Bringing Rain to the Land: Rainfall Simulation as a Participatory Teaching Aid to Understanding Erosion

C K Birkett,K D Zuma,T Hill,T M Everson

doi:10.4236/jep.2016.710114

Abstract

There is a need for science and community knowledge and resources to be combined in the mitigation and rehabilitation of land degradation, as a large portion of degraded land in South Africa is communal land. Rainfall simulation was used at Okhombe valley, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa as a tool to collect scientific data regarding the erosion rates on cattle access paths and to demonstrate erosion driving forces to the community members. The community members were able to experience erosion taking place through rainfall simulation and observe the impact of slope and basal cover change on erosion rates. Cattle access paths and rehabilitated access paths showed similar runoff rates (Figure 1), however the sediment concentration varied between the severely degraded cattle access paths and the rehabilitated land. Through the rainfall demonstration a better understanding of the driving factors in the erosion process, an understanding of why particular mitigation techniques work and where such mitigation measures would be effective were identified. With the combination of scientific techniques and community knowledge and resources a step can be taken towards sustainable land degradation mitigation and rehabilitation in the communal areas of South Africa.

Highlights

This study aims to link and bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and communal local knowledge on the issue of land degradation in communal areas with a specific focus on cattle access path erosion through rainfall simulation
70% of South Africa has been affected by land degradation, emphasising the need to understand land degradation drivers and implement correct, appropriate mitigation and rehabilitation techniques
It is imperative that the land degradation found in communal areas is mitigated or rehabilitated as a large portion of the degraded land is communal areas which are necessary for sustained livelihoods

Summary

Introduction

Soil erosion is a major global issue that has been described as a process of detachment. Erosion is a natural process due to human influences the rate of erosion can be accelerated beyond the natural rate, which has a major impact on the land, such as loss of fertile soil, loss of grazing or arable land, water storage, sedimentation and water security. It is estimated that approximately 70% of South Africa’s land surface has been affected by degradation [2]. This estimate highlights the magnitude of the land degradation problem in South Africa and emphasises the need to mitigate against continued accelerated land degradation. A large portion of this degraded land is on tribal or communal lands, which are heavily utilized for livestock grazing

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