Range monitoring in South Africa: A broad perspective

Abstract

Range monitoring is defined, in the context of this paper, as regular surveillance to establish whether properties of the range are changing. The objective of such monitoring is therefore to establish whether temporal changes are taking place in response to conditions being imposed on a system. Where these conditions involve management, monitoring allows an evaluation of the management practices being imposed and an objective means of changing them when they are unsuccessful. The procedure adopted for monitoring Tange will vary according to the interest group concerned. We conclude that whatever the objective of the particular interest group, monitoring is essential to evaluate successes or failures of any management strategy adopted. It also provides an objective means of adapting such strategies should they fail.

In hierdie artikel word veldmonitering gedefinieer as die gereelde opnames om te bepaal of eienskappe van die veld verander. Die doel van sodanige monitering is dus om te bepaal of tydelike veranderinge plaasvind in reaksie op toestande wat op die stelsel inwerk. Waar sodanige toestande bestuur insluit, skep monitering evalueringsmoontlikhede ten opsigte van die bestuurspraktyke wat toegepas word asook objektiewe maatstawwe om dit te verander indien dit onsuksesvol blyk te wees. Die tegniek van monitering wat toegepas sal word, word bepaal deur die belangegroep betrokke. Die gevolgtrekking is dat wat die doelstelling van ‘n bepaalde belangegroep ookal mag wees, monitering onontbeerlik is om die sukses of mislukking van ‘n bepaalde bestuurstrategie te evalueer. Dit verskaf ook objektiewe maatstawwe om sodanige strategie, indien dit sou faal, aan te pas.

Additional index words:

• Monitoring goals
• range condition assessment
• resource conservation