The effect of land usage on aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation at high altitudes in Southern Africa

Abstract

The high altitude regions of Southern Africa (2300 m/7500 feet and above) are vitally important source areas for many large rivers. Land usage, until recently mainly of an intermittent pastoral type, is now, with increasing density of permanent human and animal populations, exerting a heavy pressure on vegetation, especially the aquatic and semi-aquatic plants, while concurrently another factor, diamond mining, is also affecting it. There are both economic and agricultural problems.