Nature Divided [electronic resource] : Land Degradation in South Africa

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hoffman, Timm.

Contributor:

Ashwell, Ally.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Land degradation--South Africa.

Land degradation.

Remote sensing.

Local Subjects:

Land degradation--South Africa.

Land degradation.

Remote sensing.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (188 p.)

Place of Publication:

: Juta Academic, 2001.

Summary:

This book, the product of extensive research, is based on a landmark report on land degradation arising from South Africa's commitment to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. It reflects the first complete assessment of South Africa's land degradation problem, taking into account not only agricultural and ecological concerns, but also the socio-political and historical context.

Contents:

""Cover""; ""Copyright""; ""Table of contents""; ""Artwork credits""; ""Preface""; ""List of acronyms""; ""Chapter 1: An introduction to land degradation in South Africa""; ""1.1 The environment in crisis""; ""1.2 Desertification and land degradation explained""; ""1.3 Land degradation � why bother?""; ""Survival risks""; ""1.4 An international imperative""; ""The United Nations Conference on Desertification (UNCOD)""; ""The spirit of UNCED � environment and development""; ""UNCCD � inspired by the South""; ""1.5 The South African response""

""The NAP � fulfilling international obligations""""South Africa�s National Action Programme""; ""1.6 Supporting local action""; ""Further reading""; ""Chapter 2: Describing South Africa""; ""2.1 The South African environment""; ""Introduction""; ""The physical environment""; ""The biological environment""; ""2.2 Political and administrative units""; ""Further reading""; ""Chapter 3: A history of intervention""; ""3.1 Introduction""; ""3.2 Settlement and conflict""; ""Early occupation and impact""; ""The decimation of the San and Khoe-khoen""; ""The Mfecane/Difaqane""

""The Great Trek, 1934�1840""""Minerals and modernisation""; ""3.3 Creating the black �homelands�""; ""Early legislation""; ""1913 Natives Land Act""; ""Entrenching segregation""; ""The Tomlinson Commission, 1950�1953""; ""3.4 Combating degradation: early efforts""; ""The Drought Investigation Commission, 1920�1923""; ""The government gets involved""; ""Public concern""; ""3.5 �Betterment� in the homelands""; ""3.6 The expanding Karoo""; ""John Acocks� Veld Types of South Africa""; ""The Desert Encroachment Committee""; ""3.7 Combating land degradation: 1950 to the present""

""Soil conservation""""Control of bush encroachment""; ""Eradication of weeds and invading alien plants""; ""Water conservation""; ""3.8 Community participation and democratic governance""; ""Coordinated action""; ""Reconstruction and development""; ""Land and agriculture""; ""Managing the water resource""; ""3.9 Conclusion""; ""Further reading""; ""Chapter 4: Investigating land degradation in South Africa""; ""4.1 An integrated study""; ""The national review of land degradation""; ""4.2 A conceptual framework""; ""4.3 Sources of information""; ""4.4 Magisterial districts: sites of study""

""4.5 Collecting data""""The literature review""; ""The workshops""; ""Magisterial district statistics""; ""4.6 Conclusion""; ""Chapter 5: Patterns of land use in South Africa""; ""5.1 People and the land""; ""5.2 Land tenure systems""; ""Freehold and communal systems of tenure""; ""The distribution of agricultural systems in South Africa""; ""Comparing commercial and communal areas""; ""Interpreting information: a few considerations""; ""5.3 Land use patterns""; ""Land use patterns, trends and intensities""; ""Cropland""; ""Grazing land or veld""; ""Commercial forests""

""Conservation areas and state land""

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

ISBN:

1-919895-64-7

OCLC:

817903363