scholarly journals Effects of Lantana camara invasion on vegetation diversity and composition in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, Limpopo Province of South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. e00610
Author(s):  
Sheunesu Ruwanza
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Lantana Camara ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Vegetation Diversity

scholarly journals Contribution of Natural Forest Products to Rural Livelihoods at Mavunde and Sambandou Villages, Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4252
Author(s):  
Mwazvita T. B. Dalu ◽  
Ashley W. Gunter ◽  
Mulweli Makatu ◽  
Gregory M. Dowo ◽  
Farai Dondofema ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Natural Forest ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Economic Factors ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Socio Economic Factors

With ~70% of the sub-Saharan population living in rural areas, more than 90% of rural African households depend on natural forest products. Although several studies in other parts of South Africa have looked into the use of natural forest products in poverty alleviation, little is known on the roles and relative contribution of natural forest products as daily and safety nets specifically within the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, South Africa. This study assessed the different roles played by natural forest products in households and the patterns of their relative contribution to households both as sources of income and direct consumption within differing household compositions as well as socio-economic factors. These included employment and income diversification role and the monetised value of natural resources in the rural livelihoods of households in Sambandou and Mavunde, Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study inter alia compared a wide use of natural resources by two villages and determined on which forest products they most relied for their economic welfare. Their relative contributions to livelihoods were assessed by identifying factors that affected their contributions. Findings of the study showed that Sambandou had a high number of people with formal jobs and females, and fewer old-age pensioners. Differences in employment and education between villages were observed. In all villages, the most frequently used or harvested resource was fuelwood, wild edible fruits, herbs, grass/shrub hand sweepers, insects for food, thatch grass/reeds and poles for fencing and housing. Overall, Mavunde village households were found to be more dependent on natural resource harvesting both for income and subsistence substitution. Findings suggest that this may have been a consequence of socio-economic factors such as income and employment, as well as general underdevelopment in the village. This study’s findings could contribute to further studies into how these results compare to other parts of the country and region, as well as their respective developmental implications.

scholarly journals Plant species used for birdlime-making in South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-124
Author(s):  
Luambo Jeffrey Ramarumo ◽  
Alfred Maroyi ◽  
Milingoni Peter Tshisikhawe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Nutritional Value ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Traditional Culture ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
The Common

Plants used for making birdlime and indigenous knowledge associated with the practice in Soutpansberg region, Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, Limpopo province, South Africa have been documented. Twelve birdlime-making plant species belonging to Apocynaceae, Celastraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Loranthaceae, Moraceae and Sapotaceae families were recorded. The common species included Maytenus peduncularis (Sond.) Loyes cited by 23.6% informants, Euphorbia pulvinata Marloth (17.2%) and Landolphia kirkii Dyer (12%). Plant parts used were latex (50%), fruit (34%), root (8) and the mixture of latex and fruit (8%). Documentation of plant species used for birdlime-making is of great interest, not only for preservation of the Vhavenḓa's traditional culture, but also for promoting economic subsistence, nutritional value and livelihood amongst poor and marginalized people.

scholarly journals Lantana camara invasion along road–river interchanges and roadsides in Soutpansberg, Vhembe Biosphere Reserve in South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 116 (9/10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheunesua Ruwanza ◽  
Edward S. Mhlongo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Plant Invasion ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Lantana Camara ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Alien Plant ◽  
Invasive Shrub ◽  
Solanum Mauritianum ◽  
Road Survey

Roads and rivers act as conduits of alien plant invasion; however, little is known regarding the abundance and invasion extent of Lantana camara, an invasive shrub, along road–river interchanges and roadsides in South Africa. We assessed the effects of road–river interchanges and roadsides as invasion corridors that facilitate L. camara invasion. A road survey method was used to measure the invasion extent of L. camara along road–river interchanges and roadsides from national and regional roads covering 446 km in Soutpansberg, Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, South Africa. L. camara occurred along 21 of the 48 surveyed road–river interchanges and its abundance and cover were similar between road–river interchanges and roadsides, although height and diameter of L. camara were greater along road–river interchanges than roadsides. Other alien species that dominated road–river interchanges were Solanum mauritianum, Caesalpinia decapetala and Rubus rigidus. Our results indicate that L. camara dominates both road–river interchanges and roadsides, therefore roads and bridges should be considered important targets for L. camara control.

scholarly journals An inventory of useful threatened plant species in Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, Limpopo Province, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luambo Jeffrey Ramarumo ◽  
ALFRED MAROYI
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Threatened Plants ◽  
Threatened Plant ◽  
Species Of Conservation Concern ◽  
Threatened Plant Species ◽  
Conservation Concern

Abstract. Ramarumo LJ, Maroyi A. 2020. An inventory of useful threatened plant species in Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Biodiversitas 21: 2146-2158. Scientists and conservation managers are seeking to understand and monitor plant species that are likely to be on the verge of extinction risk. Monitoring of threatened plants’ extinction risk can be better achieved through insights about indigenous knowledge dynamics associated with those species. This study aimed to document detailed information about useful threatened plant species in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Data was collected through interviews with 203 participants and literally counting of individuals as per the IUCN’s Red List Criteria. A total of 13 useful and native threatened plants belonging to 12 families were recorded. The majority of the threatened plant species were being used for medicinal purposes only (46.0%) followed by the mixture of medicinal and ornamentals (23.0%). The frequently cited useful threatened species with UV > 0.024, RFC > 0.059 and FL > 5.911%, includes Asparagus sekukuniensis, Bowiea volubilis, Brackenridgea zanguebarica, Ocotea bullata, Rhynchosia vendae, Siphonochilus aethiopicus and Warburgia salutaris. About 47.0% of the recorded useful threatened plants were distributed in remote areas of the Thathe Vonḓo and its surroundings. Threatened plants with the population size < 100 adult individuals constitute an overall of 61.54% of all the recorded species. The current study provides substantial information about useful threatened plant species in the studied region. Detailed information about threatened plant species remains fundamental for making informed decisions that are important for managing species of conservation concern.

Lived Experiences of Young People who Live with Mental Healthcare Users in Limpopo, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mamakota Maggie Molepo ◽  
Faniswa Honest Mfidi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Young People ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Support Systems ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Burden Sharing

Mental illness is more than just the diagnosis to an individual – it also has an impact on the social functioning of the family at large. When a parent or relative has a mental illness, all other family members are affected, even the children. The purpose of the study was to provide insight into the lived experiences of young people who live with mental healthcare users and the way in which their daily coping can be maximised. A qualitative, descriptive, phenomenological research was undertaken to explore and describe the lived experiences of young people who live with mental healthcare users in the Limpopo province, South Africa. Audiotaped, unstructured in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 young people who grew up and lived with a family member who is a mental healthcare user in their homes, until data saturation was reached. A content analysis was used to derive themes from the collected qualitative data. Four major themes emerged as features reflective of the young people’s daily living with mental healthcare user, namely psychological effects, added responsibilities, effects on school performances, and support systems. This study recommends that support networks for young people be established through multidisciplinary team involvement and collaboration and the provision of burden-sharing or a relief system during times of need. With the availability of healthy coping mechanisms and support systems, the daily living situations and coping of young people could be maximised, thereby improving their quality of life while living with their family members with mental illness.

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