Volume 6 Pages 1 - 35 (February 1991)

Citation: Rowe-Rowe, D. (1991) Status of South African Rivers. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 6: 18

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Status of South African Rivers

David T. Rowe-Rowe

Natal Parks Board, P.O. Box 662, Pietermaritzburg, 3200 South Africa

The results of preliminary surveys on the conservation status of South African rivers were published by O'Keeffe (1985). The publication took the form of a map in which the rivers were colour-coded according to their status.

Most of the rivers, or at least sections of rivers, appear to have deteriorated as a result of human activities, either riparian or in the catchments. For example, in the province of Natal which is on the moist, eastern side of the country, only 10 % of the rivers on the coast were in an almost pristine condition, 60 % showed slight to severe changes, and 30 % were badly degraded. In the highlands the position was better: 50 % were pristine, 40 % showed signs of modification, and 10 % were degraded.

Funds have currently been made available for undertaking further river assessments, and for the updating of the 1985 data.

The future of otters in Natal appears to be safe with the establishment of contiguous protected areas covering 210 000 ha ol catchments along the Drakensberg range. In this conserved mountain area, 150 km long and on average 16 km wide, it would appear that there is sufficient habitat to support viable populations of the two freshwater otters Aonyx capensis and Lutra rnaculicollis. Until more is known about their area requirements in the small mountain streams which are rich in crabs, but poor or devoid of fishes, this statement cannot be made with confidence. These streams flow across the width of the protected catchments.

REFERENCES

O'Keeffe, J.H. 1985. The conservation status of South African rivers. In: J.H. O'Keeffe (ed) The Conservation of South African Rivers. S.A. Nat. Sci. Programmes Report 131. CSIR, Pretoria

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