Semi-nomadic pastoralism and the conservation of biodiversity in the Richtersveld National Park, South Africa

Bibliography: leaves 190-217.The thesis presented here is about traditional semi-nomadic pastoralism and the conservation of biodiversity in a semi-arid South African National Park. The aim was to help improve farmer livelihoods without compromising the unique biodiversity of the area, especially the succulent plants. The thesis sets out to analyse the dynamics of pastoral activities with the Richtersveld National Park (RNP), focussing on the relationship between pastoralism and livelihoods; the impact of grazing on vegetation biodiversity; and a synthesis of these in order to suggest management strategies to minimise conflicts between pastoralists and conservation interests, both of whom have a stake in the future management of the park