NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 620
DATE OF PUBLICATION: FRIDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2011 [IQP No 39 -2011] SECOND
SESSION, FOURTH PARLIAMENT
Question 620 for written reply: National Council of Provincves, Mr R.A LEES
(DA-KZN) asked the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
(1) Whether the effect of the livestock grazing on the degradation and
erosion of the land in the Nquthu district, in KwaZulu-Natal has been
assessed and/or investigated; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the
results of the assessment and/or investigation and (b) what is the area of
land that has become degraded;
(2) Whether any action has been taken to rehabilitate the said land; if
not, why not; if so, what action;
(3) Whether the grazing of the livestock has been prohibited on the said
land; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(4)(a) What are the current average stocking rates per hectare and (b) to
whom does the land belong;
(5) Whether any action has been taken against the landowners whose land has
been overgrazed; if not, why not; if so, (a) what is the (i) name of (aa)
each landowner and (bb) the farm and (ii) location of the farm and (b) what
action has been taken against such landowners? CW755E
REPLY:
1) Whether the effect of the livestock grazing on the degradation and
erosion of the land in the Nquthu district, in KwaZulu-Natal has been
assessed and/or investigated; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the
results of the assessment and/or investigation and (b) what is the area
of land that has become degraded;
a) & (b) Yes, the land degradation in the Nqutu Local Municipality was
assessed as part of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries, together with the Agricultural Research Councilâs Land
degradation Assessment in Drylands (LADA) Project running from 2008 â
2011.The area trend for natural grazing land the last 10 years is slowly
decreasing and most of that land is occupied by urban developments. This
result of population pressure put grazing land under immense pressure;
less land is available for a growing population with growing needs for
grazing to keep animals, resulting eventually in land degradation.
Considering the extent and degree of land degradation, the main types of
land degradation on natural grazing land in the Nqutu district are:
⢠Soil erosion by water (surface, rill, gully and stream bank erosion);
⢠The loss of vegetative cover and the increase in bare patches and
unprotected soil;
⢠The change in species composition and bush encroachment.
It is especially soil erosion by water and the loss of vegetative cover
with a land degradation degree of respectively strong and extreme, which
is an issue of great concern.
Overgrazing is the main cause for a decrease in plant cover, resulting
in soil erosion. More specifically overgrazing is caused by (in order of
priority):
⢠Excessive numbers of livestock;
⢠Too long or extensive grazing periods in a specific area or camp
leading to overutilization of palatable species;
⢠Trampling along animal paths; and
⢠Change in livestock composition e.g. from large to small stock;
Veld fires are also a contributing factor to the loss of vegetative
cover and the change in species composition.
Figure 1 is a map indicating the extent of gully erosion in the Nqutu
local municipality. It is calculated that 17 373 ha is degraded by gully
erosion, in total, 8.8% of the Nqutu local municipality area.
According to the perceptions of contributing specialist during the LADA
National Assessment, on average 75% (147135 ha) of the total Nqutu local
municipality is affected by a loss of vegetative cover and a change in
species composition.
Figure 1: The extent of gully erosion in the Nqutu local municipality
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2) Whether any action has been taken to rehabilitate the said land; if not,
why not; if so, what action;
Yes, actions have been taken to rehabilitate the degraded land by means
of creating awareness on implications of poor management practices as
well as the objectives and regulation of the Conservation of
Agricultural Resources Act, (CARA) Act 43 of 1983 to land users, the
local extension officer and the livestock association. Moreover the
farmers were advised to reduce the stocking rate; ensure controlled veld
burning and reduction of invasive species. Furthermore a Land Care
business plan, focussing on the rehabilitation of degraded land was
approved for 2012-13 financial year.
3) Whether the grazing of the livestock has been prohibited on the said
land; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
No, grazing of the area by livestock have not been prohibited, because
the area is communally owned with no fences and therefore it is not
possible to stop livestock movement on those areas. Livestock also
contributes substantially to the food and livelihood security of the
affected population. The purpose of the aforementioned Land Care
projects is to start assisting the community in addressing unsustainable
land use practices including overgrazing.
4) (a) What are the current average stocking rates per hectare
The long term average grazing capacity of the area is 3.5 hectare (ha)
per large stock unit. However due to overgrazing over a substantial
period of time the current grazing capacity ranges from 5 to 35 ha per
large stock unit, with the majority of the area between 11 to 20 ha per
large stock unit. No accurate data is available on the current average
stocking rates.
(b) To whom does the land belong?
The land belongs to Ingonyama Trust as it is under traditional
leadership.
5) Whether any action has been taken against the landowners whose land has
been overgrazed; if not, why not; if so, (a) what is the (i) name of
(aa) each landowner and (bb) the farm and (ii) location of the farm and
(b) what action has been taken against such landowners? CW755E
No actions have been taken against the landowners; however the
Department made some recommendations to reduce the overgrazing, whilst
awaiting the implementation of the approved Land Care project (see
response to question 3).
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