Summary
The objectives, appropriate strategies, the state of conservation in South Africa, and the contributed research which is needed, are evaluated. It is suggested that the ultimate objectives of conservation are to maintain the ecosystem to support people and to achieve economic advantages. These can only be obtained by providing for the greatest possible diversity of life on Earth. An appropriate conservation strategy can be based on a balanced combination of five types of conservation opportunities. These opportunities are: (i) formal conservation in reserves, (ii) promotion of land use change for conservation, (iii) law enforcement, (iv) national resource utilisation planning, and (v) the development of a national land ethic. Adjustment of the opportunity combination to address changing threast must be an ongoing exercise. Conservation strategies need to be based on sound conceptual models of ecosystem structure and function, as well as human needs and aspirations. The main goals of the conservation ecologist are the development, testing and validation of conceptual models of ecosystems.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dasmann, R.F. 1976.Environmental Conservation. 4th edn. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
De Vries, J.P.H. 1988.Mobiele oorlogvoering'n perspektief vir Suid Afrika. Harman, Clubview, RSA.
Hudson, P.J. and Rands, M.R.W. 1988.Ecology and Management of Game Birds. BSP Professional Books, London.
Livingston, J.A. 1982.The Fallacy of Wildlife Conservation. McLellans and Steward, Toronto, Canada.
MacNeeley, N.A. 1988.Economics and Biological Diversity: Developing and Using Economic Incentives to Conserve Biological Resources. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
Montgomery, B.L. 1958.Memoirs of Montgomery of Alamein. Collins, London.
Usher, M.B. 1986.Wildlife Conservation Evaluation. Chapman and Hall, New York.
Von Freytag-Loringhoven. 1918.Deductions from the Great War. Constable, London.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Mr Zak Le Roux is employed in the Scientific Services Section of the Ecosystem Conservation Department of the Natal Parks Board. He possesses a BSc in Forestry and Nature Conservation from the University of Stellenbosch, and is currently undertaking research in Plant Ecology at the University of Natal. A tenth generation South African, his work focuses on vegetation dynamics of semi-arid savanna landscapes and general conservation in Zululand. In particular, this involves the integration of wildlife with agriculture, and the development of more appropriate land uses in the areas surrounding the parks.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Le Roux, Z. Conservation at landscape level: A strategy for survival: The role of research. Environmentalist 13, 105–110 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01905666
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01905666