Weidingsbestuur in 'n semi-ariede omgewing met GIS : Paulshoek gevallestudie

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:Grazing management in the semi-arid communal areas of Namaqualand is investigated in this study.Paulshoek, situated in the Leliefontein Communal Reserve area, is delineated as the study area andconsists of 20 OOOha.Cattle farming is practised by most households primarily on a subsistencebasis. It is also used as a source of income when financial problems arise. The management ofgrazing-land in terms of formal rules and regulations is non-existent with only mutual relationshipsbetween farmers.The aim of this study is to develop a spatial framework for the management of a sustainable grazingregime with the aid of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. This aim is reachedthrough three overlapping goals which are researched individually. The goals are to create a spatialimage of the physical resource base as well as resource usage and from this the development of acomputerised (Excel spreadsheet) spatial management framework for sustainable grazingmanagement. Through the use of existing data available from the National Botanical Institute (NB!)as well as other sources and with the aid of GIS technology, coupled with Indigenous Knowledge,these goals were reached. The stockpost as individual entity is studied to give a broaderunderstanding of how the herdsmen see their immediate environment. The grazing managementsystem, as presented in this thesis, consists of a simple Excel Spreadsheet, with inputs from GIStechnology and Indigenous Knowledge. The area is overgrazed, as is seen in the widespreadoccurrence of kraalbos cross the Paulshoek landscape.The recommendations are that this management system should be implemented, which couldminimize the futher overgrazing of the area. The management system relies heavily on thecooperation of the community and the integration of existing management systems and policies. Itwill give a more detailed account of who may own how many stock and where they may graze inthe communal rangelands which will also help in the establishment of new permanent waterpointsin the area.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University