Cover Gradients and the Forest-Community Frontier: Indigenous Forests Under Communal Management at Vondo and Xanthia, South Africa

Abstract

Rural communities in the developing world contexts are heavily reliant on the environment for their livelihoods, often resulting in reduction in forest and woodland tree cover and species diversity. This article provides indicative data at two threatened tropical forest and woodland sites in northeastern South Africa. Woody individuals and species were quantified at 1-ha sample plots both close to and away from adjacent villages, and the data analyzed using Geographic Information System (GIS) software. Surprisingly, for a developing world context, results suggest that the forests are in a good state of conservation. Management factors likely to be responsible are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• woody vegetation
• biodiversity
• deforestation
• communal property regime
• GIS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful for the help during fieldwork that was provided by research students, particularly Tsundzukani “Partner” Mzimba, whose vibrancy kept the teams buoyant deep inside the forests. The authors also acknowledge the anonymous reviewer comments that improved the article. This article is dedicated to the memory of Ba Noliya Nanyunga Chaambwa, gallant mother.