Rocky Mountain Research Station Publications
RMRS Online Publication - Journal
Articles, External Publications, and Special Reports
Rangeland mismanagement in South Africa:
Failure to apply ecological knowledge
Hudak, Andrew T. 1999. Rangeland mismanagement in South Africa: Failure to apply ecological knowledge. Human Ecology. 27(1): 55-78.
Chronic, heavy livestock grazing and concomitant fire suppression have caused the gradual replacement of palatable grass species by less palatable trees and woody shrubs in a rangeland degradation process termed bush encroachment in South Africa. Grazing policymakers and cattle farmers alike have not appreciated the ecological role fire and native browsers play in preventing bush encroachment. Unpredictable droughts are common in South Africa but have deflected too much blame for bush encroachment away from grazing mismanagement. Bush encroachment is widespread on both black and white farms, although the contributing socioeconomic, cultural, and political forces differ. Managers at Madikwe Game Reserve have reintroduced fire and native game animals in to a formerly overgrazed system in an attempt to remediate bush encroachment, with encouraging preliminary results. A bush control program is needed that educates cattle farmers about the ecological causes of bush encroachment and encourages the use of fire and native browsers as tools for sustainable grazing management.
Keywords: bush encroachment, carrying capacity, grazing policy, rangeland management, stocking rate
About PDFs: For best results, do not open the PDF in your Web browser. Right-click on the PDF link to download the PDF file directly to your computer. Click here for more PDF help.
Download Article
http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs_other/rmrs_1999_hudak_a001.pdf
PDF File Size: 285 K
Title: RMRS Other
Publications: Rangeland mismanagement in South Africa: Failure
to apply ecological knowledge
Electronic Publish Date: September 8, 2007
Last Update: September
8, 2007