ABSTRACT
Land use practices are no longer of local significance only and can affect a region's biodiversity as well as its ability to provide the goods and services on which many people depend. This chapter describes the extent to which different land use practices in southern Africa have influenced the vegetation of the region, primarily over the historical period, from the time of colonial settlement to the present, and especially over the last 100 years. It provides a summary of the key features of land ownership, land cover and land use in the region. Desert environments are characterised by low rainfall and are driven by episodic events. Several case studies subsequently highlight the impact that land use has had on land cover. Finally, the chapter describes the main trajectories of vegetation change reported within each of the major biomes of southern Africa.
