The distribution and seasonal availability of surface water on the Manyeleti Game Reserve, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

The availability and abundance of surface water on the Manyeleti Game Reserve was quantified to provide information towards the development of a water provision policy. A total of 696 water source sites were located with a mean distance of 223.3 m apart. The water source sites (natural and artificial) were monitored seasonally to describe the seasonal availability of surface water on the Manyeleti Game Reserve. There were significant relationships between seasonal rainfall and the number of water source sites and maximum distance between sites. The large number of water sources is regulated by climatic progression and thus water provision on the Manyeleti Game Reserve follows a natural cycle linked primarily to rainfall. Water sources that dry up towards the dry seasons need to be supplied with water during drought periods in order to maintain game numbers without causing rangeland degradation. A water provision model that incorporates all the variables of the Greater Kruger Park Conservation Area, with particular reference to the smaller conservation areas within it, should become a research priority

Quantifying the effects of diverse private protected area management systems on ecosystem properties in a savannah biome, South Africa

“…The bulk of this difference comprises megaherbivores (elephant, buffalo and white rhino), some of which are prime trophyhunting species, and generalist antelopes, such as impala, which are an alternative source of protein to cattle. The number of broad-scale landscape habitats within the conservancy region, including both grassland and woodland communities (sensu Peel et al, 2007) 2 Structural diversity, as estimated through Simpson's evenness index, was calculated using all classified landscape types within the conservancy (Cronje et al, 2005). High-intensity management also requires many subsidiary services, such as game capture teams, veterinarians, hunting equipment suppliers, accommodation and supplementary feed farms (as primary productivity declines more forage must be imported during lean periods), which stimulates the local economy (ABSA Report, 2003;Langholz & Kerley, 2006).…”

“…Thus, intensively managed conservancies could function as animal production centres, providing low-cost, low-carbon and resource-efficient protein for rural communities and catalyse sustainable development in these areas (Du Toit & Cumming, 1999;Leader-Williams, 2002;ABSA Report, 2003), as well as potentially increasing revenue from trophy hunting. For example, the managers at conservancy O6 do not pump water into artificial dams, effectively transforming them into seasonal sources of water (Cronje et al, 2005). Several conservancies have even founded Wildlife Colleges that provide ecological education and diplomas in game ranging and management (M.F.…”

“…Differing levels of management intensity correlates with herbivore mammal community heterogeneity. In open conservancies managers use artificial water-points to prevent game from moving into adjacent conservation areas (Cronje et al, 2005). However, water provision is irregular across conservancies.…”

“…To increase operational efficiency, many conservancies implicitly manage within a balance of nature paradigm in which herbivore stocking rates are carefully controlled and practices such as supplementary feeding, predator contraception and artificial water-point construction are employed (Peel et al, 1999; Cronje et al, 2005; Kettles & Slotow, 2009). Intensive management is usually more common in smaller, closed conservancies (Peel et al, 1999).…”

Impact of African elephants on Baikiaea plurijuga woodland around natural and artificial watering points in northern Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

“…Tree density may not show much change with distance from watering point (Brits et al, 2002). Cronje et al (2005) postulated that water sources that dry up towards the dry season need to be supplied with water during drought periods in order to maintain game numbers without causing rangeland degradation. Trash (1998) found no evidence of differences in the impact of herbivores at artificial and natural semi-permanent watering points in the Kruger National Park.…”