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coaltech upper olifants river catchment wetland inventory ...

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Upon a request from DWAF the status of the <strong>wetland</strong> was converted to the Present<br />

Ecological State (PES) Categories for Reserve Determinations. These categories are<br />

included in the table below:<br />

ECOLOGICAL<br />

CATEGORY<br />

A Unmodified, natural.<br />

DESCRIPTION<br />

B Largely natural with few modifications. A small change in natural<br />

habitats and biota may have taken place but the ecosystem functions<br />

are essentially unchanged.<br />

C Moderately modified. Loss and change of natural habitat and biota<br />

have occurred, but the basic ecosystem functions are still<br />

predominantly unchanged.<br />

D Largely modified. A large loss of natural habitat, biota and basic<br />

ecosystem functions has occurred.<br />

E Seriously modified. The loss of natural habitat, biota and basic<br />

ecosystem functions is extensive.<br />

F Critically modified. Modifications have reached a critical level and the<br />

lotic system has been modified completely with an almost complete<br />

loss of natural habitat and biota. In the worst instances the basic<br />

ecosystem functions have been destroyed and the changes are<br />

irreversible<br />

In order to convert the scoring the following table was used:<br />

Status PES Category<br />

1 E<br />

2 D<br />

3 C<br />

4 B<br />

5 A<br />

Both categories are indicated in the <strong>wetland</strong> database.<br />

5.6 Connectivity<br />

Five categories were included to indicate the connectivity of the <strong>wetland</strong> to other <strong>wetland</strong>s.<br />

Wetland Database for UORC - 83 -

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