A Case Study of Landholder Attitudes and Behaviour Toward the Conservation of Renosterveld,a Critically Endangered Vegetation Type in Cape Floral Kingdom,South Africa |
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Authors: | Susan J Winter Heidi Prozesky Karen J Esler |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag XI, 7602 Matieland, South Africa;(2) Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology and Centre for Invasion Biology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag XI, 7602 Matieland, South Africa;(3) Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology and Centre for Invasion Biology, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, South Africa |
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Abstract: | The attitudes and behaviours of private landholders toward the conservation of a highly transformed and critically endangered
habitat, Overberg Coastal Renosterveld (OCR) (a grassy shrubland of the Cape Floral Region, South Africa) are described. Personal,
semistructured interviews were conducted with landholders, representing 40 properties in the Overberg region, on topics such
as management and utilisation of OCR, the depth of their knowledge of its conservation importance, what they perceive its
value to be, and the extent of their willingness to conserve it. General attitudes toward conservation incentives and provincial
conservation authorities were also investigated. Farmers more willing to conserve were younger, did not necessarily have a
better education, and owned larger farms (>500 ha) with a greater amount of remnant renosterveld (>300 ha) than those less
willing to conserve. Attitudes toward the OCR were largely negative, related to associated problem plants and animals and
the fact that it is believed not to be economically advantageous to retain it. However, farmers are of the opinion that provision
of incentives and increased extension support will provide practical positive inducements for conservation. Landholder education
is paramount to prevent further transformation of critically endangered habitats. The success of private-conservation programs
depends on the attitudes of landowners toward (1) the particular habitat or species to be conserved (which can vary depending
on the type of land use practised and the associated benefits and disadvantages of that habitat type); (2) the conservation
agency or extension officers responsible for that area; and (3) willingness of landowners to participate in a conservation
program, which is influenced by landowner age, farm size, and the amount of natural habitat left to conserve. |
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Keywords: | Extension Incentives Overberg Coastal Renosterveld Survey Willingness to conserve |
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