DRAFT: POLICY FOR THE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF VELD (RANGE) AND FORAGE RESOURCES IN SOUTH AFRICA

Directorate: Animal Production

July 2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter / Page
1. / Introduction / 2
2. / Definitions / Glossary of Terms / 6
3. / Acronyms / 8
4. / Problem Statement / 8
5. / Objectives / 10
6. / Policy to Address the Problem / 11
7. / Indicators of Performance / 15
9. / Main Policy Areas / 16
10. / Reference Documents / 16
11. / Policy Owner / 17


1. Introduction

1.1 Background – Veld and Forage Resources Utilisation in South Africa

Almost 80% of the land available for agriculture in South Africa is predominantly classified as semi-arid; with erratic and low rainfall patterns as well as high temperatures. 13% of this agricultural land is used for crop production (arable land), while 87% of this land is used by the animal production (livestock and wildlife) sector. This implies that the animal production sector is mainly natural resources dependent, with the veld (rangeland) resources as its main source of fodder.

The veld and forage resources contribute a greater proportion towards the country’s food security through herbivore conversion of these resources to food for human consumption; and these resources also provide a wide array of goods and services (such as turf, biofuel, and medicinal purposes) far beyond just animal production. Therefore, it is important to foster efficient and effective usage of these resources through sustainable management in order to ensure the long-term stability of the animal production sector.

The interaction of climatic and ecological factors has created a number of biomes with a variety of natural veld types, while veld and forage production units determine the amount of animal products that can be produced from a given source. Within the natural ecological system, a veld that is in good condition (in terms of fodder production) is the core determinant of a more sustainable animal production. Therefore, a complete understanding of the dynamics of the ecological system, time and spatial inter-relationship between veld, pastures, climate, soil and animals is essential for sustainable animal production.

1.2 Rainfall Variation and Veld Productivity

South Africa is characterized by low, erratic rainfall pattern, with droughts as normal recurring phenomena. For each climatic region, the total seasonal rainfall contributes to the production potential of veld while the seasonal rainfall distribution determines fodder flow within a given season. Hence, a variable fodder supply is experienced from veld every year. The condition of veld plays an important role in stabilising this variation in fodder supply. Thus, the better the condition of veld, the smaller the variation of fodder supply from that veld, and the more stable and sustainable animal production will be.

As the capacity of the veld to meet the fodder production demand depends on the integrity of soils and ecological processes, a veld in a good condition is not only more efficient in converting rainfall into dry matter but it is also important to ensure a more stable basal cover; preventing soil erosion as well as offsetting the risks associated with agricultural disasters such as droughts, especially in respect to the intensity and frequency of seasonal droughts.

1.3 Veld Condition and Animal Productivity

The economic viability of many of the animal production systems in the country mainly rely on the veld and sustainable animal production will only be possible when the veld and soil conditions are in productive and stable state. Furthermore, farm size is more likely to have major bearing on the economic viability of a production system when the veld within the farm is in good condition, when no additional feed sources are provided.

Veld degradation in many parts of South Africa is regarded a major factor that is limiting the productivity of the animal production sector.

1.4 Stocking Rate and Animal Productivity

In an animal production system, the applied stocking rate is the single farmer-dependent variable that has the greatest influence on the biological output of saleable animal products (economic return to the farmer) and the long-term condition of the veld.

Stocking rates should fulfil both economic and ecological benefits from the veld, while injudicious and unrealistic stocking rates will ultimately have adverse effects on long-term productivity of the veld and animal productivity.

1.5 Management of South Africa’s Veld and Forage Resources

South Africa’s veld resources can be classified either into veld types on the basis of the general structure and composition of the vegetation in the ecological system, or into seasonal use classes on the basis of the seasonal quality and quantity of the forage it produces. Both classifications are used in defining the value of veld for animal production.

Classification into veld types provides valuable information on the types of animals, to which the veld and forage is suited, whereas classification based on seasonal quality and quantity of veld and forage influences the type of animal production system to which the area is most suited.

The form and function of veld and forage resources in an area varies, and as such the management of those resources will also vary. Grasslands and savannah in particular, need careful management as they contribute substantially to the agricultural economy by supporting large numbers of animals.

The many initiatives in attempt to address the characterisation, evaluation and management of the veld and forage resources in the country include:

·  Drought Investigation Commission Report in 1920 to 1923: paved the way for the categorisation of veld degradation.

·  The classic work on the Classification of Veld types of South Africa by J. P. H. Acocks since the 1940's.

·  Legislation aimed at protecting the natural agricultural resources of South Africa were developed at regular intervals; from Forest and Veld Conservation Act (Act 13 of 1941), the Soil Conservation Act, 1946 (Act 45 of 1946); and the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act, 1983 (Act 43 of 1983).

·  National Grazing Strategy (1985): the first action plan from the White Paper on Agricultural Policy (tabled by government in May 1984) aimed to address the alarming deterioration of the natural veld.

·  Research and Development Centres were established to show commitment to veld and forage research: Agricultural Research Council’s Range and Forage Institute (ARC-RFI) and the Research and Development Stations under the ordinance of various provincial Departments of Agriculture (PDA’s).

·  The Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA): a platform for interaction of veld and forage scientists, researchers, and technologists.

·  Land Degradation in South Africa (2001) - T. Hoffman and A. Ashwell: A report that represents the first stage in the development of South Africa’s National Action Programme to Combat Desertification (under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

Despite all these attempts, veld degradation still remains a serious problem that pose a threat to sustainable animal production in many of the country.

1.6 Veld and Forage Support services

South Africa has a wealth of support services and infrastructure to cater for the animal production sector, with established veld and forage research and development (R&D) centres in all the main biomes as well as numerous academic institutions that champion veld and forage research studies. While it would appear as though more than adequate provision has been made to provide biome-linked and production area-linked services, the centres areas are not confined to provinces and this creates a problem as far as integrated service-delivery is concerned (more details appear in the problem statement).

At present, support services directed at the sustainable management of veld and forage resources are fragmented, and research and development functions are spread amongst the nine PDoA’s, the DAFF and the research and academic institutions. This situation weakens the impact and effectiveness of research and extension services.

1.7  Legislation

1.7.1  Legislation administered by DAFF

The main Acts controlling the use of veld and forage resources that are administered by DAFF:

(i)  Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act, 1983 (Act 43 of 1983)(CARA)

This act makes provision to prescribe control measures with regard to:

·  controlling the utilization of natural agricultural resources;

·  the grazing/browsing capacity of veld and the maximum number and the kind of animals which may be kept on veld;

·  promoting the conservation of the soil, the water sources and the vegetation

·  the prevention and control of veld fires; the utilization and protection of veld which has burned;

The Act makes provision for the Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs, with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance, to establish a scheme (by notice in the Government Gazette) in terms of which assistance, out of moneys appropriated by Parliament for this purpose, may be granted to land users by means of the reduction of the number of animals being kept on land in order to restrict the detrimental effect of drought on that land.

(ii)  Subdivision of Agricultural Land Act, 1970 (Act 70 of 1970)

The Act is aimed at controlling the subdivision of agricultural land and, in connection with, the use of agricultural land to prevent the fragmentation of this land into uneconomic units as well as the sale of this land without the approval from the Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs.

(iii)  Fencing Act, 1963 (Act 31 of 1963)

The purpose of the Fencing Act is to consolidate the laws relating to fences and the fencing of farms and other holdings. It regulates the fencing of boundaries of land on which farming operations are carried on.

(iv)  National Veld and Forest Fire Act, 1998 (Act 101 0f 1998)

The Act provides for sustainable utilization of forest and woodlands, and also protects certain tree species through its regulation. The act impacts on veld management, particularly where fires may be used for bush control purposes and other veld management practices.

1.7.2  Legislation administered by DEA

DEA administers two key Acts that control the use of natural resources, namely:

(i)  National Environment Management : Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act 10 of 2004)

This act provides the management and conservation of biological diversity within the Republic and to give ratified international agreements relating to biodiversity. The biodiversity act will protect critical endangered ecosystem as a result of human intervention.

(ii)  National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act 107 of 1998) (NEMA)

The NEMA regulations are important as they impact on a number of veld and forage farming operations. Section 24 of NEMA requires that the environmental

1.7.3  Legislation administered by DRDLR

(i)  SPLUMA

1.7.4  Legislation Administered by DWA

(i)  National Water Act

2. Definitions / Glossary of Terms

2.1  Terms

Terms / Definitions
Animal / Any kind of herbivore animal (wildlife and livestock) used in a production system. This includes an animal of a specified breed of such kind of animal which has in terms of section 2 been declared as an animal for the purposes of the Animal Improvement Act, 1998 (Act No 62 of 1998).
Biomass / Total amount of living material (plant and animal) present in a particular area at any given time- kg/ha.
Browsing / Utilization of woody vegetation by animals.
Carrying capacity / Potential of an area to support an animal through grazing and/or browsing over extended number of years without deterioration to the overall ecosystem- ha/AU or AU/ha, this will include planted pastures and additional fodder supply.
Communal grazing
Community / Means any group of persons or a part of such a group who share common interests, and who regard themselves as a community.
Conservation / In relation to the natural agricultural resources, includes the protection recovery and reclamation of those resources.
Degraded / In relation to veld and forage, means that which has lost its production potential as a result of over utilisation, erosion and other factors.
Department / Department of Agriculture in the national government
Fodder / Animal feed that includes forage, hay and silage.
Grazing / Utilization of herbaceous vegetation by animals.
Grazing/
browsing capacity / Productivity of grazeable/browseable portion of a homogenous unit of vegetation expressed as the area of land required to maintain a single animal unit over an extended number of years.
Grazing/Forage value / A combination of palatability, food value and bulk of the relevant vegetation in relation to the grazing/browsing animal.
Herbivore / In terms of this policy, any animal using veld and forage as a primary source of food.
Large Stock Unit / An animal with a mass of 450 kg and which gains 0.5 kg per day on forage with digestible energy percentage of 55 %.
Planted pastures / Dryland or irrigated pastures that have been cultivated with the specific purpose of providing fodder for herbivores.
Regulation / Any regulation made in terms of the relevant Acts.
Stocking rate / An area of land in the system of management which the operator has allocated to each animal unit in the system, and is expressed per length of grazeable and/ or browseable period of the year- ha/AU or AU/ha.
Sustainable development / The integration of social, economic and environmental factors into planning, implementation and decision making so as to ensure that development serves present and future generations.
Sustainable use / The management of veld and forage resources for animal production in an environmentally sound way that does not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs from the same resources.
Veld / Indigenous vegetation used as grazing and/or browsing which may be composed of any of a number of plant growth forms and need.
The word “veld” is used interchangeable with the words “range” and “rangeland”.
Veld condition / Condition of the vegetation in relation to some functional characteristic, normally maximum forage production and resistance to soil erosion.
Veld type / Unit of vegetation whose range of variation is small enough to permit the whole of it to have the same farming potentialities.

2.2  Acronyms

ARC / Agricultural Research Council
CARA / Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (Act No. 43 of 1983)
DAFF / Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries
DEA / Department of Environmental Affairs
DRDLR / Department of Rural Development and Land Reform
DWA / Department OF Water Affairs
DCoGTA / Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
GSSA / Grassland Society of Southern Africa
ITCA / Interdepartmental Committee on Agriculture
NAFU / National African Farmers Union
PDoA / Provincial Departments of Agriculture
R&D / Research and Development
WRSA / Wildlife Ranching South Africa

3. Problem statement