Economic evaluation of possible loss of Prosopis pods as a result of biological control in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Nqobizitha, Dube
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Trees -- South Africa , Mimosaceae , Forests and forestry -- South Africa , Forest conservation -- Economic aspects -- South Africa , Mimosaceae -- Biological control -- South Africa , Mesquite -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11165 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/394 , Trees -- South Africa , Mimosaceae , Forests and forestry -- South Africa , Forest conservation -- Economic aspects -- South Africa , Mimosaceae -- Biological control -- South Africa , Mesquite -- South Africa
- Description: Species of Prosopis (Mimosaceae), or mesquite, are native to the Americas and introduced in South Africa as agro forestry trees to provide wood, fodder and shade in the late 1800s. In the Northern Cape Province, these trees have been particularly used for their pods by local farmers and local industry. However due to Prosopis’ ability to spread rapidly there has been increasing pressure to step up control of the tree. Due to the costs associated with most control methods biological control has been singled out as the most viable control method worth pursuing. This thesis attempts to explain and shed light on the effects that increased biological control of Prosopis would have on the farming community and Prosopis based businesses in the area. Two hypothetical scenarios were used, the first being a possible 50% reduction in available pods and the other a possible 100% reduction. In an effort to explain these effects data was collected from a series of collection activities in the form of a pilot study and two unique questionnaire surveys. Twenty-seven farmers and one Prosopis based business were interviewed at random with the data analysed and documented. Results showed that the business community is the main user of pods incurring crippling losses in the event of a 50% or 100% decrease in available pods. Using control costs from working for water De Aar long term costs of the presence of Prosopis were estimated and compared to the estimated provincial cost of losing pods giving a cost comparison ratio of (α)270 million : Y(N(15.7million)). Only 48% of the respondents valued pods and 11% had traded in pods, the top concern resulting from the invasion was the loss of underground water. With a 50% decline in available pods, all respondents indicated unchanged effects. However empirical results showed that with a 100% decline in pods estimate losses of R 5 818 per farm are expected. The cost comparison ratio showing the losses farmers bore with Prosopis in the area and the losses they would suffer with a 100% decline in pods was R11 389 + (K): R5 818. In light of the empirical results, policy recommendations that support the introduction of more effective biological control agents have been made with areas for further research identified and discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Steeped in mystery
- Authors: The Star
- Date: 197u
- Subjects: Adansonia digitata -- South Africa , Trees -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , clippings , ephemera
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/71981 , vital:29982
- Description: Newspaper article published in The Star, ca. 1970 detailing the massive baobab tree, Muri Kunguluwa, found in South Africa
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 197u
Acacia caffra
- Authors: Skead, C J (Cuthbert John)
- Date: 1960
- Subjects: Acacia caffra -- South Africa , Trees -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: mixed material , essay
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/110291 , vital:33261
- Description: Transcript: "Acacia caffra. Flowers November to January with occasional extensions to March. The scent differs from Accia karroo in being not so sickly -is sharper to the nose but nonetheless attractive. The fine thorns are not readily visible. The softness of the foliage can lead one into grabbing at branches only to be be well pricked. The tree is very common along the Buffalo river at King William's Town often growing at the water's edge. In the veld, Acacia karroo often grows among Acacia caffra, the two making an interesting contrast. 30.10.1959. Coming into flower at Kei Bridge on the Komga-Transkei border, At Bashee Bridge between Idutywa and Umtata, and in the Umzimkhulu valley on the Natal border of Transkei. 21.11.1959. Coming into good flower at King William's Town. July 1960. Trees mostly bare but some have straggly leaves adhering. August 1960. Bare. September 1960. Began shooting on trees along rivers early in the month. But leaves began bursting from their buds on trees in dry veld on about the 15th of the month despite lack of rain to stimulate spring growth October 27th 1960. First flowers appearing.”
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1960
Letter from Mr. F.C. Metrowich responding to C.J. Skead
- Authors: Metrowich, F C (Frederick Charles)
- Date: 1959-06-06
- Subjects: Grahamstown (South Africa) -- History , Trees -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: mixed material , correspondence
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/65947 , vital:28864
- Description: Letter written by Mr. F.C. Metrowich to C.J Skead. This letter was in response to a letter sent by Skead requesting for references indicating where the information was obtained as to the tree where Lieut. Col. Graham and Capt. Stockenstrom decided to establish the town of Grahamstown.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1959-06-06
Mr. Orpen's tree: a landmark that is older than E.L. Municipality
- Authors: Driffield, H H
- Date: 1959-04-15
- Subjects: Trees -- South Africa , East London (South Africa) , Araucariaceae -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , clippings , ephemera
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/65584 , vital:28815
- Description: Newspaper article extract: "One of the best-known landmarks in East London is the Norfolk Island pine growing beside the West Bank post office in Bank Street, opposite Prince Alfred's Park. To almost every person travelling southward down Oxford Street on any clear day the tree has the appearance of the mast and yards of an old-time sailing vessel making for Buffalo Harbour under bare poles. In the days long ago, when East London consisted of the West Bank and very little else, the building now used as a post office on that side of the Buffalo River served as the Court-house, Customs and Revenue Office.”
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959-04-15
Acacia Karoo - Eastern Cape (South Arica)
- Authors: Skead, C J (Cuthbert John)
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Acacia karroo -- South Africa , Trees -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: mixed material , essay
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/109187 , vital:33083
- Description: Transcript: "Acacia karroo 01. 11. 1959. At Bashee Bridge, between Idutywa and Umtata, Transkei, trees just beginning to flower. One fairly advanced. At Kei bridge on the Transkei-Komga border only a few yellow dots of flower appearing; also as King William's Town. The winter and spring had been good this year. Last-week in May and into June. Autumnal tints fine. Trees change to a rich gold, made lovelier by the fern-like nature of the foliage. Colour varies from yellow to gold. July. Branches now bare August. Branches mostly bare still but where a tree is growing in a damp area, new shoots are staring 28.12.1958. Travelling between Grahamstown and King William's Town. Acacias in the Great Fish River valley were well out in flower, far in advance of those near Grahamstown, in the Keiskamma River valley, and at King William's Town. Always some trees in an area flower in advance of the rest and, always, certain trees surpass all others Sept.1960. Trees burst into leaf in about second week despite severe drought. Rather irregular as between tree and tree with some trees still in their old dark foliage and some still leafless after the winter, 16.10.1960. A few puffs of flower coming out. Otherwise only rough, unopened flower buds 1 June 1961. In the King William's Town bushveld many of the Acacia trees, now almost leafless or only sparsely leaved, have appearance of spume-like scum spread over them, a dirty off- white mass. But this is an illusion; it is caused by the fuzzy, wispy seed-covers of Clematis now in full seed.”
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1959
Letter from C.J. Skead to Mr. F.C. Metrowich
- Authors: Skead, C J (Cuthbert John)
- Date: 1959
- Subjects: Grahamstown (South Africa) -- History , Trees -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: mixed material , correspondence
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/65926 , vital:28861
- Description: Letter written by C.J Skead to Mr. F.C. Metrowich, authot of "The valiant but once". In the letter Skead submits a request for references indicating where the inforamtion was obtained as to the tree where Lieut. Col. Graham and Capt. Stockenstrom decided to establish the town of Grahamstown.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1959
From Pringles of the Valleys
- Authors: Pringle, Eric, 1907- , Pringle, Mark Elliot, 1880- , Pringle, John Adams, 1910-
- Date: 1957
- Subjects: Acacia karroo -- South Africa , Trees -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: mixed material , essay
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/109198 , vital:33084
- Description: Transcript: "from PRINGLES OF THE VALLEYS ,1957, by Eric, Mark and John Pringle. p.29. (On the farm now known as Clifton). "The next day, July 2nd (1820) was our first Sunday on our own grounds. Feeling deeply the importance of maintaining the suitable observance of this day of sacred rest, it was unanimously resolved that we should strictly abstain from an secular employment not sanctioned by absolute necessity; and at the same time commence such a system of religious services as might be with propriety maintained in the absence of a clergyman or minister. The whole party were accordingly assembled after breakfast under a venerable acacia tree, on the margin of a little stream which murmured around our camp. It was, indeed, an affecting sight to look round on our little band of Scottish emigrants, thus congregated for the first time to worship God in the wild glen allotted for their future home and the heritage of their offspring". An inspection in 1956 established this spot with some certainty is just south of the present Craig Rennie homestead".
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1957
Baobab
- Date: 19uu
- Subjects: Adansonia digitata -- South Africa , Trees -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , clippings , ephemera
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/72005 , vital:29986
- Description: Image of baobab tree. Origins unknown.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 19uu
Forest patch on Lynedoch farm, Baviaans River Valley, Bedford
- Authors: Skead, C J (Cuthbert John)
- Date: 19uu
- Subjects: Trees -- South Africa , Deforestation -- South Africa -- Lynedoch Farm, Baviaans River Valley, Bedford , Lynedoch Farm, Baviaans River Valley, Bedford (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: mixed material , ephemera
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/65780 , vital:28837
- Description: Extract: “Forest Patch on LYNEDOCH farm, Baviaans River Valley, Bedford. This small patch of what can best be described as Woodland/ Forest by virtue of its hybrid condition as influenced by man's chopping activities down the years, lies at the head of what is called Grootkloof on this farm, and is the last patch of such forest up this otherwise dry valley in which the lower slopes receive a much lower precipitation than the upper heights under which the patch of forest persists by virtue of the extra moisture it receives from passing cloud. The forest patch is 27 km NW of Bedford town, and at about 1 000 m a.s.l.”
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 19uu
Acacia Karoo - Adelaide (South Arica)
- Authors: Pringle,Thomas (1789-1834)
- Date: 1822
- Subjects: Acacia karroo -- South Africa -- Adelaide , Trees -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: mixed material , essay
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/109175 , vital:33082
- Description: Transcript: "1822 Thomas Pringle, 1835 April. In The Koonap River Valley, Adelaide, E.Cape. p.126. "Among the mimosa trees (i.e. thorntrees) sprinkled over the meadows, or lower bottoms, the traces of their (i.e. elephant) operations were not less apparent. Immense numbers of these trees had been torn out of the ground and placed in an inverted position in order to enable the animals to browse at their ease on their juicy roots which form a favourite part of their food. I observed that, in numerous instances, when the trees were of considerable size, The elephant had employed one of his tusks, exactly as he would use a crowbar, thrusting it under The roots to loosen their hold on The earth before he attempted to tear them up with his proboscis, many of the larger mimosas had resisted all their efforts, and, indeed, it is only after rains that they can successfully attempt the operation."
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1822