Meerkat National Park: Difference between revisions
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| type = National park |
| type = National science park |
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| location = [[Karoo Hoogland Local Municipality]] |
| location = [[Karoo Hoogland Local Municipality]] |
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| nearest_city = [[Carnarvon, Northern Cape]] |
| nearest_city = [[Carnarvon, Northern Cape]] |
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== History == |
== History == |
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In 2020, this park was declared in partnership with the |
The [[National Research Foundation (South Africa)|National Research Foundation]] purchased privately owned [[rangeland]], removed livestock from the area and placed it under the protection of [[South African National Parks|SANParks]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=van der Merwe |first=Helga |last2=Milton |first2=Suzanne J. |last3=Dean |first3=W. Richard J. |last4=O'Connor |first4=Tim G. |last5=Henschel |first5=Joh R. |date=2021-11-29 |title=Developing an environmental research platform in the Karoo at the Square Kilometre Array |url=https://sajs.co.za/article/view/10511 |journal=South African Journal of Science |language=en |volume=117 |issue=11/12 |doi=10.17159/sajs.2021/10511 |issn=1996-7489}}</ref> In 2020, this park was declared in partnership with the National Research Foundation and the Square Kilometre Array project. It added 3.4% to South Africa's national parks. One of the objectives in creating the park was to increase the protection range of three unprotected ecoregions, including the [[Nama Karoo]] ecoregion from 1.5% to 2%; and in doing so, conserve [[Aloidendron dichotomum|quiver tree]] forests and other threatened species in the region.<ref name=":0" /> |
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== Objectives == |
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The park will seek to study large-scale management of the area, and the impact of [[climate change]] on the local ecosystem.<ref name=":1" /> |
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== Ecology == |
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After declaring the park, a number of steps were taken to rehabilitate the land, including the removal of livestock, fences and copses of alien [[Prosopis|mesquite]], this saw an increase in wildlife numbers.<ref name=":1" /> The park has a healthy population of quiver trees.<ref name=":0" /> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Revision as of 07:17, 22 May 2022
| Meerkat National Park | |
|---|---|
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| Type | National science park |
| Location | Karoo Hoogland Local Municipality |
| Nearest city | Carnarvon, Northern Cape |
| Coordinates | 30°41′29.2″S 21°23′24.0″E / 30.691444°S 21.390000°E |
| Area | 135,245 hectares (334,200 acres) |
| Designated | 27 March 2020 |
| Administered by | South African National Parks |
| Open | Not open to the public |
Meerkat National Park is a large National Park in the Northern Cape that encompasses the Square Kilometre Array, MeerKAT and HERA.[1][2][3] The park does not allow visitors.[4]
History
The National Research Foundation purchased privately owned rangeland, removed livestock from the area and placed it under the protection of SANParks.[5] In 2020, this park was declared in partnership with the National Research Foundation and the Square Kilometre Array project. It added 3.4% to South Africa's national parks. One of the objectives in creating the park was to increase the protection range of three unprotected ecoregions, including the Nama Karoo ecoregion from 1.5% to 2%; and in doing so, conserve quiver tree forests and other threatened species in the region.[4]
Objectives
The park will seek to study large-scale management of the area, and the impact of climate change on the local ecosystem.[5]
Ecology
After declaring the park, a number of steps were taken to rehabilitate the land, including the removal of livestock, fences and copses of alien mesquite, this saw an increase in wildlife numbers.[5] The park has a healthy population of quiver trees.[4]
References
- ^ "DECLARATION OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES SITUATED IN THE NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE THE: MEER KATNATIONAL PARK" (PDF).
- ^ "NATIONAL PARK GAZETTED NAME: MEERKAT NATIONAL PARK" (PDF).
- ^ "Protected Planet | Meerkat National Park". Protected Planet. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ a b c "Address by the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Ms Barbara Creecy, MP, at the Launch of SA National Parks Week".
- ^ a b c van der Merwe, Helga; Milton, Suzanne J.; Dean, W. Richard J.; O'Connor, Tim G.; Henschel, Joh R. (29 November 2021). "Developing an environmental research platform in the Karoo at the Square Kilometre Array". South African Journal of Science. 117 (11/12). doi:10.17159/sajs.2021/10511. ISSN 1996-7489.