Land degradation in the Northern Province : physical manifestations and local perceptions

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The study traces some of the causes and effects of land degradation in Mutale since it isan environmentally challenging issue associated with depletion of resources. Thedegradation conditions identified by the Provincial Department of Agriculture in theNorthern Province support the aims of this study.Based on information obtained from the physical survey of the area and throughquestionnaires and interviews with the local people, it is evident that the environmentalconditions of Mutale district have worsened due to the influence of land usage. From thesurvey made, the physical conditions are shown to be in a state of decline and to impactnegatively on the soil and vegetation.The perceptions of the local community regarding physical change revealed that a varietyof activities such as gathering fuel wood, fencing, stocking, and cultivating fields,influence each other and exacerbate the encroachment of degradation conditions. Stockworsens the conditions through uncontrolled grazing associated with lack of grazingcamps, trampling, and overgrazing. Extension of fields, residential areas, and inescapablemassive harvesting of bush for different purposes are seen as further causes of theworsening state of the environment.In the past attempts were made to curb the environmental decline, but such conservationmeasures were not fruitful enough as they changed from time to time and land users werealienated from land on which they depended.The present study recommends the implementation of LandCare, a programme that theDepartment of Agriculture has adopted in other parts of the country, as a possible solutionto some of the environmental problems, and as a conservation measure.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University