Bankenveld

Bankenveld is characteristised by rocky hills, ridges, plateaux and plains. See our gallery for images. If it were not for frequent veld fires, Bankenveld would be more like open savanna (bushveld) than grassland. For this reason it is termed a false grassland, although a grassland nonetheless.

Grasslands - an emerging conservation concern

The grassland biome has only recently come to the attention of conservationists. Grasslands are now recognised as the most threatened biome on the planet, not just within Africa.

Previously it was believed that grasslands held little intrinsic value; that their worth could only be realised through transformation into sites for agricultural, urban or industrial development - precisely what has happened to Bankenveld. Furthermore, their somewhat plain appearance did not help their cause either. However, now it is realised that grasslands have tremendous ecological and economic value.

Why is Bankenveld so important?

Biodiversity. Transitional vegetation types have inherently high levels of biodiversity and biodiversity is the basis of all life on earth. In the case of Bankenveld, the vegetation shares characteristics with the highveld grasslands, lowveld savannas and flora of the Drakensberg and Kalahari regions. Plant, bird and animal life capable of survival within any of these habitats can also do well on Bankenveld. Essential ecosystem services: Grasslands provide essential ecosystem services which are necessary for economic development. They are great 'sponges'. They reduce runoff and thus erosion, hold the water as ground water, or in wetland systems, and release it slowly throughout the year. Habitat for endemic and endangered species: Grasslands habitats are so important for a large number of avian (bird) and animal species.

1. Around half the avian and mammal species endemic to South Africa are found on the grasslands. (21/40 bird species; 15/34 mammal species).
2. Of species threatened with extinction, 70% of the avian species and 20% of the mammal species are entirely restricted to, or have a substantial proportion of their populations reliant on, the grasslands.

Bankenveld, which shares many grassland characteristics, provides acceptable habitat for many of these species too.

By protecting Klipkop, we can increase the percentage of Bankenveld under conservation by a further 6% (an increase of 0.1% in total area conserved).

Sources:
1. Bredenkamp, G.J., & Brown, L.R., (2003). "A reappraisal of Acocks' Bankenveld: origin and diversity of vegetation types", South African Journal of Botany, Vol 69(1), pp 7-26.
2. Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, (1998). "Vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland", Pretoria.