- Title
- Perceived impacts of Swartkop Nature Reserve on community livelihoods in Motherwell, Gqeberha
- Creator
- Pebane, Mpho Arnold
- Subject
- Nature Reserve -- Gqeberha
- Subject
- Effect of pollution on
- Date Issued
- 2022-04
- Date
- 2022-04
- Type
- Master's theses
- Type
- text
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58135
- Identifier
- vital:58589
- Description
- This study investigated the perceived impacts of Swartkop Nature Reserve on community livelihoods in Motherwell, Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The study was motivated by tons of litter and rubble due to neglect of the nature reserve by the community and the municipality. These problems have the potential to cause pollution and ecological degradation. The study was therefore pursued to understand the reasons behind the neglect of the nature reserve, determine how the community is involved in governance and management of the nature reserve and analyse their perceptions about the impact of Swartkop Nature Reserve on their livelihood and community development. The qualitative research methodology was utilised and primary data obtained through self-administered unstructured interviews with thirty-two participants. The participants of the study were from the community of Motherwell; particularly residents of wards 6, 7 and 9. These residents were chosen because of their proximity to the nature reserve and the fact that they are more affected than any other ward that is not as close to the nature reserve. The study found that lack of education and awareness, lack of collaboration between the community and municipality, lack of activism among residents, poor upbringing of some participants are some of the reasons that have contributed towards littering and illegal dumping. Furthermore, failure by the municipality to provide services to the community, especially in collecting refuse and provision of designated landfill, was another finding about what has contributed to the littering on the nature reserve. In terms of impact on livelihoods, the study revealed several activities such as farming, harvesting of medicinal plants, recreational activities, recycling and fishing which could enable the community benefit from the nature reserve. Based on the findings, the study recommends a redeclaration of Swartkop Nature Reserve to incorporate heritage and culture as predominant activities that should take place. Furthermore, it is recommended that the municipality should strive to halt the expansion of the informal settlement and illegal dumping of refuse and rubble in the nature reserve as these are major risks that threaten the biodiversity of the nature reserve. A partnership was proposed between the municipality and the community vi through its Community Trust and Ward-Based Cooperatives as consultative platforms. This partnership between the municipality and community should champion the conservation of the nature reserve which will include reserve management planning, fencing and security, law enforcement, rehabilitation, reintroduction of animals and socio-economic development to create employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for the community of Motherwell.
- Description
- Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
- Format
- computer
- Format
- online resource
- Format
- application/pdf
- Format
- 1 online resource (x, 89 pages)
- Format
- Publisher
- Nelson Mandela University
- Publisher
- Faculty of Business and Economic science
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Nelson Mandela University
- Rights
- All Rights Reserved
- Rights
- Open Access
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NMU School for Economics, Development and Tourism
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | Pebane, M.pdf | 1 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |