Environmental stress and landscape recovery in a semi-arid area, The Karoo, South Africa

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

BOARDMAN, J.

Environmental Change Inst., Univ. Centre for the Environment, Oxford, Royaume-Uni

Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Afrique du Sud

FOSTER, I.

Department of Geography and the Environment, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Royaume-Uni

Department of Geography, Rhodes University, Eastern Cape, Afrique du Sud

ROWNTREE, K.

Department of Geography, Rhodes University, Eastern Cape, Afrique du Sud

MIGHALL, T.

Department of Geography and the Environment, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Royaume-Uni

GATES, J.

Environmental Change Inst., Univ. Centre for the Environment, Oxford, Royaume-Uni

Description :
Semi-arid landscapes are vulnerable to cultivation, overgrazing and climate variability, although it is difficult to identify the relative significance of these three factors. In the South African Karoo, the 'desertification debate' seeks to explain a change to more shrubby vegetation in heavily grazed areas. The AA. examine these issues in catchments where farm reservoirs provide sediment stores with 137Cs, 210Pb, geochemical and mineral magnetic signatures. Rainfall data and stocking numbers are reported and current erosion rates are estimated. Recovery following disturbance is occurring slowly and is likely to take >100 years. De-stocking and better management systems are reducing erosion rates but may be offset by increases in rainfall intensity.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Scottish geographical journal (Online), issn : 1751-665X, 2010, vol. 126, n°. 2, p. 64-75, nombre de pages : 12, Références bibliographiques : 2 p.

Date :
2010

Identifiants :
eurl : http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14702541003711038, doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14702541003711038

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Abingdon, Taylor and Francis

Langue :
Anglais