Sheep, soil and stability
Date
2010-04
Authors
Nasson, Bill
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS OpenJounals
Abstract
In concluding Dinosaurs, diamonds and democracy (2009), his pocket history of South Africa, the
economist, Francis Wilson, reports a reputed prime ministerial observation by Jan Smuts. During the
1930s, he considered the haemorrhaging of the country’s topsoil to be the country’s gravest issue, far
more important than its political problems. There, unlike as with his cranky scientific and philosophical
theories, such as holism, Smuts may well have been on to something. Wilson stresses the extent to which
environmental degradation is sure to dominate South Africa’s future. In The rise of conservation in South
Africa, William Beinart underlines its importance in the past. Recently re-issued in paperback, this major
study by the Rhodes Professor of Race Relations at Oxford University is more about grass and grazing
than ethnicity. Still, in that respect, it may owe something to Smuts who, incidentally, gets three listings
in the index.
Description
The original publication is availabel at http://www.sajs.co.za/
Keywords
Book review, The rise of conservation in South Africa, William Beinart, Conservation, Settlers, Livestock, Environment
Citation
Nasson, B. 2010. Sheep, soil and stability. South African Journal of Science, 106(3/4), doi:10.4102/sajs.v106i3/4.165