Degradation of communal rangelands in South Africa: towards an improved understanding to inform policy

A.R. Palmer, James Bennett

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    45 Citations (Scopus)
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    Abstract

    In South Africa, the relative extent of range degradation under freehold compared to communal tenure has been strongly debated. We present a perspective on the processes that drive rangeland degradation on land under communal tenure. Our findings are based on literature as well as extensive field work on both old communal lands and 'released' areas, where freehold farms have been transferred to communal ownership. We discuss the patterns of degradation that have accompanied communal stewardship and make recommendations on the direction policy should follow to prevent further degradation and mediate rehabilitation of existing degraded land.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)57-63
    JournalAfrican Journal of Range and Forage Science
    Volume30
    Issue number1-2
    Early online date3 Apr 2013
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2013

    Bibliographical note

    This is the accepted, peer reviewed manuscript of an article whose final and definitive form has been published in the African Journal of Range and Forage Science, 2013, 30 (1-2): 57-63 © 2013 copyright NISC (Pty) Ltd. The African Journal of Range and Forage Science is available online at http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tarf .

    Keywords

    • communal rangelands
    • land degradation
    • rehabilitation
    • social systems

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