Title:

Vegetation map for the Orange River-Karoo Conservation Area and more

Author(s):
Publication Year:
2022
Abstract:

The Orange River-Karoo Conservation Area (ORKCA) consists of several farms stretching along 55 km of the eastern Orange River in Namibia. The arid landscape of the conservation area is largely mountainous, with the sand plains of the Gamchab Basin adjoining to the west and north. Based on a field survey in May-June 2022, a vegetation map was compiled for ORKCA delineating 17 vegetation types. Landforms and the key plant species Euphorbia gregaria were used to categorise the vegetation types. The study area supports well over 250 plant species, including many legally protected and red-listed plants. Quartz outcrops of any height and extent support many succulent plants with affinities to the winter-rainfall Succulent Karoo Biome, for example Ceraria frutescens, Conophytum and Schwantesia species. The iconic halfmens Pachypodium namaquanum is at its northeastern-most distribution in the conservation area and some healthy populations are present.

Series:
ORKCA, EnviroScience, Windhoek
Item Type:
Report
Language:
en