Monitoring in South African grasslands

Abstract

The main purpose of this document is to propose how ecological monitoring might be developed in the Grassland Biome of South Africa. Monitoring is defined as the maintenance of regular surveillance to test the null hypothesis of no change in predefined properties of a system which is vulnerable to impacts, the nature, timing and location of which are not necessarily known. Monitoring is an integral part of scientific management whereby the objectives for the system are spelled out. They are translated into operational goals, tests are designed and performed to assess goal-attainment, and remedial measures are devised and applied as necessary.