Grasslands of the World.pdf - Disasters and Conflicts - UNEP

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Grasslands of the world
implementation of the Conservation of Agricultural Resources, Act No. 43
of 1984. This act empowers the Directorate to intervene when the agricultural
resources of the country are threatened by soil erosion, alien infestation
or woody encroachment . Prior to 1994, this act was used to subsidize the
provision of fencing ; the erection of new water provision points ; the purchase
and transport of supplementary fodder during exceptional circumstances ;
the construction of soil erosion works; the clearing of all weeds (alien and
indigenous); and to support rangeland research. Since 1994, intervention from
the Directorate has concentrated on supporting research in the focus areas
mentioned above and to intervene at community level though the Landcare
programme. In addition, each of the nine Provinces has a section that deals with
rangeland and pasture research. These sections conduct research appropriate
to the needs of that Province. South Africa ’s National Agricultural Policy
states that the main objective is improvement of research in natural resource
management (National Department of Agriculture, 1995). On a project
basis, pasture science-related programmes deal with the characterization of
rangeland, production modelling , rangeland reclamation, agroforestry and
rangeland management systems . Examples of individual projects related to
rangeland and pasture science can be found on the ARC Web site.
The National Department of Education maintains eleven agricultural colleges,
and carries out topic-oriented, formal training courses. All courses are
certified by one of the tertiary training institutions.
REFERENCES
Acocks, J.P.H. 1953. Veld types of South Africa . Memoir of the Botanical
Survey of South Africa, No. 28.
Acocks, J.P.H. 1964. Karoo vegetation in relation to the development of
deserts. pp. 100–112, in: D.H.S. Davis (ed). Ecological Studies of Southern
Africa. The Hague, The Netherlands: W. Junk.
Acocks, J.P.H. 1988. Veld types of South Africa . 3rd edition. Memoirs of the
Botanical Survey of South Africa, 57: 1–146.
Ainslie, A., Cinderby, S., Petse, T., Ntshona, Z., Bradley, P.N., Deshingkar,
P. & Fakir, S. 1997. Rural livelihoods and local level natural resource management
in Peddie district. Stockholm Environment Institute Technical
Report.
Barnes, D.L. & Dempsey, C.P. 1993. Grazing trials with sheep on kikuyu
(Pennisetum clandestinum Chiov.) foggage in the eastern Transvaal highveld.
African Journal of Range and Forage Science, 10: 66–71.
Bartholomew, P.E. 2000. Establishment of pastures. In: N.M. Tainton (ed).
Pasture Management in South Africa . Pietermaritzburg, South Africa:
Natal University Press.
Bond, W.J. & van Wilgen, B. 1996. Fire and Plants. London, UK: Chapman
and Hall.