Commercial wildflower production in the fynbos biome and its role in the management of land-use

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dc.contributor.advisorMoll, Eugene Jen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorDavis, George Williamen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2016-11-10T06:49:19Z
dc.date.available2016-11-10T06:49:19Z
dc.date.issued1990en_ZA
dc.descriptionBibliography: pages 175-201.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe wildflower industry of the Cape, South Africa, utilizes ecosystems and vegetation of the Fynbos Biome either directly by harvesting of natural plant populations, or indirectly by land transformation for agro-horticultural production. This thesis reports on a study of conservation and management issues arising from: (a) direct veld-harvesting; and (b) primary annexation of land for controlled production of material. A review of the industry's structure and the controlling legislation, indicated a need for integration of current management strategies. A potential means of anticipating population degradation and local extinction of plant species through over-utilization was investigated by construction of a computer model. Lack of data describing the flow of material and revenue was highlighted as an impediment to resource management by means if modelling. Experimental work investigated the effects of marginal cultivation on mountain fynbos ecosystems as utilized by the industry. Work was conducted at a site in the Highlands Forest Reserve in the south-western Cape. This experimental system was cleared by burning, and tilled as if for commercial production. Disturbance effects on system parameters were monitored. These included energy and water regimes, aspects of community structure, plant growth, and water relations of the natural vegetation. Results showed that tillage altered the system during the dry summer months by increasing reflectivity of the soil surface to solar radiation, reducing soil temperatures, and increasing soil water content. Response of the vegetation included reduction of species richness and diversity, a reduction in projected foliar cover, and an increase in the productivity of some, but not all, of the naturally occurring dominant species. Two commercially favoured species of Protea were also introduced to the site. Survival and productivity of these populations were monitored as responses to substrate disturbance. Results showed that the treatment was significantly associated with better survival for P. cynaroides, but better productivity for P. repens. A concluding review suggests that there are general paradigmatic blocks between the economic and ecological facets of natural resource utilization which prevent implementation of optimal environmental management strategies. The wildflower industry is nominated as a small bridge for that gap.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationDavis, G. W. (1990). <i>Commercial wildflower production in the fynbos biome and its role in the management of land-use</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/22477en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationDavis, George William. <i>"Commercial wildflower production in the fynbos biome and its role in the management of land-use."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 1990. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/22477en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationDavis, G. 1990. Commercial wildflower production in the fynbos biome and its role in the management of land-use. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Davis, George William AB - The wildflower industry of the Cape, South Africa, utilizes ecosystems and vegetation of the Fynbos Biome either directly by harvesting of natural plant populations, or indirectly by land transformation for agro-horticultural production. This thesis reports on a study of conservation and management issues arising from: (a) direct veld-harvesting; and (b) primary annexation of land for controlled production of material. A review of the industry's structure and the controlling legislation, indicated a need for integration of current management strategies. A potential means of anticipating population degradation and local extinction of plant species through over-utilization was investigated by construction of a computer model. Lack of data describing the flow of material and revenue was highlighted as an impediment to resource management by means if modelling. Experimental work investigated the effects of marginal cultivation on mountain fynbos ecosystems as utilized by the industry. Work was conducted at a site in the Highlands Forest Reserve in the south-western Cape. This experimental system was cleared by burning, and tilled as if for commercial production. Disturbance effects on system parameters were monitored. These included energy and water regimes, aspects of community structure, plant growth, and water relations of the natural vegetation. Results showed that tillage altered the system during the dry summer months by increasing reflectivity of the soil surface to solar radiation, reducing soil temperatures, and increasing soil water content. Response of the vegetation included reduction of species richness and diversity, a reduction in projected foliar cover, and an increase in the productivity of some, but not all, of the naturally occurring dominant species. Two commercially favoured species of Protea were also introduced to the site. Survival and productivity of these populations were monitored as responses to substrate disturbance. Results showed that the treatment was significantly associated with better survival for P. cynaroides, but better productivity for P. repens. A concluding review suggests that there are general paradigmatic blocks between the economic and ecological facets of natural resource utilization which prevent implementation of optimal environmental management strategies. The wildflower industry is nominated as a small bridge for that gap. DA - 1990 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 1990 T1 - Commercial wildflower production in the fynbos biome and its role in the management of land-use TI - Commercial wildflower production in the fynbos biome and its role in the management of land-use UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/22477 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/22477
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationDavis GW. Commercial wildflower production in the fynbos biome and its role in the management of land-use. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 1990 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/22477en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherBiological Sciencesen_ZA
dc.titleCommercial wildflower production in the fynbos biome and its role in the management of land-useen_ZA
dc.typeDoctoral Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelDoctoral
dc.type.qualificationnamePhDen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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