PARENT SESSION
Symposium #20: Restoring Natural Capital.

Organized by: J Aronson and E Higgs
Wednesday, August 7. 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Maricopa Meeting Room, TCC.

Returning value to southern African rangelands.

Milton, Sue^*,1, ¹ University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, South Africa

ABSTRACT- The diversity and productivity of southern African rangelands have been eroded by past overstocking, dry-land ploughing, mining and weed invasion. Here we review the technical and economic hurdles that must be crossed to achieve restoration of degraded rangelands in southern Africa. We also present four positive case histories that demonstrate how attitudes, economic opportunities and social policy are leading to a re-evaluation of natural rangeland capital and as incentives for its restoration. Firstly, investment in restoration on commercial ranches is driven by a decrease in profitability of traditional ranching and subsequent diversification to include game farming, tourism and hunting. Secondly, political change has led to a reassessment of the viability of high-density subsistence settlements. New development initiatives will reduce rural dependence on natural grazing and firewood and generate service industries that increase income and depend on an aesthetically-pleasing environment. A third driver is the new environmental legislation that requires industries to return the land to its former land-use capability on closure. Funds set aside for compliance with this legislation have sponsored studies on seed banks, succession, vegetation dynamics and soil processes in restoration, which are improving our understanding of diversity values in rangelands. Finally, the government's "Working for Water" programme, an elegant solution to the dual problems of water wastage by alien invasive plants, and high unemployment rates among unskilled workers, is developing skills in clearing techniques, and post-clearing restoration of rangelands. Probably the greatest challenge facing restoration in the region is demonstrating the economic value of diversity in rangelands.

KEY WORDS: Natural Capital, Africa, Rangelands