Implications of the breakdown in the indigenous knowledge system for rangeland management and policy: A case study from the Eastern Cape in South Africa

Communal rangelands in South Africa are generally perceived as overgrazed owing to complexities in their histories and collective utilisation which often leads to improper management. A suitable solution has not been found in land management policies because local people’s contexts and their indigenous knowledge are ignored. Hence, this paper is aimed at (i) assessing the role indigenous knowledge can play in communal rangeland management, (ii) exploring working solutions to incorporate indigenous knowledge into effective communal rangeland management and land use policies, (iii) assessing mechanisms for generational transfer of indigenous knowledge. Findings from the Participatory Geographic Information System (PGIS) and Focus Group Discussion, conducted with Cata and Guquka villages in the Eastern Cape province were synthesised. This revealed that communal farmers have in-depth knowledge of their communal land, past and present rangeland management strategies and changes in rangeland condition. However, there is breakdown in the indigenous knowledge system whereby this knowledge is not being transferred and translated into good rangeland management practice, owing to the ageing population of communal farmers, limited youth involvement in livestock farming and limited access to extension services. This suggests a need for new policy approaches that would include participation of local people in policy planning and development

African rangelands and pastoralism in a changing continent: Perspectives and opportunities

Eighty-five years ago, Africa was described as a land of promise because it provided an immense opportunity for maximum return in the minimum time (Olaniyan 2000). It was treated this way because it was considered more for its deposits of natural wealth and less for its potential for settlement or as a destination market for goods and services produced in Europe and elsewhere (Le Clair 1937). For over 50 years, this narrative held ground but in the last 20 years, perception has shifted with Africa becoming a destination market and a growth opportunity creator, whilst holding ground as a resource provider (Sy 2016)

Nutritional quality of Calobota sericea fodders. A preliminary assessment

This study aimed to provide preliminary information regarding the nutritional quality of Calobota sericea, a preferred perennial legume forage species from the water-limited rangelands of South Africa. Calobota sericea plant samples were collected from the Namaqualand rangelands in the wet and dry season and analysed for secondary compounds, fibre, protein and mineral nutrient content. The results from the fibre analyses were used to determine the digestibility and energy content of fodders. Preliminary results indicate that C. sericea fodders are of better nutritional quality in the wet season and that protein content, digestibility and energy content is sufficient for maintenance of lambs and dry ewes. The energy content, however, was not sufficient for maintenance of pregnant and lactating ewes. Furthermore, certain mineral nutrients (Na, P and K) were not found in sufficient concentrations in this species, and it was thus suggested that further investigation is needed into whether fertilisation could potentially improve the protein, digestibility and mineral nutrient content of C. sericea fodders

A global meta-analysis of woody plant responses to elevated CO2 : implications on biomass, growth, leaf N content, photosynthesis and water relations

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : The data used in this study are available as an additional file.BACKGROUND : Atmospheric CO2 may double by the year 2100, thereby altering plant growth, photosynthesis, leaf nutrient contents and water relations. Specifcally, atmospheric CO2 is currently 50% higher than pre-industrial levels and is projected to rise as high as 936 μmol mol−1 under worst-case scenario in 2100. The objective of the study was to investigate the efects of elevated CO2 on woody plant growth, production, photosynthetic characteristics, leaf N and water relations. METHODS : A meta-analysis of 611 observations from 100 peer-reviewed articles published from 1985 to 2021 was conducted. We selected articles in which elevated CO2 and ambient CO2 range from 600–1000 and 300– 400 μmol mol−1 , respectively. Elevated CO2 was categorized into 700 μmol mol−1 concentrations. RESULTS : Total biomass increased similarly across the three elevated CO2 concentrations, with leguminous trees (LTs) investing more biomass to shoot, whereas non-leguminous trees (NLTs) invested to root production. Leaf area index, shoot height, and light-saturated photosynthesis (Amax) were unresponsive at <700 μmol mol−1 , but increased signifcantly at 700 and >700 μmol mol−1 . However, shoot biomass and Amax acclimatized as the duration of woody plants exposure to elevated CO2 increased. Maximum rate of photosynthetic Rubisco carboxylation (Vcmax) and appar ent maximum rate of photosynthetic electron transport (Jmax) were downregulated. Elevated CO2 reduced stoma tal conductance (gs) by 32% on average and increased water use efciency by 34, 43 and 63% for <700, 700 and >700 μmol mol−1 , respectively. Leaf N content decreased two times more in NLTs than LTs growing at elevated CO2 than ambient CO2. CONCLUSIONS : Our results suggest that woody plants will beneft from elevated CO2 through increased photosyn thetic rate, productivity and improved water status, but the responses will vary by woody plant traits and length of exposure to elevated CO2.https://ecologicalprocesses.springeropen.comam2023Plant Production and Soil Scienc

A phytogeographical classification and survey of the indigenous browse flora of South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : All data presented in this manuscript are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS : FIGURE S1: Clusters formed by AHC assigned to a generalist group and seven browse-choria with clear geographical boundaries; FIGURE S2: Distribution patterns of key, annual, endangered, and invasive browse of South Africa, Eswatini, and Lesotho; TABLE S1. A list of declared woody encroacher species, indigenous to South Africa, Eswatini, and Lesotho, browsed by livestock and game.Rangelands in South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini contain a rich diversity of valuable fodder trees and shrubs. This research is the first attempt to document the regional diversity and distribution of these browse resources. Scientific publications, textbooks, databases, and published reports were accessed to compile a database of plant species that were recorded as utilised by ruminants and non-ruminants. Relevant forage attributes, such as functional traits as well as utilisation traits, were added to each species record. Thereafter, distribution records were extracted from the South African National Biodiversity Institute’s Botanical Database of South Africa and analysed with numerical techniques to establish phytogeographical patterns. A total of 613 plant species from 76 families have been recorded, which formed seven distinct phytochoria, termed the Central Arid, Eastern Subtropical, Highland Temperate, Moist Temperate, Northern Subtropical, Southern Temperate, andWestern Arid browse-choria. Key families and species, as well as functional and utilisation traits, are discussed, focusing on key species present in the browse-choria. This browse database, together with the earlier compiled Leguminosae and Poaceae databases, will be used to prioritise indigenous southern African plant species/infraspecific taxa to be collected for the conservation of genetic resources and future evaluations for potential development as forage crops.The Red Meat Research and Development (RMRD) fund of South Africa.https://www.mdpi.com/journal/diversityam2024Plant Production and Soil ScienceSDG-15:Life on lan

How could herd mobility be used to manage resources and livestock grazing in semi-arid rangeland commons?

Pastoralists in Namaqualand, South Africa, use herd mobility to manage livestock and rangeland resources. However, their socioeconomic conditions and ecological landscapes are changing and we explore the options that are available for pastoralists to respond to these changes. This paper presents five possible scenarios for managing livestock in rangeland commons in semi-arid Namaqualand and outlines some of the major advantages and disadvantages associated with each scenario. Scenarios in response to drivers of change include (1) maintaining the status quo with an assumption that current mobility practices are adapted to local environments, (2) integrating new lands into the existing commons for use by mobile pastoralists, (3) using existing lands under existing mobile pastoralism conditions but introducing grazing reserves for use in times of drought, (4) amalgamating herds into larger units under the care of skilled herders, and (5) developing commercial-scale farms for single-occupancy owners because government might be pressured to further promote black commercial farmers to deracialise the commercial farming sector in South Africa. We consider these scenarios as starting points for discussions on future management options that pastoralists in Namaqualand may wish to consider as the managers of rangeland commons.Keywords: grazing management, herd mobility, Namaqualand, semi-aridAfrican Journal of Range &amp; Forage Science 2013, 30(1&amp;2): 85–8

Stocking density and distribution in relation to vegetation in a biodiverse semi-arid pastoral system in South Africa

The spatial heterogeneity of vegetation in a communal grazing system provides pastoralists with a range of grazing sites to select for their livestock. When fencing spatially constrains herds, there is reduced access to ecological heterogeneity, which may have a negative impact on livestock and the grazing resource. This study investigated temporal and spatial changes in stocking densities and distribution within the six major vegetation types of the Leliefontein pastoral area in Namaqualand, South Africa. This semi-arid, biodiverse area of about 2000 km2 supports a spatially-constrained mobile pastoral system based on small stock production. Over the data period from 1999 to 2006, the location of 256 small stock herds, their temporal occupancy and herd size were used to determine stocking densities within the daily grazing radius of herds. These grazing radii were overlaid using GIS to produce stocking density distributions over the landscape. The density and location of herds were unevenly distributed when assessed monthly and annually. Parts of the study area were consistently overstocked whereas others remained ungrazed. We argue that the recommendation of fixed stocking rates within this variable environment is inappropriate because forage availability and quality fluctuate within and between years and within drought cycles. We conclude that development interventions should rather focus on reducing stocking densities during and after drought periods. This would benefit pastoralists through reduced livestock mortalities and the vegetation would recover more quickly from the impacts of drought.</jats:p

Changes in pastoral mobility in a semi-arid montane region of South Africa: The role of policy and legislation

Legislation and policy are key tools used by governments to change the socio-economic and political landscape of agrarian systems with consequences for mobile pastoralism. This study used the social-ecological systems framework to examine how pastoral mobility in the semi-arid, montane communal rangeland in South Africa adapted to the changing socio-political landscape. It analysed the impact of apartheid and democratic era legislation and policies over the past 70 years. Apartheid legislation promoted betterment planning and the privatisation of communal lands by awarding access to most of the grazing areas to a few wealthier pastoralists.This led to increased stocking densities and further restriction of herd mobility when the majority of herds were restricted to fewer grazing camps. Democratic era land reform policies continue to advocate for the modernisation and sedentarisation of pastoral practices. The persistence of mobility among livestock keepers despite discriminatory policy interventions suggests that this is a particularly resilient and necessary element of their practices. We argue that agricultural legislation and policies regarding livestock farming should promote landscape connectivity to allow mobile pastoralists to access variable resources. Connected landscapes should be viewed as alternative ways to modernising pastoralism and these should prevent elite capture when the land is subdivided. Keywords: communal rangelands, landscape connectivity, pastoralist strategies, social-ecological systems framewor