Protecting plants from elephants: botanical reserve scenarios within the Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa

At current densities, elephants are having a severe impact on plant community structure and species richness in the Addo Elephant National Park (AENP), Eastern Cape, South Africa. Those species that are particularly vulnerable to elephants comprise the bulk of the regionally endemic, Red Data Book and rare species (special species) associated with succulent thicket, a vegetation type endemic to the Eastern Cape. The AENP is the only national...