What does the new century offer range science in southern Africa?

Abstract

Range Science, as a developing discipline in southern Africa, is reviewed over its 60 years of formal existence. The context of the African political and socia-economic environment is used as a background to examine the impact that range science has made on the agricultural and conservation arenas. The relations between organised agriculture, government, conservation agencies and the non-formal sector regarding the development of the discipline are reviewed. The role of professional societies, such as the Grassland Society of Southern Africa and the Zimbabwe Grassland Society, are seen as key to the future development of the discipline and a sustainable land-use, involving the region's rangelands, in both the resource-poor and well-resourced sectors. The need to adapt to the dynamic political and economic environment as well as the changing human- and financial-resource allocations by government is debated. As a consequence of globalisation and improving international trade, a more environmentally conscious legislation is developing. Range Science can playa key role in the rehabilitation of areas exploited for their mineral resources. This for example requires the development of a partnership between the discipline and industry to ensure that the training of scientists equips them with the skills to operate out of the their traditional home of servicing commercial agriculture. To this must be added the re-tooling of current professionals to adapt to their new role in servicing resource-poor farmers and communal landowners. This, in turn, impacts upon the tertiary education sector and its curricula. Strategies for making a positive and constructive contribution to the development of the regions rangeland resources and the discipline are presented.