Southern African Landscapes and Environmental Change

This volume provides a textbook and reference work on the physical and biotic landscapes of Southern Africa. It examines the links between these environments and the ways in which they have been, are and will likely be subject to change. It covers the geomorphology, soils, vegetation and land use across a range of landscapes, including mountains, coasts, savannah, drylands and wetlands, and identifies the impacts of current and potential climate change and other factors on these environments. The geographical focus is on the region defined by Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Swaziland. Illustrated throughout in full colour, the book will serve as a reference volume for researchers and environmental professionals internationally, as well as a textbook for senior undergraduate and graduate-level students of geography, ecology and environmental studies in Southern Africa.

1. Introduction Peter J. Holmes and John Boardman 2. The Geomorphic Evolution of Southern Africa during the Cenozoic Jasper Knight and Stefan W. Grab 3. Southern African Soils and their Susceptibility to Degradation Chris C. du Preez, Elmarie Kotzé and Cornie W. van Huyssteen 4. Southern African Rivers and Fresh Water Resources within the context of the Anthropocene Anthony Turton 5. Southern African Biomes Karen J. Esler and Emma Archer 6. Land Use, Land Cover and Vegetation Change in Southern Africa M. Timm Hoffman 7. Fluvial System Response to Environmental Change Kate M. Rowntree, Bennie W. van der Waal and Lindi B. Smith-Adao 8. Southern African drylands and their unique challenges Jasper Knight and Peter J. Holmes 9. Southern African Montane Environments Stefan W. Grab and Jasper Knight 10. Savanna Ecosystems of Southern Africa Geoffrey Mukwada 11. Landscape Dynamics within the Southern African Coastal Zone Andrew S. Carr and Alan M. Smith 12. Agriculture and a Changing Biophysical Environment CW van Huyssteen, CC du Preez and Peter J. Holmes 13. Monitoring and Assessing Land Degradation: New Approaches Ian D.L. Foster and John Boardman 14. Quaternary Environmental Change Michael E. Meadows and Peter J. Holmes 15. Conclusion Peter J. Holmes and John Boardman

Peter J. Holmes is a retired professor, and currently Research Fellow, in the Department of Geography, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. His primary research interest is the geomorphology of semi-arid environments. John Boardman is an Emeritus Professor in the Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, UK, where he previously ran the Masters Programme. He is also a Research Fellow at the University of the Free State, South Africa.