Amphibian diversity and community-based ecotourism in Ndumo Game Reserve, South Africa

Abstract

Amphibian diversity is declining at an alarming rate globally. Monitoring of amphibian communities is lax, yet vital to their conservation and understanding of their decline. Conservation areas often harbour rich biodiversity along with high anuran species richness. High human population density generally correlates positively with this high biodiversity, and consequently, high human population numbers are associated with an increased threat to biodiversity. This trend is evident at Ndumo Game Reserve (NGR), which falls within the internationally recognised Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Biodiversity Hotspot. The reserve is surrounded by rapidly growing, primarily rural settlements. The pressure on biodiversity grows as the human population increases. There is also risk to human wellbeing since a threat to biodiversity translates into a threat to the integrity of ecosystems on which people and wildlife depend. The conflict between conservation and development hampers attempts at effectively curbing the ongoing loss of biodiversity. Community-based conservation initiatives including Community-Based Ecotourism (CBE) present a means of satisfying both development and conservation objectives. This study contributes to amphibian conservation through the surveying and monitoring of amphibians and investigates various aspects of amphibian diversity at NGR. Results obtained from this study are applied to a community-based conservation initiative for NGR. Additionally, this study provides a supplementary benefit by promoting information and communications technology (ICT) use in an area of low development. Furthermore, the gap between people and biodiversity has been lessened through development of an English-isiZulu handbook on the frogs of Zululand. The book represents the first indigenous language guide to frogs in South Africa. This initiative serves as a pilot for introducing CBE based on amphibian diversity. It also is aimed at broadening understanding of amphibians across South Africa