Walia Special Edition on the Bale Mountains (2011) - Zoologische ...

Currently most protection of resources through scout presence and patrolling occurs in the
northern most area of the park (Gaysay), where much of the woodland is located (OARDB 2007).
It is likely, therefore, that the decelerated loss of woodland is associated with this increase in park
protection, perhaps lacking in earlier times. Further it was noted that in 1986 while little human
pressure occurred on the park resources, the exception was the northern part of the park in the
Dinsho region (Hillman 1986).
The transformation of specific land cover types such as shrubland or forests into grasslands is
widely recognized as a consequence of human induced pressure, particularly over-grazing, burning,
tree cutting and associated deforestation (Dompka 1996). Our study shows that as predicted we do
indeed see a major transformation of land with an overall reduction of forests and woodlands while
grasslands such as pasture land and glades are on the increase. Furthermore patch analyses show
that nearly all land cover classes exhibit an increase in the number of patches over time, with a
corresponding reduction in total area and average patch size suggest increased habitat fragmentation
occurring across the park (Laurence and Beirregaard 1997). Interestingly, however while pasture
and glades also show an increase in the number of patches and total area, the average patch size
decreased (similar to other classes) in the first period (1973-2000) but increased in the second period
(2000-2005). This increase in average patch size for these classes may be an indication of the
merging of smaller patches as a result human activities such as over-grazing or forest and woodland
clearing (Ambika et al. 2003).
As the human population grows, demand for additional land will increase. We are therefore
likely to observe expansion of existing settlements or the development of new areas for human and
agricultural activities unless a proper park management strategy is in place (see Nelson this edition).
Hence, the increased fragmentation of pasture land and glades, as indicated by an increase in the
number and size of patches, may imply new development of land for human activities, whereas,
increase in their total area implies expansion of existing land. As a result we suggest that expansion
of glades were largely at the expense of montane forest whereas the expansion of pasture land is at
the expense of vegetation types such as Erica shrub, Erica forest, and grassland-shrub-pasture land
and woodland.
In conclusion, our study supports the notion that there is major land transformation occurring
in the park which has been accelerated more recently. Forests are decreasing at a rapid rate as are
shrublands and woodlands but pasture land and glades are increasing. In addition, the area is becoming
increasingly fragmented, while such changes could be attributed to such factors as climate change,
wild fires, or wild herbivore grazing, other data (settlement, livestock etc. FZS unpublished data)
supports the idea that much of this transformation is due to human induced activities and increasing
human pressure (Duncan et al. 1999). We suggest that further in depth studies are necessary in
order to quantify the human induced threats on the ecosystem so that predictive and preventative
models can be created. An increased understanding of landscape processes is also necessary in
the area in order to examine the potential consequences of such transformations. This study can be
used to assist park management to identify key areas currently under rapid transformation, so that
intervention can occur to halt or slow down the present level of land change.
<strong>Walia</strong>-<strong>Special</strong> <strong>Edition</strong> on the Bale Mountains 128