User:8803623g/Kalahari Camel Thorn Forest

http://174.120.232.220/~wessaor/images/stories/ncape/4-BACKGROUND%20-%20KATHU%20CAMEL%20THORN%20FOREST.pdf http://www.andersonafrica.co.za/publications/kathuforest.pdf

Kathu Camel Thorn Forest Kathu, a small town in the North Western part of the Northern Cape in South Africa is situated in the southernmost section of a unique large Camel Thorn tree (Acacia erioloba) forest. This forest is one of only two in the world with the other being between Mariental and Rehoboth in Namibia. Its uniqueness was recognized in the early 1920’s when it was declared a State Forest. In 1995 it was registered as a Natural Heritage Site. The Kathu forest is approximately 4000 hectares in size and these Camel thorns trees provide support for large Sociable Weaver’s nests and are used by many other bird and animal species. In fact surveys has shown a moderate to high diversity in animal and plant species, including several Red Data, endemic and protected species in and around the forest.

The Camel Thorn is listed as a protected tree species in South Africa. The density of young camel thorn trees below 3 meter in height is on average 80 trees per hectare in certain parts of the forest and there could be bigger trees as old as 300 years in the forest. The bigger trees can grow as high as 8 meters from the ground when fully grown.

Kathu is currently experiencing a development boom and it is expected that the town will triple in size within the next decade. This raises concerns about the effects of the developments on the Kathu Forest’s ecological integrity, and the potential loss of biodiversity. With comprehensive actions to provide for the protection of the primary conservation areas from Government and private stakeholders the area is now protected and the community of Kathu will reap the benefits of this unique tourist attraction for years to come as well as it will be protected for future generations.