Soil erosion in and adjacent to the Pilanesberg Nature Reserve (Northwest Province)

M.Sc. (Geography)This study concentrates. not only on the physical and chemical factors influencing erosion levels in the Pilanesberg area, but also on the impact of anthropogenic factors such as artificial drainage and other cultural irregularities that have modified the local catchment in the Pilanesberg area. For this reason, a comparative study of soil erosion has been made across the perimeter of the Pilanesberg Nature Reserve. The study'aimed to analyze the impact of climatic factors, chemical and physical properties of the soils on the local erosion system. Possible triggering mechanisms of the erosion have been discussed and conservation concerns in the Pilanesberg area have been raised. Of major importance in this study has been the'estimation of soil loss rates across the perimeter of the PNR.. This was premised on the 'rationale that population pressure has an impact on the local erosion system, Through the' analysis of sediment trapped at the monitoring sites it has been possible to indicate the tremendous impact of population pressure on the slopes of the Pilanesberg hills, just outside of the PNR. The rate at which soil is lost on the surrounding rural landscape in the Pilanesberg area has been found to be on average. nearly four times higher than inside of the PNR