Hardwood Utilization in Rural Households of the Mankakulane Community, Maputaland, South Africa

Abstract

An analysis of the structure and composition of household buildings in the rural community of Manqakulane, Maputaland, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, is presented. This biodiversity-rich area forms part of the Maputaland Centre of Plant Endemism, currently under threat from land transformation and human utilisation outside conservation areas. The demand for natural resources as building material by people of the community is evaluated through a survey of the structure of 42 randomly selected households. A sample of 226 buildings used for habitation or other purposes was conducted. The results revealed a change in structure types from round reed hut observed in the 1980s towards durable structures made with brick or wooden walls and corrugated iron roofs. Round structures are replaced by square ones, and thatched roofs are no longer the majority. Materials used for construction are identified and quantified, and an attempt is made to plan utilisation for the next eight years.

Effects of water dependence on the utilization pattern of woody vegetation by elephants in the Tembe Elephant Park, Maputaland, South Africa

“…Training consisted of two phases during the year 2002. Phase one was on households in a nearby community, where trainees had access to the structures’ age (0.5–13 years, see Gaugris, Van Rooyen & Van Der Linde, 2007), and the state of decay (wood colour, sharpness of fragments, visibility of wood fibres, visibility of wood grain) could therefore be observed and determined precisely for the various woody elements and species encountered. Moreover, trainees were shown harvesting sites for the woody elements evaluated, and could visualize the state of wound response on harvested trees for a range of utilization ages.…”

The influence of tree canopies and elephants on sub‐canopy vegetation in a savannah

“…Resources were extracted by the few people living around the study area (see Gaugris et al. , 2006).…”

Evaluating the adequacy of reserves in the Tembe–Tshanini Complex: a case study in Maputaland, South Africa

“…and Newtonia hildebrandtii (Vatke) Torre were chosen as landscape tree species of the Sand Forest. Both grow into large canopy trees, are long-lived, have a wide geographical range in southern Africa (Pooley, 1997), and are used for firewood and building material (Gaugris et al, 2007). Hymenocardia ulmoides Oliv.…”