7508_xml
20200926100000
assa
nadiag@assaf.org.za
assa
South African Journal of Science
S. Afr. J. Sci
1996-7489
09292020
116
9/10
Forest product harvesting in the Eastern Cape, South Africa: Impacts on habitat structure
Jessica
Leaver
Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1431-7298
Michael
Cherry
Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5161-7735
The Eastern Cape Province harbours 46% of South Africa’s remaining indigenous forest cover, and is one of the country’s poorest and least developed provinces. Forest resources thus represent a vital component of rural livelihoods in this region. Consequently, forest management policies aim to balance the needs of resource users with the ecological integrity of forest ecosystems. In a recent study, forest bird ranges were shown to have declined in the Eastern Cape over the past 20 years, despite increases in forest cover over the same time period, indicating that habitat degradation may be driving forest bird losses. Given that harvesting of forest products represents the primary human disturbance in forests in the Eastern Cape today, insight is needed regarding the link between resource use and habitat modification. We report on effects of harvesting of three key forest products – poles, timber and medicinal bark – on habitat structure at the ground, understorey and canopy layers in indigenous forests in the province. Harvest activities had considerable impacts on habitat structure, depending on the nature and extent of harvesting. Bark and timber harvesting resulted in canopy gaps, whereas pole harvesting reduced tree density, resulting in understorey gaps. Overall, harvest activities increased the frequency of canopy disturbance, and density of understorey layer foliage. Unsustainable bark harvesting practices increased the mortality rate of canopy trees, thereby increasing dead wood availability. By providing insight into human-mediated habitat modification in forests of the Eastern Cape, this study contributes to the development of ecologically informed sustainable resource management policies.
09292020
1
10.17159/sajs.2016/crossmark
sajs.co.za
false
2019-10-22
2020-04-02
2020-09-25
National Research Foundation of Korea
http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003725
FBIP 98871
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
10.17159/sajs.2020/7508
20200926100000
https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/7508
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/7508/10475
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/7508/10475
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/7508/10475
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/7508/10475
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/7508/10475
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/7508/10475