The vegetation of Tshanini Game Reserve and a comparison with equivalent units in the Tembe Elephant Park in Maputaland, South Africa

Abstract

The Tembe Elephant Park was proclaimed in 1983 after negotiations between the then KwaZulu Bureau of Natural Resources and the Tembe Tribal Authority in consultation with the local communities of northern Maputaland, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The park boundaries were subsequently fenced and animal numbers started to increase. The fence has kept the utilisation of renewable natural resources by the local communities at bay for the past 19 years. In this period, the vegetation of the park has been utilised only by the indigenous fauna, but it has been affected by management decisions and possibly also regional environmental changes

The development of secondary industries through the sustainable utilisation of reeds and forest timber in the Tembe Elephant Park, Maputaland, South Africa

“…The layering of the reeds is necessary to create a robust panel and to improve its wind-and waterproofing qualities. The According to Matthews et al (2001) According to Gaugris et al (2004) number of reeds needed to construct a 2-m length of three-layered panelling would be 590 reeds. It would therefore require 12 m of reed panelling to construct a typically sized hut of 2.0 × 4.0 m. This implies that the total number of reeds required to construct the panels for one hut would be 3 540, or seven harvested reed bundles.…”

“…It would therefore require 12 m of reed panelling to construct a typically sized hut of 2.0 × 4.0 m. This implies that the total number of reeds required to construct the panels for one hut would be 3 540, or seven harvested reed bundles. According to Gaugris (2004), the proposed harvesting rate for poles of a diameter ranging from 50 to 80 mm for selected tree species equates to approximately 16 poles per hectare. The Tshanini Game Reserve is considered a current benchmark for the eastern Sand Forest vegetation type as it has not been significantly utilised either by humans or animals (Gaugris et al 2004).…”

“…According to Gaugris (2004), the proposed harvesting rate for poles of a diameter ranging from 50 to 80 mm for selected tree species equates to approximately 16 poles per hectare. The Tshanini Game Reserve is considered a current benchmark for the eastern Sand Forest vegetation type as it has not been significantly utilised either by humans or animals (Gaugris et al 2004). In the Tembe Elephant Park, the Sand Forest has been utilised by large herbivores, especially the elephant, Loxodonta africana.…”

“…The suggestions and recommendations with regard to the prefabricated huts are based on personal observation and empirical evidence. While the authors have not actually built the suggested panels and huts, they believe that the dimensions, quantities and practical application of the concept are sound because they are based on what actually happens in the community (Gaugris 2004). …”

“…With the permission of the local authority, the timber in that area is utilised for the construction of houses. Gaugris (2004) established the sustainable levels of this community stewardship for a range of highly desirable hardwood species for the Tshanini Game Reserve and Manqakulani area. Because of the similarity between the vegetation of the Tshanini Game Reserve and the Tembe Elephant Park (Gaugris 2004), the assumption was made that many of the species in the Tembe Elephant Park can be harvested sustainably, the numbers of which were calculated similarly to that of the Tshanini Game Reserve (Gaugris 2004).…”