26. NATAL LOWVELD BUSHVELD

Synonym:

Lowveld (A10).

Statistics:

10 140 km²; ± 35% transformed; 17.81 % conserved.

Locality & Physical Geography:This type covers much of the Lowveld of Zululand which lies between 150 and 450 m altitude.

Climate:

The rainfall is 800 to 900 mm per year in summer. Mean annual temperatures for January are around 24C with a mean maximum of about 30C, while the winter mean annual July temperature is 16C with a mean minimum of 10C.

Geology & Soil:

Soils are either black clays, red, structured clays or duplex soils derived from Ecca Group shale and mudstone.

Vegetation:

The vegetation is a mix of scrub and savanna. The most common tree species include Umbrella Thorn Acacia tortilis, Sweet Thorn A. karroo, Red Bushwillow Combretum apiculatum, Boscia albitrunca, Euclea schimperi, Olea europaea subsp. africana, Schotia brachypetala, Euphorbia spp. and Spirostachys africana. The grasses Spreading Pricklegrass Aristida congesta subsp. barbicollis and Pinhole Grass Bothriochloa insculpta occur in areas of severe disturbance. Where disturbance is less severe, grass species such as Redgrass Themeda triandra and Speargrass Heteropogon contortus dominate.

Key Environmental Parameters:

Grazing and fire are key environmental factors determining the mix of grasses and shrubs.

Economic Uses:

The major uses are cattle and game farming, sugar cane and subtropical fruit.

Conservation Status:

Although large areas of Natal Lowveld Bushveld have been severely disturbed, the conservation status is good. Important reserves include: Hluhluwe, Umfolozi, Ndumu and Mkuzi Nature Reserves.

Key Reference:

Edwards (1967).

Author:

Ed Granger.