ARTICLES

ARTICLES

ALL ABOUT BIODIVERSITY

· What is biodiversity? It is the network of life. Every living organism, the variation among and within species, the variation in the genetic make-up of species and all the processes that support these species are collectively known as biodiversity.

· Why does biodiversity matter? Our lives depend on it. Loss of biodiversity will have drastic impacts for livelihoods, human health, economies and our way of life.

· What is the status of the Earth’s biodiversity? It is declining rapidly. Experts estimate that at least 34 000 plant and 5 200 animal species face extinction today and this will increase dramatically if current trends continue.

· What is the status of South Africa’s biodiversity? Comparatively good. However it is declining.

· What can you do to protect biodiversity?

o Learn about biodiversity and teach others what you’ve learnt.

o When shopping, always choose products that use less packaging.

o Buy locally produced products as much as possible.

o Grow your own fruit and vegetables.

o Question retailers about their products and ask them to stock environmentally responsible products.

o Buy only what you need.

o Replace alien plants with indigenous ones.

o Use fewer pesticides and other chemicals, or switch to natural alternatives.

o Reduce, reuse and recycle.

o Calculate and reduce your carbon footprint (visit www.cap.org.za).

Use the power of your vote to protect biodiversity.

Support biodiversity conservation initiatives such as the Endangered Wildlife Trust

Reference: Endangered Wildlife Trust Newsletter February 2010 (www.ewt.org.za)

Another useful site to explore is: http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/

Mapungubwe developed into the largest kingdom in the sub-continent before it was abandoned in the 14th century.

Evidence of complex social formations

What is so fascinating about Mapungubwe is that it is testimony to the existence of an African civilisation that flourished before colonisation. Between 1200 and 1300 AD, the Mapungubwe region was the centre of trade in southern Africa. Wealth came to the region from ivory and later from gold deposits that were found in Zimbabwe. The area was also agriculturally rich because of large-scale flooding in the area. The wealth in the area led to differences between rich and poor.

Mapungubwe's fortune only lasted until about 1300, after which time climate changes, resulting in the area becoming colder and drier, led to migrations further north to Great Zimbabwe.

What survives are the almost untouched remains of the palace sites and also the entire settlement area dependent upon them, as well as two earlier capital sites, the whole presenting an unrivalled picture of the development of social and political structures over some 400 years. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1099/

The Iron Age site, discovered in 1932 but hidden from public attention until only recently, has been declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Why are World heritage Sites proclaimed?

UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) regards the cultural and natural heritage of the world as being among the priceless and irreplaceable assets, not only of each nation, but of humanity as a whole. The loss, through deterioration or disappearance of any of these most prized assets constitutes and impoverishment of the heritage of all the peoples of the world. Parts of that Heritage, because of their exceptional qualities, can be considered to be of “outstanding universal value” and as such are worthy of special protection against the dangers which increasingly threaten them. http://whc.unesco.org/archive/opguide08-en.pdf

Does South Africa have other World heritage Sites?

South Africa's other World Heritage sites are Robben Island, the Vredefort Dome, the Cradle of Humankind, the uKhahlamba Drakensburg Park, the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park and the Cape Floral Region.

Where is Mapungubwe?

Mapungubwe is set hard against the northern border of South Africa, joining Zimbabwe and Botswana. It is an open, expansive savannah landscape at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers.

What artifacts did they find there?

Gold: A wooden rhinoceros, covered in fine gold leaf, a gold sceptre and bowl were found in the graves on Mapungubwe. The gold leaf was wrapped around the wooden cores, tacked in place and decorated with punched indentations and incised lines. These items clearly indicated royal status, and were buried with the monarch in accordance with local customs or beliefs.

Clay: Decorated objects made from fired clay include bowls, pots, human figurines, usually with an elongated body and stumps for heads, arms and legs, animal figurines including one of a giraffe. Practical objects include spoons, whistles, a funnel and spindle whorls used in the production of cotton cloth.

Bone: Bone was also used to make arrowheads, arrow link shafts and awls and flat needles. The latter probably used to manufacture clothes from animal skins.

Artefacts are now housed in the University of Pretoria’s Mapungubwe Museum, which contains the largest archeological gold collection in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Does Mapungubwe have remarkable vegetation?

Due to the varied geology and hydrology of the region, a mosaic of no less than 15 vegetation communities have been described.

The riparian fringe of the great rivers and their tributaries, is populated by a dense vegetation community with a closed canopy . Striking examples of the Ana tree (Faidherbia zanthoploea), Nyala trees (Xanthocercis zambesiaca), Sycamore figs (Ficus sycamoris) and Leadwoods ( Combretum imberbe). Growing under the closed canopy one would expect to find nutritious shade-loving grasses such as Panicum maximum and P. deustum, a winter pantry for grazers, while reedbeds of Phragmites australis occur on the fringes. This habitat offers food and shelter for a large range of fauna throughout the year. In some parts of the riparian fringes extensive stands of the Lala Palm (Hyphaene coriacea) may still be found. This plant is extensively browsed by elephants, and is often an indicator of sub-surface water. Unfortunately large stands of these trees have died off in other areas, due to lowering of the water table due to water extraction at the nearby Venetia Diamond mine.

Concern has been raised over the absence or lack of young plants of several species of shallow rooting water loving trees such as the Feverberry (Croton megalobotris), Weeping boer-bean, (Schotia brachypetalia) and Apple-leaf trees(Philenoptera violaceae.) These plants are all vital links in the life cycles of many insects, some of which may be endemic to very small geographic areas.

Mopani - Narrow-leaved Mustard tree (Colophospermum mopane – Salvadora anguistifolia) forms and open woodland immediately adjacent to the major water-courses and flat, rock-free areas. The Salvadora indicates brackish soils in hot arid areas, and one would expect this vegetation type to be associated with grasses such as Sand quick (Schmidtia pappaphoroides), a drought-resistant grass that can endure reasonably heavy grazing. Elephants enjoy the Mopani, and the mustard tree is browsed by game, particularly impala.

Red Bushwillow mixed woodland (Combretum apiculatum) is found on areas of quartzitic geology. Quartzitic rocks are very resistant to erosion and weathers shallow, sandy, nutrient poor soils on these ridges. Surprisingly the species diversity on these ridges is generally very high, and specific plants which would have evolved to deal with heat, aridity as well as infertile soils would be expected to be found here. In addition to the Red bushwillows one would expect to find a number other broad-leaved trees such as rock figs, commipheras as well as euphorbias and increaser 2 pioneer grasses, which have a high seed, but low foliage production, which nevertheless stabilises the soil and enriches it with organic particles.

The sandstone hills, of which the Mapungubwe Heritage site is a typical example also tend to yield sandy, infertile soils and they are vegetated by generally stunted trees, and drought resistant (xerophytic) shrubs and grasses.

The park boasts a number of magnificent baobab trees, Adansonia digitata, and one in particular, known as the Hamilton baobab has a circumference of 31m. A number of dolerite and diabase dykes are exposed in Mapungubwe, and these rocks weather to far more fertile soils, which in turn give rise to a different suite of trees and grasses, and serve to increase the biodiversity of the park.

Which animals can be seen at Mapungubwe?

Birds:

A three-day visit in summer offers the potential of over 200 species, while a winter trip could produce about 150 species in the same time period.
Specials

Goliath Heron, Dwarf Bittern, Black Stork, Saddle-billed Stork, African Pygmy-Goose, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Harlequin Quail. Allen's Gallinule, Greater Painted-Snipe, Grey Crowned Crane, Kori Bustard, Caspian Plover, White-crowned Lapwing, Black-winged Pratincole, Bronze-winged Courser, Three-banded Courser, Burchell's Sandgrouse, African Mourning Dove, Meyer's Parrot, Thick-billed Cuckoo, Senegal Coucal. Pel's Fishing-Owl. African Barred Owlet, Square-tailed Nightjar, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Southern Carmine Bee-eater, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Broad-billed Roller, Southern Ground-Hornbill, Monotonous Lark, Dusky Lark, Eurasian Golden Oriole. Southern Pied Babbler, Olive-tree Warbler, Barred Wren-Warbler, Striped Pipit, Tropical Boubou, Retz's Helmet-Shrike, Meves's Starling, Great Sparrow and Long-tailed Paradise-Whydah.
Etienne Marais, Indicator Birding, 2007 http://wiki.sabirding.co.za/Portal.aspx?Page=Mapungubwe&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

Mammals

Visitors spending a few days at Mapungubwe may expect to spot Baboons, Blue Wildebeest, Bushbusk, Rock dassies, Grey duiker, Eland, Elephant, Gemsbok, Giraffe, Ground squirrels, Sharp’s grysbok, Klipspringer, Impala, Steenbok, Vervet monkeys, Warthog, Waterbuck and Zebra.

At night Bush babies, Genets, Spotted hyena, Porcupine, Scrub hares and Spring hare may be seen.

Lion, Leopard, Caracal, Cheetah, Wild dog, Brown hyena, Badgers, Red hartebeest, Bushpig, White and Black Rhino occur here but are rarely seen.

Other

There is a varied reptile fauna. Pythons and Black mambas are common.

Insect and other arthropod life is diverse. From November to March the beautiful Mopane Moth can be seen flying around. The large larvae of these moths are a valuable food source in the northern parts of the country. At least nine scorpion species has been identified in the park.

A number of well preserved fossils, including flowering plants as well as whole-bodied insects, were recovered from the fine-grained mudstones. Other interesting fossil finds are dinosaur footprints and fossilized termite mounds.

What about the geological formations of Mapungubwe?

Mapungubwe Hill is a sandstone hill with vertical cliffs and a flat top approximately 30m high and 300, long. A substantial deposit with layers of soil covers it; remains of floors, burnt houses and household refuse.

In the south there are a few granite formations in the south, but the Karoo sedimentary system covers most of the park in the form of sandstone and conglomerate ridges, with valleys derived from the softer mudstones and shales.

The soils vary from red-brown sandy loam to brown to dark-brown clay with high silt content. Sandy lime-rich soils occur over large areas. The region is punctuated by sandstone and conglomorate ridges and koppies. Thus the soils are generally nutrient poor, with a high salt content.

What about the formation of the Transfrontier park?

It was hoped that the establishment of a Transfrontier park encompassing parts of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. This would link Mapungubwe National Park with Botswana's Tuli Block and the Tuli Safari area of Zimbabwe. The intention was to set up a treaty between South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe this year (2010, however with the mining threat the future looks bleak.

http://www.fin24.com/articles/default/display_article.aspx?ArticleId=1518-1786_2570357

Mining threats to Mapungubwe.

The Australian mining group CoAL Africa announced in February 2010 that it was awarded a licence by the Department of Minerals to set up an opencast coal mine and a power station, called Vele coal mine/Mulilo power station, in the buffer zone of the ecologically sensitive and culturally valuable Mapungubwe. The region is very dry, and the ecology here is very sensitive. The mine will therefore have a negative impact.

The existing Venetia mine has an extensive system of pumps all along the river, with pipes which go out under the sand into the true river bed. There is a power line which takes electricity along the river, and every few hundred metres there is an underground pumping station, remotely controlled by a radio system. If the water demand rises above that which can be supplied, large tracts of riverine vegetation will die. Already no Lala palms are to be found in the vicinity of the pumps stations.

http://www.southafrica.info/about/history/mapungubwe.htm