Analysis of three decades of land cover changes in the Maputaland Coastal Plain, South Africa

Changes in land use and land cover over time and space indicate socioeconomic change. Population growth and consequent demand for economic development have increased the conversion of natural vegetation. The KwaZulu-Natal Province has experienced an accumulated transformation of 45.6% of natural vegetation between 1994 and 2008 (Jewitt 2012:12). One area that has been affected by land cover transformation is the Maputaland Coastal Plain (MCP) located in the north-east of the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa, which is rich in biodiversity and other natural resources (Orimoloye et al. 2019:3). The MCP has several wetlands, lakes and game reserves, which play an integral role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. The largest freshwater lake in South Africa, Lake Sibayi, and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, which is a renowned Ramsar and World Heritage site, are located within the MCP (Weitz & Demlie 2014:1). However, recent studies indicated that surface waters and wetland systems in the MCP are under severe threat because of plantations and water extraction (Everson et al. 2019:1; Orimoloye et al. 2019:9; Smithers et al. 2017:490). A large part of the Lake Sibayi catchment area is covered by plantations (Everson et al. 2019:34; Weitz & Demlie 2014:1). Mbazwana and Manzegwena, the two largest plantations, cover approximately 8500 and 15 000 ha, respectively, and were established in the 1960s by the KwaZulu Department of Forestry (SA Forestry 2012:1).