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Soutpansberg Range indicating location in South Africa and Vhembe District (DEM Source: National Geo-Spatial Information, 2016)
Contexts in source publication
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... is a prominent quartzite mountain range in the northern part of South Africa, Limpopo Province in Vhembe District. Figure 1 shows that the Soutpansberg stretches for approximately 210 km from Kruger National Park's Punda Maria gate in the east to Vivo in the west. The eastern end of the range is close to the Zimbabwe-Mozambique-South Africa border. ...
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... hydrography factor shows the interplay of high elevation areas, waterways and open valleys. High hydrography represents large water bodies found in the mountain range as shown in Figure 10. These, Fig. 9. Geology factor Fig. 10. ...
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... hydrography factor shows the interplay of high elevation areas, waterways and open valleys. High hydrography represents large water bodies found in the mountain range as shown in Figure 10. These, Fig. 9. Geology factor Fig. 10. Hydrography factor though, occupy less than 1% of the range. However, the mountain range has a significant amount of water ways that may not necessarily have a high TWI in comparison with dams and lakes. These occupy close to 12% of the mountain range area. However, just over 50% of the range has very little to little observable ...
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... final geomorphological diversity map in Fig- ure 11 reveals the variable strong influence of geology, slope and soils. The factors show different influences in different places. ...
Context 5
... is a prominent quartzite mountain range in the northern part of South Africa, Limpopo Province in Vhembe District. Figure 1 shows that the Soutpansberg stretches for approximately 210 km from Kruger National Park's Punda Maria gate in the east to Vivo in the west. The eastern end of the range is close to the Zimbabwe-Mozambique-South Africa border. ...
Context 6
... hydrography factor shows the interplay of high elevation areas, waterways and open valleys. High hydrography represents large water bodies found in the mountain range as shown in Figure 10. These, Fig. 9. Geology factor Fig. 10. ...
Context 7
... hydrography factor shows the interplay of high elevation areas, waterways and open valleys. High hydrography represents large water bodies found in the mountain range as shown in Figure 10. These, Fig. 9. Geology factor Fig. 10. Hydrography factor though, occupy less than 1% of the range. However, the mountain range has a significant amount of water ways that may not necessarily have a high TWI in comparison with dams and lakes. These occupy close to 12% of the mountain range area. However, just over 50% of the range has very little to little observable ...
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Citations
... The VBR is a biodiversity hotspot in Limpopo Province. The VBR was recognized and designated as a biosphere reserve in 2009 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) (Kori et al. 2019). The Soutpansberg Mountain range within the VBR is classified as the centre for botanical endemism in southern Africa (Ramarumo and Alfred 2020;Constant and Tshisikhawe 2018). ...
Traditional agroforestry systems have been recognized worldwide for their positive contribution to biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and improving socio-economic livelihood. Little has been reported regarding the effects of ecological determinants (tree density, species richness and diversity) on the biomass carbon accumulation potential of traditional agroforestry in South Africa, especially in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve (VBR). The main objective of this study was to quantify tree biomass carbon stock and biodiversity in the VBR traditional agroforestry landscape along three distance levels (immediate, intermediate, and far distance) from villages to the forest. Vegetation data was collected using forestry inventory tools. In each distance, nine (9) linear transects (250 m long) were established with five rectangular plots (20 × 10m²) in 10 m apart. The sampling intensity was 10% and the sampling effort achieved was > 80%. Tree diversity metrics and above-and below ground carbon estimates were calculated from the data and then analyzed using PERMANOVA, ANOVA, Spearman’s correlation, and linear regression models. Tree species richness and diversity had no significant effect on carbon stocks, while an effect was found on tree density and elevation. The results showed no statistically significant differences in above-and below ground carbon stocks (F = 0.888, p = 0.413) among distance levels from villages while tree density (F = 19.353, p < 0.05) was found to be increasing with increasing distance from the village to the forest. The results suggest that biomass carbon stocks in traditional agroforestry landscape are independent of species richness and diversity, dependent on tree density. The lower tree density, species richness and diversity at immediate distance implies the effect of proximity disturbance. The immediate distance has a greater potential for high biomass carbon accumulation if the disturbance can be minimized and tree density augmented through planting indigenous tree species and conservation.
... Geologically, the regional features incorporate the Bushveld Igneous Intricacy, the Soutpansberg's Wylie Poort Geological Formation Group, Kalahari Cratons, Limpopo Belt, Karoo System, and the Archaean Cratons [33][34][35]. The entire region is considered the centre for botanical endemism and plant diversity refugia in Southern Africa [20,36]. ...
Approximately half of traditional medicines worldwide, particularly those possessing the potential to remedy the most challenging ailments, have not yet been comprehensively studied. Within the same context, this study aimed to explore therapeutic uses, preparatory techniques, and administration modes by the Vhavenḓa traditional health practitioners in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The required data were sampled using triangulation research techniques, including semi-structured interview questionnaires with the first two arbitrarily selected traditional health practitioners and 19 additional practitioners selected using an exponential non-discriminative snowball sampling method. The results revealed that traditional health practitioners of the region utilize Mimusops zeyheri to remedy multiple ailments, including external wounds (RFC = 1; FL = 100%), throat wounds (RFC = 0.8; FL = 80%), ulcers (RFC = 1; FL = 100%), womb cleaning to improve fertility (RFC = 1; FL = 100%), enhancing weight loss (RFC = 0.9; FL = 905), and the combinations of assorted ailments such as Erectile dysfunctionality, Bilhazia, and Gonorrhea (RFC = 0.7; FL = 70%). The recent study reported ethnomedicinal uses, preparatory techniques, and modes of administration of M. zeyheri by the Vhavenḓa traditional health practitioners in the Vhembe
Biosphere Reserve. Documentation of the medicinal uses of Mimusops zeyheri is essential for sustaining traditional healthcare systems and preserving ancient regional cultural heritage.
... Quantification of GMD helps characterize landform diversity and geomorphological features using various approaches such as remote sensing, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), field surveys, and the analysis of digital elevation models (Panizza 2009;Kori et al. 2019). Numerous researchers have widely utilized the GIS-based methodology to identify higher GMD areas with easy data availability. ...
... Numerous researchers have widely utilized the GIS-based methodology to identify higher GMD areas with easy data availability. Argyriou et al. (2016), Melelli et al. (2017), Kori et al. (2019), Maghsoudi et al. (2019), and Bajala et al. (2022) conducted the GIS-based quantitative GMD evaluation using raster and vector data and performed algebraic and logical operations and functions. The results of the studies were presented in the form of GMD maps that can be derived by the combination of different indices such as lithological, hydrological, morphometry, and pedological diversity indices (Benito-Benito-Calvo et al. 2009;Pereira et al. 2013;Pellitero et al. 2015;Ferrando et al. 2021). ...
... In addition, Melelli et al. (2017) assessed the GMD of the Umbria region, Central Italy using the geological, drainage density, roughness, slope position index, and landform category diversity indices. Kori et al. (2019) quantified GISbased geomorphological diversity of the Soutpansberg range in Limpopo Province, South Africa, using geology, slope position, soil erodibility, landform position, relative heights, insolation, hydrography, and ruggedness indices. Similarly, Ferrando et al. (2021) quantified GIS-based geological, geomorphological, hydrogeological, and paedological diversity for the geodiversity assessment for the Liguria region. ...
Uttarakhand located in the Himalayas at the dynamic intersection of Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, is severely prone to a wide range of natural disasters. The genesis of landscape settings primarily relies on regional geology, geomorphology, stream drainage networks, and lithology which also influences the hazard susceptibility. In the present study, the geomorphodiversity index (GMI) of Uttarakhand was evaluated using geodiversity (Geoi), drainage density diversity (Di), and morphometric diversity (Mi) indices, and classified into five classes (very low, low, moderate, high, very high). The significance of GMI was assessed with seismicity and land use land cover (LULC). The result shows that high to very high class GMI covers 21.03% and 8.52% area of Uttarakhand, mostly situated in the Higher Himalayan zone and Tethys Himalayan zone, characterized by high relative relief, deep valleys, and ridges. More than 75% of earthquake events in each GMI class were at a depth of 20 km or less, which reveals that different rates of seismicity occurred in moderate and very low classes of GMI. The spatial distribution of land use land cover (LULC) underscores the significance of GMI, particularly in areas with high susceptibility. The LULC distribution indicates that a very high class of GMI regions is associated with minimum tree cover, while bare land and rangeland majorly dominate the moderate to high class of GMI.
... It can be applied for the quantitative and qualitative assessment of complex landforms and for predicting geomorphological events like floods, erosion, sedimentation of floodplains, or changes to different landforms (Ahmed et al., 2022;Bollati & Cavalli, 2021;Jahan et al., 2018;Shukla et al., 2014). The basic parameters in geomorphodiversity assessment are elevation, surface slope, geology, geomorphology, soil types, land use, drainage density, and drainage frequency (Santos et al., 2017;Kori et al., 2019;Agrawal & Dixit, 2024). Gray (2004) defined geodiversity as the geological, geomorphological, hydrological, and soil types. ...
... Geomorphodiversity assessment can be qualitative (descriptive-based) or quantitative (numericalbased). Panizza (2009) and Kori et al. (2019) found that the GIS-based quantitative geomorphodiversity evaluation is more suitable than qualitative. In quantitative assessment, geomorphodiversity assessment uses raster and vector data and performs algebraic and logical operations and functions (Maghsoudi et al., 2019;Melelli et al., 2017). ...
... Melelli et al. (2017) developed a GIS-based geomorphodiversity index map for the Umbria region, Central Italy, using DEM and estimated geological, drainage density, roughness, slope position index, and landform category diversity for the calculation of the geomorphodiversity index. Kori et al. (2019) performed GIS-based geomorphological diversity of the Soutpansberg range in Limpopo Province, South Africa, by calculating eight indices, namely geology, slope position, soil erodibility, landform position, relative heights, insolation, hydrography, and ruggedness. Ferrando et al. (2021) performed AHP-GIS-based geodiversity assessment for the Liguria region and considered four sub-indices: geology, geomorphology, hydrogeology, and paedology diversity indices. ...
Assam, located in the Northeast of India, is highly flood-prone, and the erosional and depositional processes highly influence the landforms. The formation and development of landforms are directly related to the geology, geomorphology, drainage basin characteristics, and soil types of the region. In the present study, a remote sensing and GIS-based geomorphodiversity index (GMI) assessment of Assam is performed using three sub-indices: geodiversity, morphometric diversity, and drainage diversity index. Sixty-six potential geomorphosites are identified with their geological, geomorphological, and GMI classes. With the help of a flood inundation map, the inundated area of each GMI class is calculated. According to the result, 27.02%, 10.76%, and 3.7% of the total area of Assam fall under moderate, high, and very high GMI classes, respectively. Barak Valley and Central Assam region exhibit high to very high GMI values. Geology and geomorphology have a strong influence on GMI values. About 22.32%, 28.33%, 37.18%, 38.25%, and 35.37% of areas with low, moderate, high, and very high GMI are inundated, respectively. This study determined that areas having high GMI can increase the geomorphological heritage value of the region and can play a significant role in promoting geotourism with an increase in the scientific, educational, and aesthetic value of geomorphosites. This study can also help the local governing authorities to conduct and implement better management and conservation policies for vulnerable locations.
... Measuring geodiversity is also key to guaranteeing effective indicators of geoheritage and the geo-environmental processes at different spatial and time scales (Gray 2004;Kozlowski et al. 2004;Rocchini et al. 2017;Thomas 2012a, b;Argyriou et al. 2016;Jahan et al. 2018;Melelli et al. 2017;Santos et al. 2017;Zwolinski et al. 2018;Kori et al. 2019;Da Silva et al. 2019;Migoń et al. 2019;Najwer et al. 2016Najwer et al. , 2022Rypl et al. 2020;Moradi et al. 2021;Lausch et al. 2022;among others). In particular, we focused on the estimation of the morphological component of geodiversity through the geomorphodiversity index (GmI) (Melelli et al. 2017) since the geological aspect of the Cerro Colorado Formation is uniform. ...
The Cerro Colorado Natural and Cultural Reserve, Córdoba, Argentina, is well known for its impressive rock paintings on
sandstone formations. While previous research in the area has focused mainly on archaeological sites, this study aims to pro
vide geomorphological data through an updated landform inventory and geomorphometric diversity index map, as the basis
for managing the geo-cultural heritage area and potential sites for geo-tourism and geo-education. ALOS PALSAR DEMs at
12.5 m spatial resolution were used as a primary data source for mapping the study area. Features were digitally drawn into a
geographical information system (GIS) and checked during a field survey. The results indicate that the landforms and points
of geological interest give this region high geodiversity, which underlines the importance of including a geoperspective in
the protection of nature and a sustainable use of the territory. The cavernous landforms contain native rock paintings, which
make them unique in the region. The conservation of archaeological sites requires geomorphological knowledge in order to
prevent degradation and loss of cultural and natural heritage. In addition to scientific interest, the history of the landscape
through its geodiversity is relevant for educational, communicational, and geo-tourism purposes.
Keywords Sandstone · Cerro Colorado · Geodiversity · Pre-Hispanic Rock Art · Córdoba · Argentina
... It can be suspected that in mountainous areas, preserving morphological diversity is of crucial importance for the conservation of natural heritage. In the literature on morphodiversity assessments, two dominant research approaches can be identified: objective (qualitative), which assesses the diversity of morphological forms (e.g., [72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84]); and index-based (quantitative), which defines it based on the analysis of selected topographic attributes (e.g., [85][86][87][88]). Some studies incorporate qualitative analyses into index-based analyses (e.g., [17,20,85,[88][89][90][91][92]). ...
Verification and delimitation of existing and new surface forms of nature conservation require objective tools that elevate the significance of the conducted evaluations. If our main goal is to preserve biodiversity, it can be ensured through challenging-to-implement practices of human neutrality towards the environment or activities promoting sustainable development that consider the provision of diverse abiotic habitat conditions. For mountainous areas, where the species diversity of plants and animals is strongly linked to the terrain morphology, an analysis of morphodiversity can provide valuable insights. This study examines the morphodiversity of the Pieniny Mts region (southern Poland) in fundamental fields using three mathematical models and various morphometric indicators. The evaluation of existing conservation forms and proposed changes in the analysis were dependent not solely on morphodiversity but also on its autocorrelation. Hot Spot Analysis and Local Indicator of Spatial Association methods were employed, investigating the intensity of spatial clustering of areas with low and high morphodiversity values. Areas with high morphodiversity clustering were defined as justifying legal protection, while those belonging to clusters of fields with low parameter values were considered not to require conservation. Additional insights were gained through the analysis of hot and cold spots, representing fields with high or low morphodiversity surrounded by clusters of fields with contrasting values. The conducted research allowed for the proposing of significant spatial changes for the Pieniny National Park and its adjacent areas to ensure the preservation of high morphodiversity and, consequently, biodiversity.
... Ours was the first assessment of geodiversity for the study area. Nine factors, collectively considered necessary for physical landscape evolution [50], were included in the index. These factors were: soil diversity, geological diversity, local relief, landform taxa, terrain ruggedness, slope position, hydrography, and topographic wetness (TWI). ...
... Geological diversity represents the spatial variability of lithology and rock hardness, which controls the topographic response of erosion on the landscape [52]. Calculating rock hardness was based on Kori et al. [50], whereby each lithological unit's hardness and hardness variability was ranked on a scale from 1 to 5. Vectorized geologic maps of Virginia (1:600,000 scale) [53,54], were used to aid expert hardness classification. The final classification reflects reclassified rock hardness values represented by the following rock types (listed from softest to hardest): (1) ultramafic; (2) conglomerate; (3) sandstone; (4) amphibolite, greenstone, meta-argillite, mica schist, quartz monzonite, rhyolite, sedimentary breccia; and (5) augen gneiss, biotite gneiss, felsic volcanic rock, and granite ( Table 1). ...
... The k-factor considers soil infiltration rate, permeability, surface sealing, structure, texture, organic matter content, surface gravel, and total water capacity [62,63]. Overall soil k factor is essential for understanding landform and landscape development [50]. The soil erodibility factor is calculated through the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) A = R × K × LS × C × P. The resulting k factor is represented as the rate of erosion per unit erosion index from a standard plot and is used to create a soil taxa index. ...
Geodiversity and geosystem services are essential concepts for conservation efforts in mountain regions. Approaches that integrate both natural and human dimensions of mountain abiotic nature are best suited for this purpose; however, geodiversity research and associated conservation efforts along this vein are still developing. Here, we explore the potential of a public participation GIS, which integrates qualitative surveys with quantitative geodiversity information, to assess possible relationships between geodiversity and geosystem services for Grayson County, Virginia, U.S.A. Specifically, we: (1) used a geodiversity index to model geodiversity for the study area, (2) used a public participation GIS to map geosystem services markers, and (3) visualized geodiversity–geosystem services hotspots to uncover potential relationships between geodiversity and geosystem services values. Participants placed 318 markers, most frequently representing aesthetic (32%), artistic (22%), and educational (15%) geosystem services values. The majority (55%) of these markers corresponded to low and very low quantitative geodiversity index scores. Geosystem services value markers were clustered around population centers and protected areas. Although quantitative geodiversity measures are often used to identify and prioritize areas for conservation, our results suggest that locations valued by respondents would be missed using quantitative metrics alone. This research thus supports the need for holistic approaches incorporating place values to conserve and best understand relationships between people and abiotic aspects of mountain landscapes.
... Due to the lack of universal classification ranges for individual components of geodiversity, the proposed methodology should be treated with caution, even when applied to other areas of similar size and landscape characteristics. So far, the proposed method has been successfully used for lowland areas (Najwer et al. 2016), and with some modifications regarding basic units of analysis, i.e. elementary catchments instead of raster cells; for mountain areas (Jankowski et al. 2020;Najwer et al. 2022); uplands and coastal lowlands (Najwer et al. 2022); mountain areas (Kori et al. 2019;Chrobak et al. 2021); and administrative units (Stanley 2022). The creation of a universal framework for geodiversity assessment for the whole world, or at least for selected climatic zones, is certainly the biggest challenge. ...
The paper reports on a geodiversity assessment method at the local scale based on spatial multi-criteria analysis (S-MCA). The study area consists of two geomorphosites: Derborence and Illgraben, located in the Swiss Alps and representative of different types of morphodynamics. Apart from glacial and fluvial landforms, the morphology of these two sites is largely due to extreme phenomena (rockslides, torrential processes). Both areas were incorporated in the list of Swiss geosites for their geomorphological interest. The geodiversity assessment criteria were selected and presented on five factor maps: the relief energy (relative height), the landform fragmentation, the landform preservation, the geological setting and the hydrological factor. The factor maps were aggregated using the weighted linear combination (WLC) technique. The accuracy of the final geodiversity maps of Derborence and Illgraben was verified during a field inspection. The final maps were qualitatively assessed in terms of the geodiversity value of specific areas within the selected geomorphosites. The proposed method allows assessing the intrinsic geodiversity differentiation of large geosites, in particular in protected and conserved areas (PCAs). The results can be used for purposes such as the designation of most valuable parts of the area for the preservation of certain abiotic features, spatial planning or tourism management, at least in the alpine fold mountains.
... The study area was conducted in the Thulamela local municipality in the south-eastern part of the Soutpansberg Mountain range in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve (VBR), South Africa. The VBR was recognised and designated in 2009 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) [19]. The Soutpansberg Mountain range is classified as the centre for botanical endemism in southern Africa and the biodiversity hotspot of South Africa [20,21]. ...
Tree species richness is a critical element concerning trees on farms, on communal land and in protected areas to support biodiversity and socio-economic livelihoods in traditional agroforestry landscapes. Tree species richness is directly linked to the use of provisioning ecosystem services and to management practices in traditional agroforestry landscapes. The study aimed to investigate the link between socio-ecological and conservation strategies regarding tree species richness in traditional agroforestry landscapes. The study was conducted in the Damani, Thenzheni, Tshiombo and Tshipako villages located in Thulamela Municipality of the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, South Africa. The data were collected using a mixed method approach combining forestry inventory and focus group discussion. The study recorded a total number of 126 tree species: 83 communal-land-hosted species, 68 species of trees on farms and 81 species in the protected areas. The indigenous species Englerophytum magalismontanum (Sond.) T.D.Penn. was the most cited (62%) by interviewees, with a primary use for wild fruits, followed by Pteleopsis myrtifolia (M.A. Lawson) Engl. & Diels. (57%) for fuelwood, Combretum molle R.Br. ex G.Don (36%) for traditional medicine and Albizia adianthifolia (Schumach.) W.F.Wight (12%) for fodder. Species richness was found to be commonly driven by provisioning ecosystem services with trees on farms and on communal land. Distance was found to be major driving factor of species richness in protected areas. This study found that the local people have no conservation strategy and practices targeting the enhancement of tree species richness in the traditional agroforestry landscape. This study advocates for the establishment of a conservation strategic framework for restoring tree species richness by targeting traditional agroforestry landscapes.
... In this sense, there are very few studies on this topic for the Argentine coast.This new analysis for the study area allows us to visualize quickly and efficiently the geomorphodiversity of the urban and non-urban environments. Authors around the world have begun to focus on this branch of geodiversity during the last two decades as another tool for understanding and describing the Earth's surface(Gray 2004; Kozlowski et al. 2004;Rocchini et al. 2017; Thomas 2012a, b;Argyriou et al. 2016;Jahan et al. 2018;Melelli et al. 2017;Santos et al. 2017;Ferrer-Valero, 2018; Zwolinski et al. 2018;Kori et al. 2019;Da Silva et al. 2019;Migoń et al. 2019;Rypl et al. 2020, Moradi et al. 2021). Da Silva et al. (2019) took seven topographic parameters into account for their analysis: slope, aspect, plan and profile curvatures, TPI, TWI, and TRI. ...
The city of Puerto Madryn is one of the most important on the Atlantic coast of Patagonia, Argentina, both for its number of inhabitants and its economic activity. Moreover, it presents extraordinary and distinctive coastal morphological features that preserve the paleoenvironmental history of the region. The landscape, dominated by aeolian and coastal processes, constantly faces urban sprawl, which often develops where the geomorphological conditions are not suitable. This study aims to assess the geomorphological diversity of Puerto Madryn and its surrounding areas, and its relationship with urban growth. The methodology used includes the analysis of satellite images and shaded images derived from digital elevation models performed with QGIS and SAGA software, and a field survey to classify and characterize the sector. The geomorphodiversity index map considered eight geomorphometric parameters, which showed the richness of landforms at a regional scale and their distribution. Additionally, urban growth multi-temporal maps showed the expansion during the last few decades (from 1942 to 2021). The data obtained provide useful information that contributes to visualizing the connection between the geomophodiversity and anthropization processes, and serves as the basis for proposing environmental management policies.
