Evaluation of afforestable montane grasslands for wildlife conservation in the north-eastern Cape, South Africa
Date
1997
Authors
Armstrong A.J.
Van Hensbergen H.J.
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Abstract
Montane grasslands in high rainfall areas of South Africa are subject to large-scale afforestation, making wildlife conservation evaluations necessary. A system which uses landscape features to predict conservation value would be beneficial. This is an initial assessment in the afforestable region of the north-eastern Cape. Sampling of grasshoppers, butterflies and birds was done along a gradient of land types. Differences in conservation value between land types and between landscape elements were demonstrated, but rankings differed according to the criterion used. High-altitude land types and low-altitude Protea savanna were most valuable for conserving endemic species. Low-altitude land types with a Molteno sandstone lithology and the high-altitude land type with a Clarens sandstone lithology had the highest conservation values for taxic richness.
Description
Keywords
afforestation, bird, butterfly, conservation, grasshopper, montain grassland, wildlife, South Africa, Northern Cape Province, Aves, Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Papilionoidea, Protea, Proteaceae
Citation
Biological Conservation
81
02-Jan
81
02-Jan