Feasibility Study of Proposed Tourism Dev in Shewula, NE ...

The vegetation of north-eastern Swaziland is diverse and includes many endemic
species such as the Umbuluzi cycad. The region is predominantly grassland with
thicker woodland along the river courses. These river forests include very old
leadwood trees, Combretum imberbe. This area of Swaziland is adjacent to the
tropical East African coastal plain that supports an unusually high biodiversity by
virtue of its position at the confluence of a number of biogeographic regions. 37
The area in which Shewula is situated covers a transitional area between the dry
thorn savannas of the west and the moister coastal thickets in the east. Because of
this, plants and animals common to both vegetation types could be expected to occur
in the area.
The Lubombo Mountains are steep on the western side, sloping gently to the east,
and are cut by numerous ravines filled with forests and thickets. These forests
include ironwoods and rare cycads. The Lubombo Mountains themselves have been
identified as a biodiversity corridor. 38 On the western edge of Shewula, the Lowveld
of Swaziland is comprised of Sweet Lowveld Bushveld, characterised by open tree
savanna.
2.3.2.2. Animals
The Maputaland Centre of Endemism is situated in the area, and is a zone of sharp
transition between east and southern African fauna, and therefore contains an
exceptional number of species (see Table 2.1). It also has a number of endemics in
its own right and coincides with the southern part of the south-east coast endemic
bird area.
Table 2.1.
Diversity of Fauna in the Maputaland Centre of
Endemism
uue to tne tact tnat tne area is in an ecological transition zone, ana inciuaes a
diversity of habitats, the proposed Shewula Reserve has the potential for high
biodiversity and endemism. The area could support a diversity of mammal and bird
species.