Abstract
In Maputaland, South Africa, the common reed (Phragmites australis) is used extensively for hut building, fencing, craftwork and thatching. As a result of over-harvestingmost reed beds in communal areas have been degraded and are no longer producing reeds of the desired quality. At present the most productive reed beds are all found inconservation areas. The KwaMsomi area of the Muzi Swamp in the Tembe Elephant Park has been allocated to the Sibonisweni community for harvesting purposes. Thiscommunity has recently requested Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife for additional areas for harvesting on the grounds that the current site was no longer yielding reeds of suitable quality. The main objective of this study was therefore to determine whether there was a decline in reed quality in the KwaMsomi harvested area. The results of thisstudy suggest that harvested areas contained more thin, short reeds than unharvested areas. Fire can be used to increase reed diameter in harvested areas, but will not significantly affect reed height. Ideally, reeds should only be harvested after the active growth period, when most of the nutrient reserves have been translocated to the rhizomes andthe buds are still dormant. To improve reed quality a three-year rotational harvesting programme should be implemented to allow the reeds to recover fully before being harvested again.
Highlights
Thousands of rural South Africans in KwaZulu-Natal depend on biological resources for their day-to-day survival
Until 1996 no harvesting quotas were imposed by conservation authorities in the Tembe Elephant Park
The authorities exercised control over the harvesting only by delimiting the area that may be harvested and controlling the number of reed cutters entering the park at KwaMsomi gate per day
Summary
Thousands of rural South Africans in KwaZulu-Natal depend on biological resources for their day-to-day survival Access to this natural capital provides a crucial contribution to their livelihood and is a buffer against poverty and an opportunity for self-employment (Wynberg 2002). Ex Steud., is a widespread, morphologically highly-variable key wetland species that provides many essential ecosystem services. It is a major component of freshwater bodies in temperate regions throughout the world and often forms large monospecific stands at the interface between land and water (Ingram et al 1980; Clevering 1999; Clevering & Lissner 1999; Karunaratne & Asaeda 2000; Asaeda & Karunaratne 2000). The effects of environmental factors such as chemical composition of the soil and water, altitude, temperature stress and mineral uptake (Weisner 1996; Klimes et al 1999; Cízková & Lukavska 1999; Cízková et al 2001b; Batty et al 2002) and management practices such as mowing, cutting and burning on biomass
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