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

February 2011 68 12619Zululand Coastal ThornveldThe Zululand Coastal Thornveld only occurs the KwaZulu-Natal province, immediately west ofMtubtuba (in the north) and Empangeni (in the south) bisected by the iMfolozi River, extendingwestwards for 10-20km. The area is characteristic of gently rolling landscapes supporting woodedgrassland dominated by Themeda triandra. The bush clumps are a strong feature and are morenumerous on deeper soils, with Phoenix reclinata and Gymnosporia senegalensis usuallydominant. These plant communities are species rich relative to the surrounding vegetation units.They grade into dense Acacia woodland on dry slopes and riverine bushland thickets and LowveldRiveriene Forest in valley bottoms.Figure 7-18: Sugar Cane Fields near EmpangeniThis unit is considered endangered with a 19% conservation target. None of the area is protectedin statutory conservation areas. It is highly transformed (58%), mostly by cultivation. This is highpotential agricultural land, which is already much transformed to sugar cane. Most of the area iscommunal land. Large areas close to towns, such as Mtubatuba, are becoming an urban sprawl.Very little of the natural plant communities remain intact, heavy grazing has depleted thegrasslands and wood harvesting has depleted the bush clumps, reducing them to the resistant andless useful species. Stunted forms of many of the woody species (e.g. Euclea, Diospyros,Gymnosporia, Maytenus) invade the grasslands in many places. Currently it is rare to find a sitestill with its natural plant composition. Themeda triandra, a ‘decreaser species’ has declined tocritically low levels. Alien plant invasions are a threat, with Chromolaena odorata being the mostproblematic.ZITHOLELE CONSULTING