Does the landscape functionality approach provide insight into rangeland conditions in the Tanqua Karoo region, South Africa?

The harsh environmental conditions coupled with a long history of overgrazing have altered the ecology of the arid Tanqua Karoo rangelands in South Africa, which necessitates rehabilitation. However, a suitable method for monitoring rangeland function over time is required for sustainable management. In this study, vegetation characteristics and landscape function indices were used to rate and compare rangeland conditions in 43 sites distributed among three vegetation types: Tanqua Karoo, Tanqua Wash Riviere, and Tanqua Escarpment Shrubland, which occupy different landscapes in the Tankwa Karoo National Park.