An assessment of changes in land use/cover patterns in the Albert Falls area, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Loading...
Date
2003
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The Albert Falls Area had witnessed severe competition over land use between
agriculture, recreation, conservation and other land uses. The area also has been the scene
for inefficient land management that led to degradation of land resources. For proper land
use planning and environmental management, information on land use/cover change is
vital. This study has developed a spatial and descriptive historical land use/cover
databases for the years 1944, 1967, 1989, and 2000 to provide an understanding of land
use/cover patterns in Albert Falls Area. The databases were created by interpreting
historical aerial photographs and using Geographic Information Systems. The data was
subsequently analyzed to detect relevant trends in land use/cover patterns in the study
area.
Generally land use/cover pattern of Albert Falls Area during the period 1944 to 2000 may
be described as being mainly agricultural. The results showed a marginal increase of
indigenous forests attributed to the continuous efforts by different governmental
departments and policies that focused on the protection of the remaining patches of
indigenous forests. Grassland not only decreased by more than half but it also
deteriorated in quality during 1944 to 2000. Commercial Forestry predominates the study
area and showed an increasing trend from 1944 to 1967. Cultivated Land was observed to
decrease at the expense of Commercial Forestry plantations and Waterbodies. Although
sugarcane plantations increased after 1967, total Cultivated Land showed a decreasing
trend. The construction of Albert Falls Dam and other small Farm Ponds within the
agricultural farms increased the land areas covered by Waterbodies. Residential Area
coverage generally decreased irrespective of the encroachment of informal settlements,
while that outside Non-Residential Area and Transportation Routes generally increased
with the development of commercial agriculture in the area. Barren Land decreased
continuously due to higher land demand in the study area.
The study showed that land use/cover changes in Albert Falls Area. have resulted in
habitat fragmentation, development of monoculture land use, flourishing of Farm Ponds in agricultural farms, and expansion of agricultural activities on marginal lands. Creation
of corridors/linkages between the fragmented forest patches; commencement and
implementation of the already well drafted land and land resource policies and
regulations; commencement of the holistic management plans in the area were
recommended for a sustainable land use.
Description
Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.
Keywords
Land use--KwaZulu-Natal--Albert Falls., Land use--KwaZulu-Natal--History., Albert Falls (KwaZulu-Natal)., Land use--Environmental aspects--KwaZulu-Natal., Vegetation dynamics., Theses--Environmental science.