Veld is a natural resource vital to our survival on earth. About 80% of our beautiful country consists of veld. Most of this area is used for livestock and game ranching as well as for biodiversity conservation and recreation. Good veld management is needed to prevent land degradation and to ensure sustainable food production and biodiversity conservation. But good veld management relies on a good knowledge of ecological principles and veld management practices, something many land users did not have the privilege to acquire.
Veld Management aims to provide the necessary knowledge to assist land users to effectively manage the land under their care, a huge responsibility indeed. Veld Management: Principles and Practices, attempts to simplify a rather technical subject by including more than 380 photographs and illustrations and using easy understandable language.
Chapter 1 is an introduction to the subject and also includes important legislation.
Chapter 2 discusses the natural resources we are managing during veld and land management, such as soil, vegetation and water.
Chapter 3 deals with ecological principles and includes sections on basic ecological processes, the role of plants and animals, and land degradation.
Chapter 4 includes all the important practices such as property planning, grazing systems, fire management, the control of unwanted plants and many more.
Appendix A: Declared weeds and invader plants.
Appendix B: List of herbicides commonly used to control unwanted plants during veld and environmental management.
Frits van Oudtshoorn is a pasture consultant and environmental trainer. He has a keen interest in sustainable land management and holds a masters degree in nature conservation. He is also the author of the book Guide to Grasses of Southern Africa / Gids tot Grasse van Suider-Afrika.