Agriculture

Supported by a climate which is ideal for farming, the agriculture sector in South Africa (SA) uses approximately 65% of the grassland biome. The agricultural sector is characterised by a dual economy with a well-developed commercial sector and subsistence farming in the communal areas. The majority of the 65% of grassland biome used by the agricultural sector is used for livestock production for red meat. The biome contains up to 50% of SA’s beef cattle, and about 58% of sheep flock. The commercial game ranching industry has also shown solid growth during the past fourty years.

A recent study on the impact of land uses on grassland biodiversity found that under the right management practices, livestock farming and game ranching are highly compatible with maintaining grasslands ecosystem function. The Grasslands Programme is working to strengthen land uses that support and maintain the ecosystem function of the grasslands, while protecting areas of important biodiversity. In its agriculture component, the Programme aims to ensure that biodiversity is mainstreamed into the agriculture sector‘s decision-making processes in land use regulations, planning and management for the benefit of grassland biodiversity and sustainable agricultural productivity.

The Grasslands Programme’s interventions in the agriculture sector include:

• Supporting biodiversity-friendly livestock/game production systems promoted through market based mechanisms
  
  Working with industry groups, the Programme is developing rangeland management guidelines and standards for ecosystem function to be adopted by industry groups in the red meat sector. This will include establishing the economic feasibility of such improved rangeland management practices for ecosystem function.
  
  
• Development of biodiversity-compatible best practice management strategies that integrate the needs of biodiversity with production – learning from demonstration sites in selected areas
  
  Working closely with partners, the Programme focuses on biodiversity stewardship implementation in the agricultural landscape and piloting rangeland management practices for improved ecosystem function. Biodiversity stewardship is a key strategy to expand the protection of biodiversity. The Grasslands Programme is facilitating biodiversity stewardship agreements with commercial farmers and land reform beneficiaries in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal. Building on the success and experience of the Enkangala Grasslands Project, WWF-SA has partnered with the Grasslands Programme to implement a suite of activities in the Wakkerstroom/Luneberg Agriculture Demonstration Project .
  
  
• Incorporate biodiversity into agricultural policies, guidelines and decision-making
  
  Working closely with partners, the Programme is implementing a suite of interventions to mainstream biodiversity into key aspects of land use planning, government and private sector policies, development programmes, and production standards and guidelines. This includes, for example, the development of ecosystem guidelines for the grassland biome, which was a priority action identified in the National Biodiversity Framework, and is near completion.