1.0

Ostriches have and continue to have a significant impact on the natural veld in the Klein Karoo – mainly as a result of over stocking and particularly the trampling effect that they have on the veld. Due to this ostrich farming has been identified as one of the major threats to biodiversity in the Klein Karoo. Using the above-mentioned shapefiles it is possible to identify areas where ostrich farming should not take place (Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable vegetation types), areas which have been completely transformed as a result of cultivation that has taken place, and those areas where ostriches could be stocked according to the recommended stocking rates. It is vitally important that these stocking rates must not be exceeded, as this will result in the remaining areas becoming decimated such as the veld between Calitzdorp and Oudtshoorn. These shapefiles should be useful to the Department of Agriculture, the Ostrich industry, extension staff and regional ecologists of CapeNature as well as local land managers.

Capture Source: Jan Vlok (Regalis Environmental Services) & AnneLise Schutte-Vlok (CapeNature)

The vegetation map for the Klein Karoo (Vlok et al. 2008) was used as a basis for reducing 56 habitat types to 10 habitat types. Each of these 10 habitat types were scored according to the number of hectares required per ostrich to maintain the vegetation in an ecologically healthy state. The shapefile (Ostrich_farming_threat_ecosyst.shp) needs to be used to identify areas that are already threatened as a result of the ostrich industry – this layer was derived from the Threatened ecosystems data developed by Reyers et al. (2008). These areas need to be avoided and rehabilitation should be encouraged here. The other shapefile (Ostrich_farming_severe_cultivated_transf.shp) was derived from the Little Karoo Transformation map compiled by Thompson (2005) – all the areas under cultivation were selected for this layer.

This shapefile identifies areas where ostriches can be kept, but land managers need to be mindful of erosion potential, as many of these areas are located within river floodplains.

Available documentation: A one page description entitled “Recommendations for biodiversity sensitive and ecologically sustainable farming with ostriches in the Klein Karoo” was compiled by Jan Vlok (2008).

SANS 1878

FGDC-STD-001-1998