Development of a dragonfly awareness trail in an African botanical garden

The IUCN/SSC Status Survey ann Conservation Action Plan: Dragonflies calls for an increase in educating the public and increasing awareness of dragonf lies (Odonata). Dragonflies are conspicuous and attractive, and can 'stand in' for other invertebrates in raising awareness of the necessity to conser ve invertebrates. While reserves have been set aside for dragonfly awarenes s and conservation in the northern hemisphere, no such dragonfly reserves a ppear to exist in the southern hemisphere, despite its rich dragonfly fauna . This paper describes the development of a dragonfly-awareness trail in an established and well-visited botanical garden (The National Botanical Gard ens, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa). Correlations between species and envi ronmental variables were significantly high for six measured environmental variables: pH, percentage shade, vegetation (structural and compositional), ambient and water temperature, and water depth. Multivariate analyses of d ata, classified 20 a priori selected sampling units into four ecologically meaningful biotope types, each with a characteristic dragonfly assemblage. The four biotopes provided potential viewing points. To these were added a further three duplicate biotopes so as to link the trail into a circuit. Qu estionnaires assessed public awareness of dragonflies, and helped design a preliminary leaflet. A final trail design was drawn up along with an expand ed booklet. The trail has now been implemented. Recommendations are made an the minimal scientific underpinning required for future trail design. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.