential for use in arable farming. Alluvium (sandy) belonging to the soil association 'L l River Alluvium' has a fairly high potential for arable use for ego Lucern, high-yielding pastures, vegetables and poplars, especially if it is irrigated.
CLIMATE
Because the source of the data varied, calculations were not made for each BRU regarding the standard deviation, the variance of the data, and the number of years represented by the data. THE INFLUENCE OF TOPOGRAPHY, RIVER SYSTEMS, GEOLOGY, SOIL SAND CLIMATE ON THE NATURAL VEGETATION OF THE WARMING AREA.
THE INFLUENCE OF TOPOGRAPHY, RIVER SYSTEMS, GEOLOGY, SOILS AND CLIMATE ON THE NATURAL VEGETATION OF THE CATCHMENT
To the north-west of the Karkloof catchment, the topography is rugged and deeply incised by the Karkloof River. It is stated by Low & Rebelo (1996) that this vegetation type requires higher average annual rainfall and temperatures than 'Moist Upland Grassland'. This area is more suitable for 'Short Mistbelt Grassland' than the area northwest of the catchment.
FLORA
Much of the 'Short Mistbelt Grassland' that would occur in the Karkloof catchment today has been replaced by intensive cultivation and exotic afforestation. The poor conservation status of the grasslands in the Karldoof catchment is a cause for concern.
FAUNA
View of Loskop, looking north, showing the Karkloof Plain in the foreground and the Karkloof Range in the background behind Loskop. The Karkloof Forest, Afromontane Forest (Low & Rebelo 1996). The forest is seen from the top of Mount Gilboa, looking southeast. Note the abrupt edges of the forest, a feature of frequent burning of the adjacent grasslands (Oct. 1997) ).
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF THE KARKLOOF CATCHMENT WITH PARTICULAR RELEVANCE TO LAND
TRANSFORMATION
INTEGRATED CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT IN THE KARKLOOFCATCHMENT
The Karkloof Catchment Management Forum (KCMF) was established at a workshop held in Umgeni Valley on 12 May 1998. The KCMF has held several meetings since then. The exact purpose, role and functioning of the KCMF is still relatively unclear and initial support has been obtained. slowly, but with time and experience this is expected to change.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
- GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM TECHNIQUES
- FIELD VERIFICATION OF LAND CATEGORIES AND LAND MANAGEMENT Although the 'view' titled 'Land Categories 1999', had been dated 1999 it was initially created
- TITLE DEED SEARCH
- QUESTIONNAIRE AND INTERVIEWS
- WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS
Calculate areas and perimeters of individual polygons and the sum of the different Land Categories using 'ArcView Version 3.0'. Where further detailed statistical analysis was required, 'Quattro Pro Version 6.1' was used. Calculate areas and perimeters of individual polygons and the sum of the different Land Categories using 'ArcView Version 3.0'. Where further detailed statistical analysis was required, 'Quattro Pro Version 6.1' was used.
RESULTS
- CHANGES IN LAND CATEGORIES AND LAND MANAGEMENT BETWEEN 1944 AND 1999
An example of this would be the category 'Exotic Vegetation - Wild', whose area in relation to the total catchment only increased by 2.0% between 1944 and 1999, but in relation to its area in 1944 there was a significant increase of 397, 3% in the category. No "Cultivation - Subsistence" was found in 1999 on these areas identified in 1944. In 1944 and 1999, "Erosion" was concentrated in the north-western part of the catchment, especially on the farm "Sherwood".
Respondents with farms in the steep and rugged areas of the catchment noted that there was significant erosion in 1944 and stated that this erosion has decreased over time. The Wood species composition also changed significantly between 1944 and 1999. p.?3) illustrates the proportions of the different wood species grown in the catchment, as a percentage of the total area under afforestation in 1944 and 1999.
TImber Species Grown
Cultivation
A representative area of this trend occurs in the vicinity of the farms, 'Gartmore' and 'Loskop', which are shown in more detail in Figure 6.9. The cultivated fields were small, as their main purpose was to provide sufficient vegetables for the consumption of the farmer's family (A. Symons, 1998, pers. comm.). Conventional' and 'no-till' cultivation areas of nine farms in the Karkloof Valley were compared (T. Matchett, 1998, pers. comm.). It was found that 70% of the total area under maize (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max) on these farms was 'no-till' cultivation.
Central Representative Area (p.67), which is an area located in the vicinity of the farms, 'Gartmore' and 'Loskop', and Figure 6.18. North Central Representative Area B (p.85), which is an area located in the vicinity of the farms, 'Colbourne', 'Tullamore' and 'Spitzkop'. Figure 6.4.
CHANGES IN LAND OWNERSHIP BETWEEN 1944 AND 1999
- Property Size and Land Ownership in 1999
This represents an increase of 823.8%. The increase in the number of dams reflects the subdivision of farms, with each new farm requiring its own independent water supply. However, this exceptionally large property is the result of the amalgamation of smaller, adjacent properties owned by the family since 1944, and does not represent a trend applicable to other properties in the watershed. The share of the different categories of land ownership is also given as a percentage of the total area of all properties, defined by the size of their cadastral boundaries in 1944 and 1999.
This difference is because entire properties are selected for each time period, although some property boundaries extended outside the catchment and the properties differed in size and extent between the two time periods. Many properties, often adjacent to each other, were owned by the same person or members of the same family.
LAND OWNERS' INVOLVEMENT IN FUTURE PLANNING AND CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT
Compensation must be financial or in the form of other incentive benefits such as tax relief;. Changes to land use practices should not be expected to occur overnight, as the economic impact of such rapid change can be disastrous;. Many felt that the sensitive upper catchment should be retained for conservation purposes. It was suggested that the economics of the different land use options be investigated.
Remaining foundations of a native timber mill, found on the farm, 'Ben Eden', situated beneath the Karkloof Forest (Nov 1998). Note the presence of American bramble (Rubus cuneifolius) along this drainage channel, which runs through cultivated land, located west of the Karkloof Club.
DISCUSSION AND INTERPRETATION OF MAIN FINDINGS
- PROPERTY NUMBERS AND SIZES
- TRANSFORMATION OF INDIGENOUS ECOSYSTEMS
- Alien Invasive Vegetation
- INCREASE IN NUMBERS AND SIZE OF FARM DAMS
Therefore, a decline in the extent of natural grassland in KwaZulu-Natal is likely to lead to a decline in the secticity of the native plants that characterize this type of vegetation. Any reduction in aquatic and riparian grazing areas will result in the subsequent loss of many of the above benefits. Additional fragmentation of the Karkloof watershed may have implications for the biodiversity status of the KwaZulu-Natal mist belt.
Fragmentation studies of the Karkloof catchment will provide valuable baseline information to assess the importance of remaining vegetation patches. Future links between areas and other conservation strategies can then be proposed. This would ultimately help in the overall conservation and overall improvement of the ecology within the watershed and the surrounding area.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
- GENERAL CONCLUSIONS
- SIGNIFICANCE AND FURTHER APPLICATION OF THE STUDY
- CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT BODIES AND INTEGRATED CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT
- PROPERTY SIZE AND LAND USE TYPES
This baseline information and insight provides a valuable tool to assist in improved environmental management and future land use planning for the catchment. The temporal changes in vegetation between 1944 and 1999 shown in this study can be further analyzed. Future changes may be noted. Analysis of these changes can expand the current understanding of vegetation changes and the factors influencing them. In response, the Agricultural Land Subdivision Act (Act 70 of 1970) was promulgated to combat the creation of uneconomic agricultural units, which in turn could lead to overexploitation of land, resulting in higher rates of soil erosion (Fuggle & Rabie 1992 ). It is currently being proposed to repeal this law.
Three of the most important strategies are: creating corridors/connections between vegetation patches, preserving remaining grassland patches, improving these patches and removing 'invasive alien vegetation' from riparian areas and other sensitive areas. p.58) show that forest and grassland areas have become highly fragmented. The extent and nature of this fragmentation was not investigated as it was considered outside the scope of the study. Location of the test planting (ringed) of Themeda triandra 'grass plugs' on the farm 'The Forest' located in the northeast of the catchment area.
Camp,KG.T.1999b.Personal Communication.KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Division, Cedara, Private Bag X9059, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Departments of Agricultural Economics and Sociology, Geography and Resource Development, Michigan State University, USA. Box182, Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. School of Applied Environmental Sciences, University of Natal, Private Bag XOl, Scotsville, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
1999. Personal communication. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, KZN Regional Office Durban, P.O.Box 1018, Durban, South Africa. Impacts of increased afforestation and agricultural dams on the water resources of the upper Mgeni catchment. Agricultural Engineering in South Africa.
IONA'S PIANOS
Common grass of the veld layer, best developed where the canopy cover is least disturbed. Unusual grass of the field layer with a patchy distribution, most common where the canopy is broken. Locally common creeper grass especially where the canopy is disturbed and the forest is dense.
Unusual grass of the veld layer, especially in damper situations where the canopy is not too disturbed.
ANJARYLLIDACEAE
IRIDACEAE
ORCHIDACEAE
PIPERACEAE
ULIV1ACEAE
34;MORACEAE
URTICACEAE
ANNONACEAE
AXIFRAGACEAE
ROSACEAE
RU'I'ACEAE
MELIACEAE
ANACARDIACEAE
AQUIFOLIACEAE
ICACINACEAE
BALSAMINACEAE
RHAMNACEAE
VITACEAE
OCHNACEAE
VIOLACEAE
FLACOURTIACEAE
ACHARIACEAE
THYMELAEACEAE
BEGONIACEAE
RHIZOPHORACEAE
COMBRETACEAE
ARALIACEAE
LOGANIACEAE
APOCYNACEAE
ASCLEPIADACEAE
VERBENACLAE
LABIATAE
- elegantulu8 Briq
- fruticosus L'Herit,
SOLANACEAE
GESNERIACEAE
ACANTHACEAE
CAMPANULACEAE
CELASTRACEAE
OCHNACLAE
The KZN NCS will not be held liable for the quality or accuracy of the data contained in this report. The data contained in this report may not be distributed to any third party without the consent of the KZN NCS. The KZN NCS will not be held liable for the quality or accuracy of the data contained in this report.
Information in this report may not be shared with third parties without the consent of KZN NCS. Information in this report may not be shared with third parties without the consent of KZN NCS.
