Conservation at Bucklands …

Bucklands Private Game Reserve was originally a stock farm prior to 2007. Good farming and stock management practices, as well as the farmers overall conservation ethics, resulted in minimal damage being inflicted with regards to overgrazing, the introduction of exotic species and general veld degradation and hence the natural veld components and the variety of animals, birds and insect life have remained in a relatively pristine condition; thereby lending itself very well to further and improved conservation management of what is today Bucklands Private Game Reserve and the protection of, above all, its endemic species.

The landscape consists of steep river valleys with inter-basin ridges. The river valleys contain nutrient rich mudstones and the general geology is predominantly grey/red mudstone and sandstone of the Middleton formation (Adelaide Subgroup: Karoo Super Group), with sandstone dominating the formation. More resistant sandstones occur on the inter-basin ridges. Clayey, dystrophic soils occur throughout the area and alluvial silt is deposited on the river banks. Fertility is generally good however some soils are underlined by shallow shale banks and are easily eroded.

Bucklands Private Game Reserve has identified the need for a long term conservation plan so as to monitor and adapt the underlying conservation ethic with regards to its natural integrity and ecotourism conservation:-

A comprehensive study of the vegetation and habitat types on Bucklands Private Game Reserve was compiled by an independent consultant in December 2007, so as to establish the broad mammal habitats on Bucklands Private Game Reserve, as well as estimated carrying capacities, road infrastructure and water points. Information regarding proposed lodge sites and other relevant issues were also discussed within the study parameters.

The main habitat types found within Bucklands Private Game Reserve are:-

Bucklands Closed Great Fish Thicket
This vegetation type is confined to the steep slopes along the Great Fish River to the north and south of Bucklands. It comprises virtually impenetrable areas, where both the woody trees and shrubs and the succulent component are well developed.

Bucklands Open Great Fish Thicket
This vegetation type is the dominant habitat type, covering approximately 67% of the property. It is similar in composition and structure to Bucklands Closed Great Fish Thicket, with the noticeable exception being the opening-up of the thicket-clumps.

Bucklands Grassy Bontveld
This vegetation type is most prevalent on the higher lying areas (to the north and south) where varying soil depths give rise to a patchy landscape consisting of an open grassy matrix interspersed with near-circular, low 2-3 m high bush clumps.

Bucklands Karroid Scrub
This is an ecotonal habitat (i.e. containing elements from both Bucklands Open Great Fish Thicket and Bucklands Disturbance Savanna/Bucklands Riverine Thicket) that is prevalent on the arid, mildly sloping flanks of ridges supporting Bucklands Open Great Fish Thicket. It is characterized by a low (<3 m), sparse succulent thicket, with a mosaic of low karoo scrub. This habitat is very much more arid than the previous habitats.

Bucklands Riverine Thicket and Bucklands Disturbance Savanna
These vegetation types occur on the banks of the Great Fish River. Floristically, these habitats are similar; being dominated by Senegalia karroo (characteristic of Bucklands Riverine Thicket) they give way to an open savanna, on sandy soils with a well developed grass layer. Both habitats are vulnerable to occasional flooding. Primary productivity within these habitats may be highly variable due the winter-deciduous nature of Senegalia karroo. These two habitats are highly linear in their distribution along the river, and are both subject to extensive disturbance through flooding and are attractive to a broad range of herbivores. Flooding is the primary determinant of plant community structure in this habitat.

Alien Plant Control Program:- The main components of exotic plant species to be found on Bucklands Private Game Reserve are: The jointed cactus Opuntia aurantiaca, The prickly pear species Opuntia spp. (this ssp is not being removed at present). The Mexican agave Agave sp, these invader species are monitored in an ongoing manner and their numbers are being reduced through an ongoing alien plant control program which was instituted in 2007.

Soil Erosion:-

Levels of erosion are generally low, and are largely confined to friable shale areas on steep slopes. These areas have been identified and are monitored and managed through conventional erosion control techniques on an ongoing annual revised erosion management program.

Ongoing rehabilitation of the Private Reserve:-

There are a number of ongoing projects which will form part of the general conservation plan for Bucklands Private Game Reserve as can be seen from the below examples:-

• Ongoing management and removal of fences;
• Subtropical Thicket is a unique biome with spekboom being one of the most efficient convertors of CO2 to O2 in the plant kingdom thus preservation and replanting of spekboom plays an important role in offsetting global warming;
• Game species re-introduction, a management program is underway to reintroduce all species indigenous to the area together with some other species that have since become established in the Eastern Cape region;
• Limited development of new roads on the reserve, where possible old fence lines and existing roads have been utilized by upgrading and repairing these through gabions, run off's and general repairs; The Private Reserve contains a number of red data plant species and fossils which will be plotted and are being monitored;
• Where possible restoration and/or conservation measures will be put in place with regards to sites of historical interest such as old farmhouse, signal tower and bushman paintings so as to assist in conserving these special sites.

Bucklands Private Game Reserve still abounds with wildlife. Besides kudu, which benefited from conservation practices carried out by Arch Kent and his sons, Keith and Basil, there are 77 mammal species present within the Private Reserve. A wide variety of birds are to be found on the property and to date there have been 245 birds listed in the area. A wide variety of reptiles, insects well as some endemic plants species to be explored. Please do visit our newsletter "Bucklands News" for further updates on our game reintroduction program, as well as sightings of interest and other conservation news. We look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful reserve and educating you further in our conservation policies and ethics.