An environmental history of the Cederberg : changing climate, land use and vegetation patterns
type: CreativeWork
description: This thesis documents how climate and land use practices have changed in the Cederberg over the last century and how these changes have affected vegetation patterns. Along with a description of the major geological, climatic and vegetation gradients in the study area, changes in rainfall, temperature, A-pan evaporation and fire regimes over the 20th century are analysed from official records. While rainfall has not changed significantly from 1900-2007, the last 30 years have been drier than the mean value. The temperature records show an increase of 1°C since the I 960s; however, A-pan evaporation values have declined significantly over the last 30 years. The fire records suggest an increase in area burnt and in frequency since the mid 1940s. Changes in land use and its impacts on Cederberg landscapes are then assessed through a combination of archival sources, repeat photography and oral history. A zonal theme was adopted to analyse the environment of the Cederberg, and land use and landscape changes of the lowlands, midlands and uplands are examined independently. Results show that the Cederberg lowlands have experienced the largest degree of transformation over the course of the 20th century, primarily as a result of the intensification of agriculture, specifically fruit, vine and potato cultivation. Large areas of the midlands have also been transformed, although to a lesser extent than the lowlands. The midlands have experienced a complex history with changes differing between the northern and southern parts of the Cederberg. Evidence from 17 repeat photograph pairs suggests that the natural vegetation of the northern midlands has witnessed a recovery, with a contraction of traditional forms of farming and an increase in tourism and wine making. The southern midlands, on the other hand, have seen an expansion in agricultural production similar to the trends recorded in the lowlands. In contrast to the lowlands and midlands, human-induced transformation of the C…
abstract: This thesis documents how climate and land use practices have changed in the Cederberg over the last century and how these changes have affected vegetation patterns. Along with a description of the major geological, climatic and vegetation gradients in the study area, changes in rainfall, temperature, A-pan evaporation and fire regimes over the 20th century are analysed from official records. While rainfall has not changed significantly from 1900-2007, the last 30 years have been drier than the mean value. The temperature records show an increase of 1°C since the I 960s; however, A-pan evaporation values have declined significantly over the last 30 years. The fire records suggest an increase in area burnt and in frequency since the mid 1940s. Changes in land use and its impacts on Cederberg landscapes are then assessed through a combination of archival sources, repeat photography and oral history. A zonal theme was adopted to analyse the environment of the Cederberg, and land use and landscape changes of the lowlands, midlands and uplands are examined independently. Results show that the Cederberg lowlands have experienced the largest degree of transformation over the course of the 20th century, primarily as a result of the intensification of agriculture, specifically fruit, vine and potato cultivation. Large areas of the midlands have also been transformed, although to a lesser extent than the lowlands. The midlands have experienced a complex history with changes differing between the northern and southern parts of the Cederberg. Evidence from 17 repeat photograph pairs suggests that the natural vegetation of the northern midlands has witnessed a recovery, with a contraction of traditional forms of farming and an increase in tourism and wine making. The southern midlands, on the other hand, have seen an expansion in agricultural production similar to the trends recorded in the lowlands. In contrast to the lowlands and midlands, human-induced transformation of the C…
author: Bonora, Daniela Vincenza
keywords: Botany
date published: 2009
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:23:22Z
provider: University of Cape Town
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Department of Biological Sciences

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/38228