The influence of the 1991/92 drought on the woody vegetation of the Kruger National Park

Abstract

All observations and data related to the impact of the 1991/92 drought on the woody vegetation, excluding the riverine vegetation of major rivers, are summarised. Despite lower rainfall, the area north of the Olifants River (excluding the far-northern part) was less affected, suggesting that the woody vegetation in the north is more adapted to drought. A characteristic of the drought was the localised distribution pattern and variable intensity of damage to the same species in the same general area. Information on 31 species is presented briefly. Although a large number of woody species was to some extent damaged, when the woody vegetation is considered as a whole, the influence of the drought was not very severe. -from Author