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REM611S-RANGELAND ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT-1ST OPP-JUNE 2025 |
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nAmlBIA unlVERSITY
OF SCIEn CE TECHn OLOGY
FACULTY OF HEALTH, NATURAL RESOURCES AND APPLIED SCIENCES
SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCE SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCE SCIENCES
QUALIFICATION: BACHELOR OF NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (NATURE
CONSERVATION)
QUALIFICATION CODE: 07BNRS
LEVEL: 6
COURSE CODE: REM6115
COURSE NAME: RANGELAND ECOLOGYAND
MANAGEMENT
DATE: JUNE 2025
DURATION: 3 HOURS
MARKS: 150
EXAMINER(S)
FIRST OPPORTUNITY EXAMINATION
Dr. E. N. Nghalipo
QUESTION PAPER
MODERATOR: Prof. B. Strohbach
1. Answer all the questions.
INSTRUCTIONS
2. Read all the questions carefully before answering.
3. Make sure your name and surname, question number and the date appear on the
answer script.
4. Give special attention to the manuscript instructions.
THIS QUESTION PAPER CONSISTS OF_ 4_ PAGES (Including this front page)
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QUESTION 1
Describe the following terms and phrases fully, as applied to Rangeland Ecology and
Management.
1.1 Rangelands assessment
(2)
1.2 Carrying capacity
(2)
1.3 Stocking rate
(2)
1.4 Bush encroachment
(2)
1.5 Continuous Grazing
(2)
1.6 Brittle environment
(2)
1.7 Primary succession
(2)
1.8 Climax community
(2)
1.9 Prescribed Fire
(2)
1.10 Adaptive management
(2)
[20]
QUESTION 2
2.1. Mr. Joshua Martin recently acquired a farm between Okahandja and Otjiwarongo (15)
and wants to transform the farm into a wildlife sanctuary. As a Natural Resources
Management student, you know that sustainable rangeland management is
centred around four general principles of which two are: (l)·Grasses need an
adequate recovery period and (2) Rangeland improvement through bush control.
In your own words explain to Mr. Martin what the above principles mean, how
they can be implemented and their importance in achieving sustainable rangeland
management.
[15]
QUESTION 3
3.1. You have been selected to represent Namibia at a Rangeland symposium in Nairobi, (20)
Kenya. Rangeland ecologists around the world are keen to know some of the
threats affecting Namibian rangelands and how they can be managed/mitigated.
[20]
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QUESTION 4
4.1. You are the newly appointed Warden of Etosha National Park. You are given three {15}
years of veld monitoring data for one habitat type and are required to interpret
them.
The data you have are as follows:
Results of 200-point step-point survey for the tree and woodland Savanna habitat
type:
Year
2022
2023
2024
Decreaser
90
80
100
Increaser I
50
70
60
Increaser II
a
20
30
20
Increaser II
b
20
10
10
Increaser II c
20
10
10
Use the Ecological Index Method to compare veld conditions for the tree and
woodland savanna between 2016-2017-2018.
[15]
QUESTION 5
5.1 High Production Grazing {HPG} is a system designed to leave sufficient leaf biomass {10}
to promote rapid plant regrowth. This approach is reported to be more effective in
arid savannas and grasslands.
Explain the reasons behind its effectiveness in these environments.
[10]
QUESTION 6
6.1 Grazing value is an important aspect of forage resources. Name and clearly describe (13)
the six aspects of the grazing value
6.2 What can be concluded regarding the grazing status of a rangeland if you find a lot {3}
of?
(a) Increaser I grasses
(b) Increaser II grasses
(c) Decreaser grasses
6.3 Name 6 grass species that make up the "Namibian six-pack" grasses.
(4)
[20]
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QUESTION 7
7.1 Reports on Namibian rangelands indicate that approximately 45 million hectares are (10)
affected by bush encroachment, while other regions exhibit high levels of bare
ground. Discuss the socio-economic implications of these findings for Namibia.
[10]
QUESTION 8
8.1 Landscape Function Analysis (LFA)is a widely recommended approach for
(10)
rehabilitation work in rangelands, the mining industry and conservation. Explain
why this approach is recommended.
8.2 What aspects does LFA assess?
(2)
8.3 What does the presence of fewer patches and more inter-patch areas suggest about (3)
the condition of an ecosystem?
[15]
QUESTION 9
9.1 Using a sketch/diagram to illustrate and explain the secondary ecological succession (10)
process.
[10]
QUESTION 10
10.1 Game counts are a vital component of wildlife management in national parks,
(10)
conservancies, and game reserves, and are typically conducted on an annual basis.
Discuss the significance of game count data in informing effective wildlife
management practices.
10.2 Mention five ground game count methods.
(5)
[15]
Total marks: 150
The END
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