The impact of elephant and goat grazing on the endemic flora of South African succulent thicket

Abstract

Succulent thicket is an important centre of endemism for succulents and geophytes. Both inside and outside reserves, this component is threatened by megahervibore and goat grazing, respectively. Goat grazing has greatly reduced the cover and diversity of endemic geophytes and succulent shrubs in succulent thicket has in the Addo Elephant National Park. Elephant grazing has had a more moderate effect on these plants and has not reduced the rich Crassulaceae flora in shrub microsites. All endemics noted in the study were present in ungrazed sites but fewer were recorded in the elephant- (63%) and goat- (53%) grazed treatments. There are several solutions to this problem: more botanical (ungrazed) reserves should be established; reserves should be enlarged to reduce the stocking density of elephants; and elephant and other game farming should be encouraged as an alternative to goat-farming outside reserves.