Assessment of the impact of land-use management and biodiversity conservation within and adjacent to the Magalies mountain ridge, in Mamelodi (Tshwane), South Africa

Intensive land-use changes and management can serve as indicators for major impacts on biodiversity, especially when those changes show the loss of natural habitat due to urban sprawl, cultivation, mining, logging, and trawling. Biodiversity is essential for sustainable development and human well-being. The need for biodiversity and land-use management to satisfy human needs while sustaining the earth`s life support systems entails that it is essential to intensify natural resource management for sustainable development and human well-being. Major threats to biodiversity decline are habitat destruction, currently ranked as the primary cause of biodiversity decline, degradation, and fragmentation. This study investigated the impact of land-use management management and biodiversity conservation within and adjacent to the Magalies mountain ridge in Mamelodi (Tshwane), South Africa. A questionnaire survey was administered to 40 respondents so as to understand their perception of the importance of biodiversity, biodiversity conservation, and how the study site was beneficial in terms of resource use and non-consumptive uses. Overall responses indicated that respondents were aware of the importance to their development and livelihoods of land use and biodiversity. Given to the importance of biodiversity, it is critical in general to practice sustainable land management and conserve and ensure sustainable use and management of the resources. Results of the questionnaire survey indicated that the site was viewed as valuable to the community in terms of resources (fruits, medicines, firewood, grass) and non-consumptive uses (cultural, religious, sporting, livestock grazing, hiking, educational, bird sanctuary). At the study site, a plot selected from a 100 m transect was divided into 16 quadrants of 10m x 10m. A total of 538 individual stems of 6 tree species were recorded. Species richness, species diversity, and species index were determined in this plot. Ochna pulchra was found to have the highest frequency (86.8), density (29.1) and abundance (31), while Jacaranda mimosifolia and Englerophytum magalismontanum had the lowest frequency (0.2), density (0.1) and abundance (1). The most dominant stem class distribution was between 10-15cm: which indicated that the sample plot had a young and vibrant population that was managed well. This study was significant because it showed that sustainable land use contributed to biodiversity conservation which offered multiple benefits to the communities.