Vegetation type conservation targets, status and level of protection in KwaZulu-Natal in 2016

Abstract

Background: Systematic conservation planning aims to ensure representivity and persistence of biodiversity. Quantitative targets set to meet these aims provide a yardstick with which to measure the current conservation status of biodiversity features and measure the success of conservation actions.Objectives: The conservation targets and current ecosystem status of vegetation types and biomes occurring in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) were assessed, and their level of formal protection was determined, to inform conservation planning initiatives in the province.Method: Land cover maps of the province were used to determine the amount of natural habitat remaining in KZN. This was intersected with the vegetation map and assessed relative to their conservation targets to determine the ecosystem status of each vegetation type in KZN. The proclaimed protected areas were used to determine the level of protection of each vegetation type.Results: In 17 years (1994–2011), 19.7% of natural habitat was lost to anthropogenic conversion of the landscape. The Indian Ocean Coastal Belt and Grassland biomes had the least remaining natural habitat, the highest rates of habitat loss and the least degree of formal protection.Conclusion: These findings inform conservation priorities in the province. Vegetation type targets need to be revised to ensure long-term persistence. Business-as-usual is no longer an option if we are to meet the legislative requirements and mandates to conserve the environment for current and future generations.

The role of modelling in resource management within the livelihood-conservation nexus: A socio-ecological systems approach to Sand Forest harvesting, Northern KwaZulu-Natal

“…Education and societal ownership will be key aspects of the success of this approach. • The amount of Sand Forest identified for conservation within the livelihood support management objective should be sufficient to reach the 69% of remaining vegetation conservation target (Jewitt, 2016).…”

“…• There are a few discrepancies in the results of the (b) formal conservation management objective and the aim of the objective: o Sand Forest that is considered as a high priority for conservation within this management objective is already significantly conserved, meaning the remaining high conservation priority areas may not be enough to reach the conservation target (69% of remaining vegetation (Jewitt, 2016)). o The aim of the formal conservation management objective is to conserve in areas where there is lower levels of poverty and unemployment, thus preventing the conservation of resources that are embedded in livelihoods, especially if conservation is more formal and not community based.…”

Contribution to a modern treatment of Graphidaceae biodiversity in South Africa: genera of tribe Graphideae with hyaline ascospores

“…We include it here because this genus has not otherwise been reported from South Africa. In South Africa, Platythecium is probably restricted to the vegetation of the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, which is a threatened vegetation type (Jewitt 2018) that lacks recent lichen sampling. (Ach.)…”

“…We have seen Graphis handelii only in historical specimens from KwaZulu-Natal, where it was found in both coastal and inland forest vegetation. We lack recent collections from the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt vegetation of this province, a threatened vegetation type (Jewitt 2018), so the current status of this species in South Africa is uncertain.…”

Aspects of the life history and ecology of two wingless grasshoppers, Eremidium armstrongi and Eremidium browni (Lentulidae), at the Doreen Clark Nature Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

“…The present study focuses on aspects of the life history and ecology of two species, Eremidium armstrongi (Brown, 2012) and E. browni (Otte & Armstrong, 2017) found in Doreen Clark Nature Reserve near Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. These grasshoppers inhabit the Endangered Eastern Mistbelt Forest type (Jewitt 2018) in a restricted area of the midland region of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Although these two species may require conservation action for their long-term survival, almost nothing is known about their life history and ecology.…”