Abstract
M.Sc.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether unpaved roads in commercial forests have a detrimental impact on aquatic macro-invertebrates in the receiving rivers associated with these roads.
The upper section of the headwaters of the Motlhaka-Semeetse River was chosen as the Study Area because a portion is situated in the Wolkberg Wilderness area (natural area with no roads) and a portion in a commercial forestry plantation (high road network density). Stream conditions based on a rapid bio-assessment of aquatic macro-invertebrates using SASS5 were then compared between the two catchments amid 2002 and 2010. In order to support the SASS5 results, daily rainfall data from December 1959 to October 2010 was collated and compared to daily stream flow data from January 1960 to October 2010. In addition, geomorphological and instream habitat changes in the river between the two catchment areas were recorded, as well as the condition of stream crossings and their linkage to stream networks in the afforested catchment.
The SASS5 results revealed that stream conditions at the upper unimpaired site were significantly better, visibly and statistically (p < 0.05) than conditions at the lower site within the forestry plantation. In addition, there were noteworthy changes in the catchment hydrology, the geomorphology and instream habitat between the natural and afforested catchments.
Road network densities in commercial forests are mostly considerably higher than suggested in literature and exceed stream network densities. Roads increase the surface area for interception of rainfall and the runoff from this high density of roads results in modification of the catchment hydrology, geomorphology and instream habitat of receiving streams. This physical change to the receiving streams is one of the main reasons for the deterioration in SASS5 results, disproving the hypothesis that road networks in forestry areas have no impact on receiving aquatic ecosystems. Commercial forestry in South Africa needs to improve their road planning, layout, management and maintenance to reduce these environmental impacts. In doing so, the road network density will be reduced with considerable environmental and economic benefits.