Karkloof Conservation & Tourism - Biodiversity/Agriculture

Biodiversity/Agriculture

BIODIVERSITY IN AN AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE

By Cape Nature Botanical Society

When large, continuous areas of natural habitat are broken up into disconnected fragments, many ecological processes are disrupted.
The seeds of many plants cannot be dispersed into new habitats, making it difficult for them to respond to changing environments or local climates.
Animals struggle to survive in small areas where food, nesting and refuge supplies are limited. These can become locally extinct and cause knock-on effects for other species interacting with them.
The following three concepts are important to consider when managing a fragmented landscape:

CORRIDORS:
These are linear patches of natural habitat that link or connect fragmented areas, allowing species movement and ecological processes to continue. Corridors may also provide shelter, reduce water and wind erosion and enhance the aesthetic appeal of a landscape. Examples include the vegetation along a river and stream banks, or natural habitat left on road-side verges. Old agricultural fields can also act as animal movement corridors, providing shelter for movement between natural vegetation pockets.

CONNECTIVITY:
This refers to the degree to which patches of a given natural habitat are joined by corridors into a network of linkages. This affects the ease with which species can move among vegetation patches in the landscape.

EDGE EFFECTS:
These exist where transformed areas are adjacent to natural areas. Natural habitats are sensitive to influences from surrounding cultivated areas, such as fertilizer run-off and invasion of agricultural weeds. This is especially an issue for small fragments, where much of the fragment is exposed to edge-effects.

HOW TO MAINTAIN BIODIVERSITY – IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE

Conserve large and continuous areas of threatened habitat.

Conserve a full variety of habitat types, focusing on sites close to, or well-connected to, other natural areas.

Look out for special habitats deserving conservation attention, such as wetlands.

Consider actively restoring or allowing natural recovery of disturbed areas that could function as corridors between natural habitats.

Where a property forms part of a larger natural area, consider how to protect landscape level processes on the property.

Minimise edge effects through careful land management. Create buffer zones adjacent to natural areas, where the land is free of pesticides and invasive weeds.

Avoid runoff of fertilizers and pesticides drift into natural habitats.

Starting at the source of the invasion, clear invasive alien plants from natural areas, especially water catchments and riverine areas.

Maintain optimal fire regimes.




	1: Home 2: The Karkloof 2.1: Karkloof History 2.2: Accommodation 2.3: What to do in the Karkloof 2.4: Karkloof Falls 3: The Karkloof Conservancy 3.1: About Us 3.2: Vision and Mission Statement 3.3: Projects 3.4: Conservation Committee 4: Conservation Centre 4.1: Initiative 5: Farming Practices 5.1: No-Till Farming 5.2: Biodiversity/Agriculture 5.3: Biological Fly Control 5.4: Oribi Custodians 5.5: Crane Custodians 5.6: Biodiversity Stewardship Programme 5.7: Predators and Farmers 6: Farm Schools Project 6.1: 2008 6.2: 2011 7: Birding 7.1: Karkloof Sightings 7.2: Birdlist (PDF) 7.3: Photograph Archive 7.4: Bird Ringing 8: Cranes 8.1: Grey Crowned Cranes 8.2: Wattled Cranes 8.3: Blue Cranes 8.4: Wattled Crane Recovery Programme 8.5: KwaZulu-Natal Crane Foundation 8.6: Crane Ringing 9: Environmental Education 9.2: WESSA Share-Net 9.3: Eco-Schools 9.4: Nature Ways DVD 10: Conservation Issues 10.1: Alien Plants 10.2: Mallard Ducks 11: Upcoming Events 12: Useful Links 13: Contact Us	Biodiversity/Agriculture BIODIVERSITY IN AN AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE By Cape Nature Botanical Society When large, continuous areas of natural habitat are broken up into disconnected fragments, many ecological processes are disrupted. The seeds of many plants cannot be dispersed into new habitats, making it difficult for them to respond to changing environments or local climates. Animals struggle to survive in small areas where food, nesting and refuge supplies are limited. These can become locally extinct and cause knock-on effects for other species interacting with them. The following three concepts are important to consider when managing a fragmented landscape: CORRIDORS: These are linear patches of natural habitat that link or connect fragmented areas, allowing species movement and ecological processes to continue. Corridors may also provide shelter, reduce water and wind erosion and enhance the aesthetic appeal of a landscape. Examples include the vegetation along a river and stream banks, or natural habitat left on road-side verges. Old agricultural fields can also act as animal movement corridors, providing shelter for movement between natural vegetation pockets. CONNECTIVITY: This refers to the degree to which patches of a given natural habitat are joined by corridors into a network of linkages. This affects the ease with which species can move among vegetation patches in the landscape. EDGE EFFECTS: These exist where transformed areas are adjacent to natural areas. Natural habitats are sensitive to influences from surrounding cultivated areas, such as fertilizer run-off and invasion of agricultural weeds. This is especially an issue for small fragments, where much of the fragment is exposed to edge-effects. HOW TO MAINTAIN BIODIVERSITY – IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE Conserve large and continuous areas of threatened habitat. Conserve a full variety of habitat types, focusing on sites close to, or well-connected to, other natural areas. Look out for special habitats deserving conservation attention, such as wetlands. Consider actively restoring or allowing natural recovery of disturbed areas that could function as corridors between natural habitats. Where a property forms part of a larger natural area, consider how to protect landscape level processes on the property. Minimise edge effects through careful land management. Create buffer zones adjacent to natural areas, where the land is free of pesticides and invasive weeds. Avoid runoff of fertilizers and pesticides drift into natural habitats. Starting at the source of the invasion, clear invasive alien plants from natural areas, especially water catchments and riverine areas. Maintain optimal fire regimes.