Appendix O2 - Biophysical Report.pdf - Zitholele.co.za

February 2011 58 12619Paulpietersburg Moist GrasslandThe Paulpietersburg Moist Grassland is located in both the Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natalprovinces, mainly in the broad surrounds of Piet Retief, Paulpietersburg, and Vryheid, extendingwestwards to east of Wakkerstroom. This unit occurs in the upper most catchments of the PongolaRiver.The unit is mainly undulating with moderately steep slopes, but valley basins are wide and flat andmountainous areas occur mostly along the northern and eastern boundary. Tall closed grasslandrich in forbs and dominated by Tristachya leucothrix, Themda triandra and Hyparrhenia hirta.Evergreen woody vegetation is characteristic on rocky outcrops.The unit is seen as vulnerable with a conservation target of 24%. Only a very small portion isstatutorily conserved in Witbad, Vryheid Mountain, Paardeplaats and Phongola Bush NatureReserves. Some private reserves protect small patches (Rooikraal, Mhlongamvula, Kombewaria).About one third is already transformed by plantations or cultivated land. Heavy livestock grazingand altered fire regimes have greatly reduced the area of grasslands of high conservation value.Aliens such as species of Acacia, Eucalyptus and Pinus are a major concern in places. Theerosion potential is very low.Figure 7-7: PaulPietersburg Moist GrasslandZITHOLELE CONSULTING