History
The Cathedral Peak research catchments were established over a period of time from 1938 to 1980 by the Department of Forestry. Researchers wanted to determine the effects of different land uses on the water yield of mountain catchments. Different burn and grazing treatments (the grazing experiment was short-lived) were applied to the catchments. The primary land use of interest of the Department of Forestry was afforestation. Accordingly, some of the research catchments were prescribed afforestation treatments. By measuring stream flow in the catchments a comparison was made between the water yields of afforested catchments versus natural grassland catchments.
The results of the natural grassland versus afforested catchment comparison demonstrated that afforestation by Pine trees (Pinus patula) reduced catchment water yield by up to approximately 68% (the average loss was ~40%) opposed to catchments with indigenous grasslands (results reported by U.W. Nanni in the South African Forestry Journal (1970)). These important findings were key in South Africa for policy development to preserve our natural catchments, and therefore help sustain the country's water supply.
Once the main findings of the catchments were made regarding afforestation and catchment water yield, the experimentation in the catchments dwindled in the late 20th century. The GFW node has reignited some of the chief monitoring experiments in the catchments and SAEON has been collating old data from various sources. This dataset, containing hydro-meteorological data from when the catchments were initiated to into the late 20th century will be assessed in light of the new data being collected. Working with collaborators the GFW seeks to report current findings and trends.
The Cathedral Peak research catchments are currently managed by the provincial conservation authority, Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife. SAEON has partnered with EKZNW in building upon the existing infrastructure to establish a long term observation platform, leveraging the advantage of long term streamflow, metrological and vegetation data sets available for the area.
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