Conserving dragonflies (Odonata) along streams running through commercial forestry.

The single most important cause of insect extinctions is the disturbance to and loss ofnatural habitats(PYLE et al„ 1981). The mainchange to most landscapes is fragmentation of indigenous habitats, with commercial and agricultural impacts becoming increasingly significant (PYLE et al., 1981). Afforestation refers to the planting oftrees, usually exotic, in monoculture.Afforestationaffects naturalhabitats Commercial afforestation of natural ecosystems is increasing worldwide. There is little information however, on the extent to which biodiversity is being affected by this practice. This is especially so for stream fauna, including the conspicuous Odon. Some dragonflies and daraselflies may decline when their natural environment is anthropogenically changed and, as a group, they are sensitive to the impact of afforestation.The sites were four pine plantations in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. 14 environmental factors were recorded along stretches of streams running through each of the four sites.The diversity of Odon. spp. and their abundances along these streams