Although land use is not a feature of the environment as such, it does represent the current status of the land surface as a whole, and therefore also reflects the condition of the environment. Land use is reflected by land use patterns, based on terrain morphological units.

Several factors have dominated the development of South African land use patterns, of which the most important are rainfall distribution, mineral deposits, harbours and transport routes. Harbours were the initial links between South Africa and the rest of the world. The development of areas around harbours and transport routes to the mineral fields of the interior, have lead to industrial and commercial development nodes. These in turn have given rise to the establishment of cities and towns. Gold, for example, has generated enormous peripheral development, resulting in the creation of the economic power-house of Gauteng.

Rainfall and favorable climatic conditions have made agriculture possible, resulting in four major regions of farming activity. These are the intensive farming districts of the Cape mountain areas with their winter rainfall where wine, fruit and wheat are produced; the moist sub-tropical east coast region of KwaZulu-Natal with its sugar-belt, as well as the eastern Lowveld; the summer rainfall area in the maize-producing region of the Gauteng and the Mpumalanga Highveld, the North-West Province, the Northern Province, the Free State and the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands; and the high rainfall escarpment with its exotic forest plantations.

These forms of land use utilise natural resources and contribute towards national growth and development, but have also altered the natural environment and have been the cause of tremendous environmental degradation. As in the case of all forms of land use except conservation, there will always be trade-off between environmental impacts and economic development, an issue that has become more prevalent and contested since the latter part of the twentieth century.

Other forms of land use include areas classified as natural, such as cattle and sheep farming regions and areas classified as wild, where conservation is the prime land use.

Choose a province to view map or click on province in image

Eastern Cape
Free State
Gauteng
KwaZulu-Natal
Mpumalanga
Northern Cape
Northern Province
North West
Western Cape

 

BLUE CRANES   Critically endangered! Blue cranes occur only in Southern Africa. Their numbers have decreased from about 100 000 in the early 1980s to at least 20 000 birds at present. Owing to this alarming decline, blue cranes have been listed as critically endangered according to the latest IUCN Red Data categories for threatened species. More than half of the surviving blue cranes in the world are found in the Western Cape, mostly in the Overberg, where they prefer open areas such as farmlands for feeding or breeding. Blue cranes breed during the grain harvesting season, and are particularly sensitive to outside interference or disturbances. Many cranes are injured or killed by overhead wires and fences. The greatest threat to blue cranes, however, is the indiscriminate use of poisons. During droughts, cranes may feed on supplementary fodder provided for sheep, causing losses to farmers. The birds also feed on newly sown seed, or trample young crops. Solutions to the problems of both cranes and farmers are being sought. The future of these beautiful birds lies in the hands of our farming community! How can landowners help blue cranes survive? Avoid disturbing the birds during the breeding season by marking cranes' nests before harvesting to prevent damage by combine harvesters. preventing chicks from drowning in drinking toughs by providing a few concrete blocks as steps out of the water. promoting the safe and responsible use of poisons among farm workers. reporting ringed, injured or dead birds to Cape Nature Conservation. erecting a single strand of wire around feeding troughs, to prevent the loss of sheep fodder. This prevents access by cranes while still allowing sheep to feed. removing pieces of bailing twine which often become entangled around a crane's legs. not keeping cranes as pets. This illegal practice carries a maximum fine of R10 000 and/or two years imprisonment. sending ideas to Cape Nature Conservation on ensuring the survival of the cranes For more Information contact CAPE NATURE CONSERVATION.