Open Access
Subscription Access
Change in mistbelt mixed Podocarpus forest area between 1944 and 1996 in the Midmar catchment of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
NA Rivers-Moore, JE Granger, F Ahmed
Abstract
KwaZulu-Natal mistbelt (Podocarpus)
forests serve as sources of firewood, structural timber, traditional food
and medicinal products. Of the 3 694km2 of these forests in KwaZulu-Natal,
only 0.45% is conserved. The extent of patches of Podocarpus forest
in 1944 and 1996 within the Midmar catchment, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa,
were mapped from aerial photographs, and compared using a geographical information
system. Overall, the area of Podocarpus forest was found to have increased
from 784ha to 804ha between 1944 and 1996, as did mean patch area (km2),
although not significantly. Interestingly, between 1944 and 1996, the number
of forest patches decreased by 50%, with many smaller patches present in
1944 having disappeared by 1996. The implications of fragmentation of patches
are discussed. Linking of forest patches with corridors of grassland, and
further studies on the species composition of these forest patches, is suggested.
South
African Journal of Botany 2002, 69(2): 148–150
forests serve as sources of firewood, structural timber, traditional food
and medicinal products. Of the 3 694km2 of these forests in KwaZulu-Natal,
only 0.45% is conserved. The extent of patches of Podocarpus forest
in 1944 and 1996 within the Midmar catchment, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa,
were mapped from aerial photographs, and compared using a geographical information
system. Overall, the area of Podocarpus forest was found to have increased
from 784ha to 804ha between 1944 and 1996, as did mean patch area (km2),
although not significantly. Interestingly, between 1944 and 1996, the number
of forest patches decreased by 50%, with many smaller patches present in
1944 having disappeared by 1996. The implications of fragmentation of patches
are discussed. Linking of forest patches with corridors of grassland, and
further studies on the species composition of these forest patches, is suggested.
South
African Journal of Botany 2002, 69(2): 148–150
Full Text:
EMAIL FULL TEXT
DOWNLOAD FULL TEXT
South African Journal of Botany. ISSN: 0254-6299