Bush encroachment control and risk management in semi-arid rangelands

Lukomska, Natalia; Quaas, Martin F.; Baumgärtner, Stefan

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.06.005

Cited by 19 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The habitats occupied by Kori Bustards are also those habitats with vegetation density typically utilized for cattle grazing throughout African savannas (Börner et al 2007, Lukomska et al 2014. With cattle as one of the top agricultural exports of the country of Botswana (Bahta et al 2015), this conflict could become a significant issue as space becomes more limited and land use change occurs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bush encroachment is defined by Lukomska et al (2014:3) as "the persisting occurrence of an ecosystem state dominated by woody vegetation." Poor cattle grazing practices such as overstocking cattle and the suppression of bushfires can lead to an increase in bush encroachment, which in turn can lead to a loss of green grass biomass (Lukomska et al 2014). Although it has not been studied in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve, bush encroachment is a major issue in other parts of the Kori Bustard's range for both livestock and wildlife (Börner et al 2007, Senyatso 2011.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Kori Bustards (Ardeotis kori) respond to vegetation density and elevation in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Botswana

McCollum¹,

Powell²,

Snyman³

et al. 2018

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ABSTRACT. Conservation planning and decision making for species of concern requires precise information on abundance and habitat associations. We conducted transect surveys throughout the Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Botswana during June-July 2014 and MayJuly 2015 to estimate the occupancy and abundance of Kori Bustards (Ardeotis kori). The probability of occupancy of Kori Bustards was greater in areas with tree canopy cover ≤ 50% (ψ2014 = 0.37, SE ± 0.09; ψ2015 = 0.39, SE ± 0.06) when compared with areas with tree canopy cover > 50% (ψ2014 = 0.00, SE ± 0.00; ψ2015 = 0.00, SE ± 0.00). Densities of Kori Bustards ranged from 0.03-5.02 individuals/km² at our study sites. They showed annual variation, and densities were highest in areas where vegetation was classified as sparse or bare soil. Areas at low (≤ 540 m above sea level) and high (≥ 540 m above sea level) elevations at our study sites also exhibited differences in density of Kori Bustards but elevational differences varied among years. Areas categorized as both sparse vegetation and higher elevation had the highest estimated densities in 2014 with 5.02 individuals/km². Areas categorized as sparse vegetation and lower elevation had the highest densities in 2015 with 2.20 individuals/km². Our study demonstrates that areas of sparse vegetation and open canopy areas are important to Kori Bustards. However, open canopy areas outside of reserves may be at risk of conversion to row crop and other forms of agriculture as human populations and demands for food increase. Habitat-specific information will be useful for future studies to identify risks during landscape conservation planning within the range of the Kori Bustard. L'abondance de l'Outarde kori (Ardeotis kori) varie selon la végétation et l'élévation dans la réserve de chasse de Northern Tuli, Botswana RÉSUMÉ. La planification de la conservation et la prise de décisions pour les espèces préoccupantes requièrent des données précises sur leur abondance et leurs associations avec l'habitat. Nous avons effectué des relevés par transects dans la réserve de chasse de Northern Tuli, au Botswana, en juin-juillet 2014 et mai-juillet 2015, afin de déterminer l'occurrence et la densité d'Outardes kori (Ardeotis kori). La probabilité d'occurrence des outardes était supérieure dans les endroits où la voûte forestière couvrait ≤ 50 % (ψ2014 = 0,37, écart-type ± 0,09; ψ2015 = 0,39, écart-type ± 0,06) comparativement aux endroits où la voûte couvrait > 50 % (ψ2014 = 0,00, écart-type ± 0,00; ψ2015 = 0,00, écart-type ± 0,00). Les densités de cette outarde s'élevaient de 0,03 à 5,02 individus/km² dans nos sites d'étude. Les densités montraient des variations annuelles et étaient plus élevées dans les endroits où la végétation était classée comme « éparse » ou « sol nu ». Les densités ont aussi différé selon les endroits de basse (≤ 540 m au-dessus du niveau de la mer) ou de haute (≥ 540 m ASL) élévation dans nos sites d'étude, et ces différences ont varié entre les années. Les endroits classés à la fois comme de végétation ép...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Kori Bustards (Ardeotis kori) respond to vegetation density and elevation in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Botswana

McCollum¹,

Powell²,

Snyman³

et al. 2018

ACE

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“…It is further estimated that 16% of the province is infested with alien invasive plants [33], which have necessitated restoration projects. Poor land management combined with drought conditions, especially in arid-and semi-arid ecosystems, poses a threat to the long-term productivity of the land, especially where communally managed lands are further degraded as a result of bush encroachment and the invasion of alien species [23,34]. Recognising this, and that a large proportion of the population is dependent for their livelihoods on services derived from dryland ecosystems, South Africa ratified the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification in 1997.…”

Section: Socio-economic Benefits Of Restoration Projects In South Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Socio-Economic Benefits Stemming from Bush Clearing and Restoration Projects Conducted in the D’Nyala Nature Reserve and Shongoane Village, Lephalale, South Africa

et al. 2020

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This study aimed to investigate the socio-economic benefits stemming from bush clearing and restoration projects conducted in the Lephalale municipality, within the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The study was conducted at two sites: the D’Nyala Nature Reserve and a nearby local village, Shongoane. A qualitative thematic content analysis approach and semi-structured interviews were used to gather data from 14 purposively selected participants between the ages of 22 and 55 (male = 9 and female = 5). The results indicated that the nature reserve benefited from the project via the improved visibility of the landscape features and game viewing, which made the reserve more attractive for tourists and resulted in increased revenue. The costs of buying feed for game could also be curbed since the grazing capacity increased. Since the nature reserve sourced temporary labour from the local village to execute the project, the community benefited in terms of members being able to earn a wage, which led to an improvement in their livelihoods. Another indirect benefit was the morale and behavioural changes observed amongst community members. It was obvious that the socio-economic benefits derived from projects such as these far outweigh the negatives and that there is every reason to institute projects of a similar nature elsewhere.

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“…Land degradation is related to the loss of ecosystem services and is referred to as desertification when it occurs in drylands (Abdi, Glover, & Luukkanen, 2013). Bush encroachment is also regarded as one of the most extensive forms of degradation in rangelands of arid and semiarid regions (Lukomska, Quaas, & Baumgärtner, 2014;Reed et al, 2015). Poor grazing management strategies have often been cited as one of the major anthropogenic causes of bush encroachment (Lukomska et al, 2014).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Bush encroachment is also regarded as one of the most extensive forms of degradation in rangelands of arid and semiarid regions (Lukomska, Quaas, & Baumgärtner, 2014;Reed et al, 2015). Poor grazing management strategies have often been cited as one of the major anthropogenic causes of bush encroachment (Lukomska et al, 2014). In many cases, land degradation leads to the removal of organic matter, and subsequently reduced soil health (Bhowmik et al, 2019).…”

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confidence: 99%

Current vegetation structure and composition of woody species in community‐derived categories of land degradation in a semiarid rangeland in Kunene region, Namibia

et al. 2020

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Land degradation has put the world's rangelands under intense pressure and reduced their capacity to provide vital services to those who solely depend on them for survival. With the current pressures on rangelands, worldwide, there is an urgent need to survey the present condition of rangelands. Such detailed surveys can identify where improvement programmes can be emphasised; whether it be reseeding, stock control, sociological restraints or other actions. To combat rangeland degradation, management systems are more effective when they account for community perceptions and practices. This study aims to assess the current status of woody plants in different categories of degradation as perceived by herders in Kunene, Namibia. Furthermore, we wished to compare the perception of degradation by herders with the measured ecological condition. With the help of herders, sites representing different categories of degradation (low, moderate, high and protected) were identified and 10 plots of 400m 2 each were established in each category. Species diversity, density, basal area and regeneration of woody plants increased sequentially along the degradation gradient (high to low). Vegetation attributes such as species diversity, seedling density and standing basal area increased with increasing distances from the villages. Although the herders' perception of degradation, for high and moderate degradation, matches the ecological results, the low degradation sites show signs of bush encroachment, a type of degradation that the herders did not perceive as degradation. Colophospermum mopane, a known encroacher species across Namibia, was the dominant species in the moderate and low degradation sites. Pechuel-loeschea leubnitziae, which is also known to be an indicator of degradation, was the dominant species in the high degradation sites. The findings highlight the present and future threats the study area is facing and form the basis for current restoration research.

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Bush encroachment control and risk management in semi-arid rangelands

Cited by 19 publications

References 29 publications

Kori Bustards (Ardeotis kori) respond to vegetation density and elevation in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Botswana

Kori Bustards (Ardeotis kori) respond to vegetation density and elevation in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Botswana

Socio-Economic Benefits Stemming from Bush Clearing and Restoration Projects Conducted in the D’Nyala Nature Reserve and Shongoane Village, Lephalale, South Africa

Current vegetation structure and composition of woody species in community‐derived categories of land degradation in a semiarid rangeland in Kunene region, Namibia

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