Grasslands ecosystems services
This living landscape extends into 6 provinces, including KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Limpopo and Eastern Cape.
The theme of SANBI's National Grasslands Programme "Living in a Working Landscape" points to the fact the grasslands biome is home to Gauteng, South Africa's economic heartland and largest urban complex, and to the significant economic sectors of productive agriculture (cultivation and livestock production), forestry and mining. As such, it offers plenty of economic opportunities for communities dependent on the land, such as eco-tourism and sustainable cattle farming.
Being one of South Africa's most productive landscapes, it provides core ecosystem services for our survival. Since humanity has been around, the Grasslands region has been ideal land for grazing livestock and today about 150 000 head of cattle and 1.5 million sheep can be seen grazing in the area.
These grasslands are also important for storing rainwater in either wetlands or as ground water which is gradually released throughout the year. This water is essential for cropping and animal production in and adjacent to catchments, for high density residential areas in Gauteng, and for the Highveld power stations which produce 70% of South Africa’s electricity requirements. Other ecosystem services include pollination, soil production and conservation, flood amelioration, carbon storage (maintaining the earth's atmosphere), cultural heritage and recreational amenities; and support to subsistence livelihoods.
Despite its importance, the grasslands biome has been placed under significant pressure by the very economic activities that are directly and indirectly dependent on the services that it provides. As important as cropping, afforestation, mining and urban development are to the economy of South Africa, the sheer scale of these activities has resulted in extensive parts of the Grasslands region being transformed. With only 1.9% of this entire area which stretches over six million being formally conserved, WWF will continue to work.
Being one of South Africa's most productive landscapes, it provides core ecosystem services for our survival. Since humanity has been around, the Grasslands region has been ideal land for grazing livestock and today about 150 000 head of cattle and 1.5 million sheep can be seen grazing in the area.
These grasslands are also important for storing rainwater in either wetlands or as ground water which is gradually released throughout the year. This water is essential for cropping and animal production in and adjacent to catchments, for high density residential areas in Gauteng, and for the Highveld power stations which produce 70% of South Africa’s electricity requirements. Other ecosystem services include pollination, soil production and conservation, flood amelioration, carbon storage (maintaining the earth's atmosphere), cultural heritage and recreational amenities; and support to subsistence livelihoods.
Despite its importance, the grasslands biome has been placed under significant pressure by the very economic activities that are directly and indirectly dependent on the services that it provides. As important as cropping, afforestation, mining and urban development are to the economy of South Africa, the sheer scale of these activities has resulted in extensive parts of the Grasslands region being transformed. With only 1.9% of this entire area which stretches over six million being formally conserved, WWF will continue to work.
Clean water from our grasslands under threat
WWF's work
Coal mining is popular in the Grasslands region and this is the negative impacts it has on the area
