List of Titles

Bushmeat hunting and use by rural communities living adjacent to indigenous forests in the Eastern Cape

Authors: Martins, Vusumzi
Date: 2025-04-03
Subjects: Wildlife as food South Africa Eastern Cape , Forests and forestry South Africa , Hunting South Africa , Local ecological knowledge , Forest management South Africa , Sustainability , Social ecology
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479930 , vital:78381 , DOI 10.21504/10962/479930
Description: The use of forest wild species directly contributes to the well-being of billions of people globally and is particularly important to people living in vulnerable situations. Rural, indigenous communities have harvested a variety of timber and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for millennia and still do to date. For these people, forests provide many products and benefits such as food, medicine, fuelwood and a source of income from trade in these items. In South Africa, a large number of studies have investigated the harvesting and use of NTFPs, highlighting their importance to rural and urban communities. Additionaly, the hunting of wild mammals occurs throughout the Afro-temperate forests of South Africa. Yet, no comprehensive study has been conducted on the hunting and use of wild forest mammals in the region. I sought to investigate the motivations, extent and impact of local hunting in the indigenous forests of the Eastern Cape. I hypothesize that in the region hunting is not a primary source of nutrition or income, but it continues to hold cultural significance, reflecting deep-rooted traditions within these communities. Understanding bushmeat hunting and use in the region is key to guiding sustainable management and assessing the need for policy adjustments. The current study firstly provides a detailed evaluation of NTFPs harvesting and use, highlighting the livelihood benefits associated with bushmeat hunting by investigating bushmeat hunting patterns and consumption by rural communities surrounding forest patches in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa. Here bushmeat hunting refers to the informal hunting of wild mammals by rural communities, primarily for subsistence consumption. While often organised and small-scale, it is shaped by local ecological knowledge, cultural traditions, and resource availability. The practice occurs within a complex illegal and socio-economic landscape, where access to alternative protein sources, conservation regulations, and historical land-use patterns influence its prevalence and significance. To assess NTFP harvesting and bushmeat hunting, 12 villages at different proximities to forests were selected around the province. Using a quantitative approach in the form of guided, semi-structured interviews, data on the extraction and use of NTFPs, bushmeat hunting, frequency of bushmeat consumption, general protein consumption and food security of each household were solicited. Only 16% of the households attested to hunting in the 12 months prior to the survey, with all these households including an active hunter. Though 64% of the interviewed head of households mentioned that they had consumed bushmeat in the past year, these were mostly men, only 12% percent mentioned that the hunter in the household brought their catch home and consumed the meat with their families. Hunters mostly consumed their catch with other hunters, non-hunting males and young boys. Hence the study concluded that bushmeat consumption was not an important livelihood strategy nor food source of rural people but instead plays a significant social and cultural role in the region. I also provide comprehensive insights into bushmeat hunting practices in the province. Though conducting in-depth questionnaire surveys with self-identifying hunters from the 12 villages I was able to determine the motivations, methods and perceptions behind bushmeat hunting. A total of 147 hunter interviews were conducted. All the interviewees were male, with a mean age of 32 ± 9 years. The primary motivations behind bushmeat hunting were culture (40%), sport/competition (33%) and recreational purposes (20%). Contrary to hunting in the tropics, only 4% mentioned that they hunt for income. Most of the hunters (44%) used mixed hunting methods. This involved setting up or checking snares whilst hunting with dogs and sticks, 27% only used dogs and sticks and 17% only used snares. Hunters reported ten mammal species caught in forests of the Eastern Cape in the last 12 months. Bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus), Common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) and Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) were the most hunted species. All the hunters acknowledged that hunting was an illegal activity and if caught they could be arrested. The study further presents a thorough assessment of forest mammal species diversity under hunting pressure. Evidence suggests that higher hunting occurs in communal land forests compared to forests on protected or privately owned land. Hence, data on species richness and abundance within fenced protected forests and neighbouring unfenced communal forests was acquired using a mixed-methods approach in the form of ecological line transects and local ecological knowledge (LEK) surveys. The line transects revealed a mean mammal species richness of 7.6 ±1.3 in the protected forests, 5.3 ±1.4 in the Afromontane communal forests and 3.3 ±1.6 in the Coastal communal forests. The Afromontane and Coastal communal forests had a mean species abundance of 12.1 ± 5.4 and 6.5 ± 5.0, per forest respectively, whilst the protected forests had a mean species abundance of 18.0 ± 7.0. During the LEK surveys hunters from villages close to the forests reported more species (8.9 ±1.7) than those from far villages (7.3 ± 1.2). The regular forest users reported a mean species richness of 5.5 ± 1.2 and the local experts from the protected forests reporting a mean species richness of 13.4 ± 0.7. The study demonstrates the importance of mixed-methods approach in wildlife research and sustainable natural resource use. The current study clearly shows that protected areas support higher biodiversity and that local forest users’ knowledge aligns well with ecological data. Lastly, I present a social-ecological assessment of bushmeat hunting in the forests of the Eastern Cape. The use of traditional biological sustainability indices have proved inadequate for measuring the impact of bushmeat hunting because sustainability is treated as a static, binary question, thus ignoring stochastic processes, the inherent variability of natural systems, and the complexity of hunting systems. I hence used a combination of social and ecological methods to gain insights on how the offtake of forest mammal species affected species density in the communal forests of the Eastern Cape and also how this influenced hunting practices and behaviour. The density estimates of the hunted mammal fauna in the communal forests was significantly less (50%) than in the protected forests in the region. Also, the density estimates for the five most hunted mammal species in the communal forests were significantly lower (15%) than density estimates reported in the literature. Additionally, participatory hunter interviews revealed a decline in catch per unit effort and harvest rates over the past 10 years. This decline resulted in changes in the hunting strategies and patterns of many hunters. I argue that bushmeat hunting systems should be regarded as social-ecological systems in which the animal populations are not the only focus. Instead, understanding the complex and dynamic relationships between the hunting ground, its resources, the stakeholders, and the different exogenous drivers of change that affect these components yields a better interpretation of sustainability. The current study contributes to the growing knowledge of bushmeat hunting and use in the country and also provides novel findings on the sustainability of bushmeat hunting in the forests of the Eastern Cape. Here I provide an all-inclusive appraisal of bushmeat hunting and use by rural communities living adjacent to biodiversity-rich indigenous forests. The study provides in-depth insights on household bushmeat use, hunting practices and motivations of hunters and the effect of hunting on mammalian forest fauna. Furthermore, the study provides a novel approach to determining the sustainability of bushmeat hunting by using mixed social and ecological methods. The study can be used as a model for other studies assessing bushmeat hunting elsewhere in the country. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2025
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2025-04-03

Evaluating social effects of arable field abandonment in communal areas of South Africa

Authors: Pokwana, Sihle
Date: 2025-04-03
Subjects: Arable land , Land abandonment , Livelihood , Rural conditions , Food security South Africa , Land cover , South Africa Economic conditions
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479941 , vital:78382 , DOI 10.21504/10962/479941
Description: The phenomenon of arable field abandonment, a complex and multifaceted aspect of land use dynamics, has become a subject of increasing significance in rural landscapes. Across diverse geographic contexts, the abandonment of once-cultivated fields is indicative of transformative shifts in agricultural practices, reflecting the interplay of numerous socio-economic, environmental, and cultural factors. The abandonment of arable fields in the former homelands of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal poses a multifaceted challenge with significant social implications. Historically, agriculture has been central to these regions, yet recent trends show a shift from traditional field cultivation to alternative practices such as garden cultivation or complete cessation. This shift has heightened vulnerability to food insecurity, hunger, and poverty, particularly as high unemployment levels exacerbate the situation. Moreover, the intricate relationships between humans and their surrounding ecosystems is also affected. Therefore, understanding the drivers of arable field abandonment at the community or household level can reveal localised factors that differ from broader, generalised drivers identified in previous studies. Additionally, examining the diverse impacts on these communities is crucial for developing targeted interventions that address their specific needs and enhance resilience. This study investigates arable field abandonment in specific villages of Gotyibeni and Melani in the Eastern Cape and Manqorholweni and Mawane, in KwaZulu-Natal. Using the Driving forces, Pressures, State, Impacts, and Responses (DPSIR) framework as a conceptual framework uncovers the driving factors, pressures, state, impacts and responses of this phenomenon in these rural villages. The study’s main aim was to assess the social effects of arable field abandonment in the selected study areas. The main objective is to determine how livelihoods, social relationships, and living conditions within and between households have changed following the cessation of field cultivation. The study also employed several specific objectives: first, to identify trends in field cultivation within the study areas; second, to analyse the drivers contributing to arable field abandonment in the villages; third, to examine the impact of field abandonment on the elderly population over the past 50 years; and fourth, to investigate the level of youth engagement in agriculture, including how the abandonment of arable fields affects their participation and perceptions of agriculture as a livelihood. To achieve the objectives the study employed mixed research methods that combine satellite imagery analysis, household surveys, oral history interviews with elders, most of whom had stopped farming, and youth focus group discussions. Landsat 7 Satellite imagery with a 15-meter spatial resolution was sourced from the South African Space Agency (SANSA) for the four study areas. The temporal coverage spanned from 1972 to 2020, with considerations for image usability based on resolution. Unfortunately, many earlier images were deemed unusable due to low resolution, particularly affecting Gotyibeni, where clear images only became available from 2013, therefore for this village the focus was on two decades. Arable fields, residential areas, homestead gardens, grasslands, and shrublands were classified. Change detection utilised a post-classification approach, comparing land cover categories between the early and late 2000s. A change detection matrix and statistics were generated using a ha/year formula, enabling the quantification of land cover changes. Image analysis employed ArcGIS 10.8.1 software for mapping and classification, involving georeferencing, signature file creation, maximum likelihood classification, and conversion from raster to vector formats for area calculations. For the LULC change matrix, an intersection analysis in ArcGIS overlaid data from different time points, and a pivot table in Excel organised resulting data. A focus on arable land changes, particularly conversions to other land uses, was crucial, as the study is investigating the level of arable field abandonment in these areas, understanding how much arable land has been converted or remained unchanged provides a clear indication of the extent of abandonment. To understand driving forces of arable field abandonment, a semi-structured questionnaire was developed based on the Driving forces, Pressures, States, Impacts, and Responses (DPSIR) framework. The questionnaires were administered through household interviews conducted in the four study villages. Sections of the questionnaire covered household involvement in cropping, perceptions of land use change, abandonment of field cultivation, and socio-economic demographics. Sampling involved a random selection of 20% of total households in each village, with data analysis performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Chi-square tests and Kruskal-Wallis analysis were employed to assess differences between villages. A second questionnaire specifically targeting households that had abandoned field cultivation was also done. Ninety-seven interviews were conducted to evaluate economic, health, socio-cultural and environmental impacts from respondents that indicated to have ceased field cultivation. Data analysis through SPSS utilised descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to identify statistically significant differences between villages. Oral histories were collected from elderly individuals in each village from a sample size of 15 individuals who were previous cultivators of fields, selected with the assistance of a village leader. The selected elders provided qualitative insights into historical and contemporary experiential aspects of village life. The focus was on changes in village relations, the environment, generational values, and traditional farming practices in each village. Youth-focused group discussions were organised with 30 young people in the village between the ages of 18-35, covering topics such as youth goals, the importance of field cultivation, and perceptions of the future. Both the oral histories and focus group discussions conducted in the local languages, were tape-recorded, transcribed, and subjected to content analysis to identify and interpret themes and patterns. The approach involved coding sentences, grouping codes into sub-themes, and further organising them into categories and subcategories. The LULC change results showed a consistent trend of significant arable land reduction across all villages, accompanied by a notable increase in grassland cover. Manqorholweni experienced the most significant loss of these arable fields. This finding was further supported by the household interviews which revealed 100% abandonment of fields in this village. Grasslands emerged as the dominant land cover in all villages, overtaking arable fields and homestead gardens. Regarding field abandonment, 76% of households across villages left fields unused for over 19 years due to reasons including lack of fencing, animal damage to crops, and financial constraints, despite recognising the socio-economic importance of field cultivation. Respondents expressed interest in returning to cultivation if the state would assist with fencing materials and costs. Concerns such as loss of cultural identity due to field abandonment were raised, especially in Manqorholweni, Mawane, and Melani. Homestead gardens were identified as a compensating strategy, with 78% of respondents actively maintaining them, although LULC change results indicated a decline, except in Mawane. Field cultivation revealed gender, age, and educational disparities, with non-cropping households having more female heads, individuals above 55, and higher proportions with only primary education. Households that abandoned field cultivation reported a decline in economic stability, with 97% experiencing less stable household economic circumstances. Unemployment was prevalent, with over 70% relying on social grants, creating financial challenges for 76% lacking sufficient cash. Limited off-farm formal employment (20%) was observed, while remittances played a minor role, this resulted in insufficient monthly income, affecting 94% of respondents. Dietary diversity declined, and reliance on store-bought food led to health concerns. Field abandonment impacted family dynamics, altering power relationships and reducing interaction, also heightened by COVID-19, affecting cultural identity and community cohesion. Youth across villages were not currently engaged in field cultivation or farming but expressed interest in revitalising agriculture. They recognised the socio-economic significance of agriculture and highlighted the importance of capital, resources, and government support. Challenges for youth involvement included lack of information, absence of agricultural advisors, and disparities in access to credit. Lack of support from elders and limited sharing of agricultural knowledge further hindered youth's ability to initiate farming projects. In conclusion, this study highlights the significant issue of arable field abandonment in rural areas of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, reflecting broader socio-economic and environmental transformations. The consistent reduction in arable land across the studied villages, coupled with the rise in grassland cover, underscores a critical shift from traditional agricultural practices to alternative land uses. The abandonment of fields has had profound impacts on community livelihoods, leading to decreased economic stability, reduced dietary diversity, and weakened social and cultural ties. The findings reveal a clear need for targeted interventions to address the specific challenges faced by these communities, particularly regarding food security and economic resilience. To address the challenges of arable field abandonment, it is crucial to implement a multi-faceted support program. This should include providing essential resources such as fencing, irrigation systems, and agricultural tools to facilitate field cultivation. Additionally, engaging and supporting youth in agriculture through training, access to advisors, and financial aid is vital to revitalise interest in farming. Strengthening social safety nets by enhancing financial support systems can mitigate economic challenges faced by affected households. Furthermore, initiating cultural and educational programs to preserve traditional farming knowledge while integrating modern practices will help maintain cultural identity and community cohesion. These measures are key to improving resilience and livelihoods in the context of field abandonment. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2025
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2025-04-03

Assessing how bird diversity of urban golf courses is influenced by course and landscape connectivity

Authors: Benjamin, Jonathan
Date: 2025-04-02
Subjects: Birds , Biodiversity , Connectivity , Golf courses South Africa , Green space , Urban ecology (Biology)
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/478969 , vital:78245
Description: With increasing urbanisation and corresponding environmental impacts, urban green infrastructure (UGI) and the services it provides are of high importance. However, the degree to which these spaces are beneficial and provide ecological services are influenced by the extent to which patches of UGI are connected to each other. Varying levels of connectivity may enhance or lower the resilience of the UGI and the biodiversity it houses. Although not considered as UGI, golf courses are prominent green spaces in many urban landscapes occupying vast areas of land, and therefore hold potential to aid biodiversity and facilitate species movement. However, the extent which golf courses are able to do so is a function of both the structure and availability of resources on the golf courses, as well as in the surroundings areas or landscape in which they are situated. This notion of connectivity of golf courses to their surroundings UGI (in its many forms) and landscapes has not been adequately explored in the literature as much of the present literature has addressed golf courses’ biodiversity in isolation of other UGI, or where it has been considered, only the context in which golf courses were situated has been acknowledged (i.e. urban or rural landscapes). Moreover, as golf courses occupy large areas of lands forms of UGI, they may also be able to enhance the connectivity of the landscapes in which they are situated through increasing land cover, and lowering fragmentation through connecting patches. This however, is also context specific, as seen in natural settings were golf courses would in fact fragment the landscape. This study therefore sought to assess the extent to which urban golf courses are connected to other forms of UGI in the South African context, and illustrate the importance of paying attention to connectivity in an avifaunal diversity study. It also aimed to investigate the potential of urban golf courses to foster avifaunal diversity in comparison to a reference landscape, the direct surrounding urban and residential areas. To analyse the extent to which golf courses in three South African cities were connected to the wider landscape a connectivity analysis was undertaken using GIS software. This analysis indicated that all golf courses were to some extent connected to a range of different UGI. Whilst the level of connectivity fluctuated between golf courses and cities, there was however no significant difference noted. Urban golf courses in the South African context are thus not isolated habitats but connected to other land uses and therefore potentially provide valuable resources that aid biodiversity. Despite being physically connected to surrounding UGI illustrating that both the golf courses benefit from the surrounding UGI and vice versa, at a larger landscape there was not sufficient evidence of the ability of golf courses to enhance connectivity. Although there was little evidence of golf courses’ ability to aid connectivity at the larger landscape scale, the observed extent to which golf courses were connected to their directly surrounding landscape and the high presence UGI within the larger landscape, informed the more refined investigation of avian biodiversity of golf courses in comparison to surrounding urban areas in the city of Cape Town. This biodiversity analysis indicated that there was significantly higher bird diversity on golf courses in comparison to the surrounding urban areas. However, the high level of connectivity to directly surrounding UGI that was obtained in the former part of the study proved to have no impact on the diversity noted. In contrast, the connectivity at the landscape scale, a scale addressing the broader landscape, provided valuable insight into factors determining the levels of avifaunal diversity noted. This dissertation therefore provides evidence of the biodiversity supporting function of urban golf courses and highlights the importance of landscape context in ecological assessment. These findings are a starting point for future research about the capacity of golf courses to support biodiversity in conjunction with other UGI. In the Global South context, which is complex and dynamic in nature, this information is vital, as these dynamic and changing landscapes provide opportunities to incorporate, and preserve already existing biodiversity. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2025
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2025-04-02

Assessing land use and land cover change dynamics of wildlife ranches in South Africa

Authors: Moon, Lisa
Date: 2025-04-02
Subjects: Wildlife refuges South Africa , Biodiversity conservation South Africa , Land use Planning , Social ecology , Business model , Land cover
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/478980 , vital:78246
Description: With increasing urbanisation and corresponding environmental impacts, urban green infrastructure (UGI) and the services it provides are of high importance. However, the degree to which these spaces are beneficial and provide ecological services are influenced by the extent to which patches of UGI are connected to each other. Varying levels of connectivity may enhance or lower the resilience of the UGI and the biodiversity it houses. Although not considered as UGI, golf courses are prominent green spaces in many urban landscapes occupying vast areas of land, and therefore hold potential to aid biodiversity and facilitate species movement. However, the extent which golf courses are able to do so is a function of both the structure and availability of resources on the golf courses, as well as in the surroundings areas or landscape in which they are situated. This notion of connectivity of golf courses to their surroundings UGI (in its many forms) and landscapes has not been adequately explored in the literature as much of the present literature has addressed golf courses’ biodiversity in isolation of other UGI, or where it has been considered, only the context in which golf courses were situated has been acknowledged (i.e. urban or rural landscapes). Moreover, as golf courses occupy large areas of lands forms of UGI, they may also be able to enhance the connectivity of the landscapes in which they are situated through increasing land cover, and lowering fragmentation through connecting patches. This however, is also context specific, as seen in natural settings were golf courses would in fact fragment the landscape. This study therefore sought to assess the extent to which urban golf courses are connected to other forms of UGI in the South African context, and illustrate the importance of paying attention to connectivity in an avifaunal diversity study. It also aimed to investigate the potential of urban golf courses to foster avifaunal diversity in comparison to a reference landscape, the direct surrounding urban and residential areas. To analyse the extent to which golf courses in three South African cities were connected to the wider landscape a connectivity analysis was undertaken using GIS software. This analysis indicated that all golf courses were to some extent connected to a range of different UGI. Whilst the level of connectivity fluctuated between golf courses and cities, there was however no significant difference noted. Urban golf courses in the South African context are thus not isolated habitats but connected to other land uses and therefore potentially provide valuable resources that aid biodiversity. Despite being physically connected to surrounding UGI illustrating that both the golf courses benefit from the surrounding UGI and vice versa, at a larger landscape there was not sufficient evidence of the ability of golf courses to enhance connectivity. Although there was little evidence of golf courses’ ability to aid connectivity at the larger landscape scale, the observed extent to which golf courses were connected to their directly surrounding landscape and the high presence UGI within the larger landscape, informed the more refined investigation of avian biodiversity of golf courses in comparison to surrounding urban areas in the city of Cape Town. This biodiversity analysis indicated that there was significantly higher bird diversity on golf courses in comparison to the surrounding urban areas. However, the high level of connectivity to directly surrounding UGI that was obtained in the former part of the study proved to have no impact on the diversity noted. In contrast, the connectivity at the landscape scale, a scale addressing the broader landscape, provided valuable insight into factors determining the levels of avifaunal diversity noted. This dissertation therefore provides evidence of the biodiversity supporting function of urban golf courses and highlights the importance of landscape context in ecological assessment. These findings are a starting point for future research about the capacity of golf courses to support biodiversity in conjunction with other UGI. In the Global South context, which is complex and dynamic in nature, this information is vital, as these dynamic and changing landscapes provide opportunities to incorporate, and preserve already existing biodiversity. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2025
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2025-04-02

A social realist account of the way smallholder farmers exercised their agency in the adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices in degraded landscapes in Machubeni, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Authors: Mbengo, Idah
Date: 2024-10-11
Subjects: Climate-smart agriculture , Climatic changes South Africa , Climate change adaptation South Africa Eastern Cape , Social realism , Farms, Small South Africa Eastern Cape
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/466884 , vital:76795 , DOI https://doi.org/10.21504/10962/466884
Description: Over the last two decades, climate-smart agriculture (CSA) has been promoted as a way to address the challenges of climate change for smallholder farmers' productivity, food security and livelihoods. Given concerns about climate change, many studies have contributed to developing an understanding of resilience building and crop and livestock systems adaptation. Despite evidence of the effectiveness of CSA practices, several studies report on their limited uptake by farmers involved in various projects. The reasons for low rates of adoption remain unclear. In this context, the study on which this thesis is based drew on Bhaskar’s critical realism and Archer’s social realism to explore the way smallholder farmers in five villages in a rural area in South Africa were enabled and constrained as they exercised their agency in a project intended to introduce them to CSA practices. The study was not about adaptation and resilience building per se but rather, following Bhaskar and Archer, sought to identify the generative mechanisms enabling and constraining the adoption of CSA practices. Bhaskar’s critical realism posits a view of reality as layered. The topmost layer of reality is the Empirical. This consists of observations and experiences of the world around us and is understood to be relative. The second layer, the Actual, is the layer of events from which observations and experiences located at the level of the Empirical emerge. Events at the level of the Actual and experiences and observations at the level of the Empirical emerge from an interplay of mechanisms at the deepest layer of reality identified by Bhaskar, as the Real. In positing a layered ontology, critical realism allows for the relativity of experiences and observations while, at the same time, acknowledging the reality of structures and mechanisms, which cannot be directly observed but nonetheless exist. Archer’s work on agency accords personal powers and properties (PEPs) to all individuals. Although all individuals have the power to act in relation to the world around them, they are nonetheless conditioned by their previous histories and experiences as they do so. As individuals set about exercising their agency, they are enabled or constrained by structures and mechanisms in two domains at the level of the Real which are understood to possess their own powers and properties: the structural domain and the cultural domain. In addition to drawing on Archer’s conceptualisation of the interaction between agency, structure and culture, the study also uses her “morphogenetic framework” which allows for the identification of ‘whose conceptual shifts are responsible for which structural changes, when, where and under what conditions’ (Archer, 1998: 361) and for understanding change as a series of never-ending cycles. The first phase of Archer’s morphogenetic framework, entitled T1, involves social and cultural conditioning. In the study, T1 was understood to be the time until 2017 when the project on which the study focused began. The second phase, T2 to T3, is the phase of social and cultural interaction as agents exercise their PEPs to pursue concerns they have identified for themselves and encounter structural emergent powers and properties (SEPs) and cultural emergent powers and properties (CEPs) of mechanisms located in the domains of structure and culture as they do so. The final phase of the framework, T4, allows for an evaluation of what has changed and what has not changed. My claim is that the uptake of CSA practices is impacted by different forms of consciousness or ways of experiencing the world, which is the result of the social and cultural conditioning of different groups involved in the project at T1, and clashes between them. The use of the framework drawing on critical realism and social realism allowed for the identification of these different forms of consciousness in different social groups (project facilitators, elderly farmers and the youth). These different forms of consciousness were understood to condition the agency of the three groups and thus enable or constrain the introduction of CSA practices and how they were taken up. Elderly women in the project had been conditioned to be caregivers and to see their roles tending kitchen gardens as part of their identity. This consciousness led to the uptake of CSA practices in their home gardens. By contrast, young people engaged with the project shared a very different way of experiencing the world. They were better educated and had been socialised into using social media and watching films on electronic devices from a young age. As a result, they valued the role of money in accessing consumer goods and the good life and thus valued paid employment rather than working on the land to provide subsistence. This led to a limited uptake of CSA practices. It is envisaged that insights from the study will offer new ways of understanding what might otherwise be seen as resistance to adopting CSA practices as well as new ways of engaging with different groups of agents involved in projects in the future. The study demonstrates the explanatory power of critical realism and social realism to analyse a climate change adaptation project. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2024
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2024-10-11

Assessing the impacts of Lantana camara and opportunities for ecological restoration after its removal: does clearing facilitate both soil and native vegetation recovery?

Authors: Bolosha, Uviwe
Date: 2024-10-11
Subjects: Lantana camara , Restoration and conservation , Restoration ecology , Invasive plants , Physicochemical process , Soil seed banks , Invasion driver
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/466524 , vital:76738 , DOI https://doi.org/10.21504/10962/466524
Description: Invasive alien plants (IAPs) are one of the major contributing factors to biodiversity loss, and Lantana camara is among the top ten alien invaders worldwide. Lantana camara threatens native biodiversity and human health, prevents natural succession, and has an economic and environmental impact globally. With current climate change and future predictions, these IAPs are anticipated to continue posing huge threats to ecosystem composition, structure, and function. Even though L. camara is a widespread IAP, there is still limited knowledge in South Africa on how it influences soil physicochemical properties at the species level, vegetation communities, and soil seed banks at the community level following its invasion. There is also minimal knowledge on the management and control (i.e., clearing for restoration purposes) of L. camara in South Africa, especially in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. To address the knowledge gap, this thesis was structured into three main aspects: understanding L. camara invasion mechanisms, evaluating invasion impacts on both the aboveground and belowground communities, and invasion management. The main objectives of this thesis were (i) to examine how L. camara invasion (at a species level) affected soil physicochemical properties across different seasons, (ii) to assess how L. camara influences natural vegetation (at a community level), (iii) to examine the effects of L. camara invasion (at the community level) on belowground soil seed banks and also assess the availability of pioneer native species and IAPs in the soil seed banks, and (iv) to evaluate soil and vegetation responses following L. camara clearing in comparison to invaded and uninvaded conditions. To answer these objectives, different studies were carried out in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa, on various farms within the Albany Thicket Biome. The results (Chapter 3) show that L. camara alters and modifies some soil physical properties, such as soil infiltration rate, repellency, and soil penetration resistance, in the communities it invades. A significant decrease in soil penetration under the L. camara canopy was observed compared to soils from the edge and out position. Moreover, significantly faster infiltration rates were observed in the canopy and edge positions than in the out position. The study also observed that these modifications in soil physical properties vary depending on the season. A seasonal comparison in soil penetration showed that soil was more compact in the dry season than the wet season, and significantly faster infiltration rates were observed in summer than in the other seasons. The soil collected under the invaded sampling positions was mostly wettable (80–100%), and not strongly, severely, or extremely repellent across all the seasons. The changes in soil properties caused by L. camara could create favourable conditions for its growth and invasion. Seasonal changes in soil properties also highlight how environmental conditions, especially temperature and rainfall patterns, can affect soil physical properties. The findings in Chapter 4 observed both the negative and positive impacts of L. camara, where the species did not have negative effects on species richness, diversity, or cover of some native species growth forms (i.e., graminoids and forbs). For all species, both species richness and Shannon-Wiener (H’) were significantly higher in the L. camara invaded condition compared to the uninvaded condition. The Simpson’s (J’) and Pielou’s evenness (D’) indices, however, showed no differences between the invasion conditions. Furthermore, the effects of L. camara on vegetation cover were growth form-dependent, with differences being noted for trees and shrubs but not for graminoids and forbs. Changes in vegetation structure and composition were also noted where L. camara created favourable conditions for some species to co-occur with it, meaning that its known trait of changing soil physicochemical properties could benefit some species. Generally, the results of this study showed that the effects of L. camara on vegetation are varied and do not have a predictable pattern, so they should not be generalised. The findings (Chapter 5) also indicate that the L. camara invasion had a negative impact on seedling abundance and composition but not species diversity and richness. This is evident through the decrease in seedling abundance of forbs and graminoids in the L. camara invaded condition. Lantana camara also acted as a refuge for some plant species, mostly native forbs and grasses, including Aptenia cordifolia, Chamaesyce prostrata, Oxalis spp., and Setaria spp., as well as alien forbs such as Bidens pilosa, Plantago lanceolata, and Taraxacum officinale, suggesting L. camara does not entirely eliminate less competitive plant species but can co-exist with them. Lantana camara also displaced some native species, and this could be associated with their displacement in the standing vegetation. Moreover, the species also displaced the seed banks of some alien species, thus showing its competitive ability. Overall, L. camara invasion negatively influenced soil seed bank seedling abundance and composition of some species, but not diversity and richness. The results in Chapter 6 indicated that clearing L. camara is an effective method for reducing its population. However, our findings suggest that clearing alone may not be enough to re-establish these communities with native species. This is because the results of this study showed varied changes in soil properties and native vegetation (species richness, species diversity, percentage cover, and composition) after L. camara clearing. For example, soil moisture and soil penetration resistance showed no significant differences among the invasion conditions; only monthly variations were observed. This is an indication that seasonality influenced these properties. Significantly lower soil infiltration rates were observed in the cleared condition compared to the other conditions and were influenced by the months and the interaction of the clearing conditions and months. The water droplet penetration time showed no significant difference among the clearing conditions over the three months, and all the soil collected from the three clearing conditions was mostly wettable. Soil chemical properties showed that the L. camara invaded and cleared conditions had significantly lower soil pH compared to the uninvaded condition, and an increase in soil pH was observed after clearing L. camara. Vegetation characteristics showed that both the Shannon-Wiener index (H') and the Simpson’s index (D') were lower in the invaded and cleared conditions compared to the uninvaded condition, and significant differences were observed. A slight increase in the H' and D' indices was also observed after clearing L. camara. The mean percentage cover for trees and shrubs was significantly higher in the invaded condition than in the cleared and uninvaded conditions. However, the mean percentage cover of forbs and graminoids was similar among the invaded, cleared, and uninvaded conditions, and no significant differences were observed. When L. camara was cleared, native species recovery was observed and was more notable in the understory species. Overall, some signs of vegetation recovery were observed, although challenges such as secondary invaders and re-invasion by L. camara were noted in the cleared areas. This chapter then concluded that active restoration interventions should be incorporated during restoration to fast-track soil and vegetation recovery. The findings of this thesis will make several significant contributions to the field of biological invasions and provide baseline information that can be used in future studies. These are discussed in the various research chapters. Overall, the thesis concludes that L. camara invasion has varied impacts on native vegetation and soil, and its clearance, should be prioritised to reduce the negative impacts. However, L. camara cleared areas (by WfW in South Africa) require follow-up and monitoring at an early stage to assess vegetation and soil restoration success. In addition, active management measures after L. camara’s removal should be considered for clearing programmes to yield positive ecosystem recovery. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2024
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2024-10-11

Co-management and social equity at Silaka and Hluleka Nature Reserves, South Africa

Authors: Mtshintsho, Anda
Date: 2024-10-11
Subjects: Natural resources Co-management , Social equity , Benefit sharing , Protected areas Public use South Africa Eastern Cape , Indigenous peoples Attitudes
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/464834 , vital:76549
Description: Co-management of protected areas (PAs) is a desired conservation approach aimed at balancing ecological goals and livelihood needs. Central to co-management are issues related to power sharing, responsibilities and benefit sharing. However, there still remains a dominance of an ecological emphasis in PA management, with studies focusing more on ‘objective’ biodiversity indicators for measuring the effectiveness of protected areas. However, focusing only on ecological indicators addresses a narrow perspective of achieving ecological integrity and misses social dimensions that, in some cases, might be considered more important than technical considerations. Particularly, in contexts with a history of socio-physical displacement of Indigenous people and local communities (IPLC), the social dimensions of wellbeing are complexly embedded into the economic and ecological dimensions, such that ignoring these linkages might jeopardise the success of protected areas. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the state of research and conceptual advances on social indicators of conservation success in co-managed PAs and stakeholder views and perceptions on socially just conservation in co-managed protected areas in Silaka and Hluleka Nature Reserves, South Africa. To achieve this, a scoping review, semi-structured interviews and futures workshops (using the three horizons framework) were conducted. Findings from the scoping review (chapter 2) revealed that much of the reported social monitoring indicators still rely on quantifiable metrics (i.e., economic benefits) and less on subjective and relational metrics (i.e., qualitative strength of social networks and perceptions). Unsurprisingly, many of the reviewed case studies revealed the use of participation as an indicator of evaluating co-management success. Further, the interviews and futures workshop results in chapter 3 showed that the non-accrual of key co-management expectations such as the employment of local people, benefit-sharing (material or otherwise), participation in decision-making and community development has led to heightened conflicts between the reserve management agency and local people. Consequently, the respondents did not value the co-management arrangements, citing unfulfilled promises. Broadly, the findings of this study emphasise the need for collective and collaborative efforts in developing indicators that are not only socially just but those that are context dependent and sensitive. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2024
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2024-10-11

Exploring food waste narratives and perceptions in print media and in the urban community of Makhanda, in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Authors: Dlamini, Zinhle Nkululeko
Date: 2024-10-11
Subjects: Food waste South Africa Makhanda , Agenda-setting theory , Sociocultural system , Makhanda (South Africa) Social conditions , Mass media and public opinion South Africa
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/464798 , vital:76546
Description: Food waste (FW) is a global issue that has gained increasing attention in recent decades. There has been more research to identify the multi-layered causes and effects of this issue. A vast number of studies focus on the quantification of FW, its drivers, and causes. While quantifying the amount of FW being generated is important in revealing the scope of the problem, there are many aspects of FW that are still not as widely covered i.e., the socio-cultural component of FW. This is because first and foremost what is considered food, and what is considered FW is influenced by the sociocultural context in which it is obtained, prepared, and consumed. The socio-cultural context of a society cannot be studied properly without looking at the way the people that practice those specific societal norms and cultural practices think and perceive things. Perceptions are important because sociocultural behaviours and practices tend to be reproduced in correlation to how they are perceived. Thus, if the socio-cultural dimension of FW is to be dissected, one needs to look at the socialisation agents that affect the cultural context. A socialisation agent that has been cited as growing in influence and enjoying unprecedented access in human society is the media. Despite the proven influence of the media on perceptions and behavioural patterns, the sheer volume of studies that look at the linkages between media and topics such as FW is limited. in the context of the Global South, particularly in South Africa. In response to this research gap, I set out to examine the types of narratives and perceptions that print media and media consumers within an urban community have about FW. Since the study is centred around print media perceptions and narratives and those of the community, the study used a mixed-method approach that comprised of a media analysis, one-onone, semi structured interviews, key informant discussions as well as food focus groups. Thirty six respondents were interviewed with semi-structured one on one interviews, a further six respondents were key informants, they too were interviewed with one on one semi-structured interviews. Lastly, 16 were participants in the focus sessions, and each session comprised of 8 randomly selected participants. To procure the FW perceptions and narratives of print media and the people of Makhanda, the study was divided into three phases. Phase one comprised of a print media analysis through an archival media platform of SABINET. Phase two comprised of two food focus group sessions; phase three of the study comprised of the semi-structured interviews with 36 interviewees representing the general public and six with key informants. To make sense of the results obtained from the print media analysis, the study used the agenda setting framework and found that that the representation of FW content in print media was limited. Through the use of thematic analysis, 14 viii FW perceptions and narratives were identified in print media (and perceptions and narratives are used interchangeably, therefore 14 themes equals 14 FW perceptions and narratives). Of these 14 themes there were some that were more frequently presented than others. The most frequently presented perceptions and narratives in print media were the FW and food insecurity/hunger, FW and morality and FW and the economy. The study also found that a bulk of the FW content disseminated by print media belonged to a relatively few publications namely: Cape Argus, The Star, the Mail and Gurdian and the Daily Dispatch. These findings reinforced that FW perceptions and narratives in print media were not only disproportionally represented but were also disseminated by a limited pool of media content creators. The study found that Makhanda respondents used and preferred other media forms outside of print media i.e., radio and television. Respondents maintained that the media form they were the least exposed to and least preferred was print media (newspapers). From the 58 respondents, only seven respondents indicated that they listened to and preferred radio more than any other media form, and only two respondents noted that they read newspapers. In contrast, 24 respondents noted that they preferred and were more exposed to television than any other media form. In addition, respondents noted that they saw and heard a limited amount of FW content on the media that they were most exposed to. Instead, they noted that they were more exposed to content that encouraged them to procure and consume food, such as food advertisements. On average, individuals that were exposed to and preferred radio reported to hearing more FW content as opposed to individuals that preferred television. For instance, from the seven respondents that preferred and were most exposed to radio, four of them noted that they had heard a lot of FW content. While 17 of the 24 respondents that preferred and were most exposed to television, maintained that they did not recall seeing any FW content. The study also found that Makhanda respondents had a number of perceptions and narratives about FW, that were converted into themes using content and thematic analysis. The study found that Makhanda respondents had a total of 15 FW perceptions and narratives. Just like in the media analysis there were some perceptions and narratives that were emphasised and more frequently mentioned than others. The three most dominant themes were: affluence, FW and hunger, and FW and morality. Furthermore, the research also found that the perceptions and narratives of respondents were influenced by a variety of external and internal factors such as socio-economic status/affluence, gender, age, race, and media preference. These factors interacted with each other and varied in their significance from one respondent to the other. By far, the aspect shown to be the most influential in shaping respondents FW perceptions and narratives was affluence. Twentyeight respondents spoke about the economic drawbacks of FW and cited as reason for not engaging viii in FW. In addition to this, there were some respondents that maintained that FW did not occur amongst people who belonged to the lower socio-economic class and that rather, the phenomena were limited to those who were more affluent. In speaking about affluence, respondents e linked FW with other aspects such as race, gender, age, and media preference. For instance, in addition to claiming that FW was only limited to affluent households, other respondents felt that wasting food was a luxury the only white people participated in. Such claims highlight the idea that the sociocultural historical context of South Africa is one that has some influence in the FW perceptions and narratives of Makhanda respondents. The study found that there was little overlap in the types of perceptions and narratives that print media and the Makhanda respondents have about FW. From the 14 and 15 perceptions and narratives found between each realm there were only three thematic overlaps namely: the theme of affluence, morality and FW and food insecurity. This limited overlap of perceptions and narratives suggest that there is a disconnection present between the perceptions and narratives of print media and those that are exhibited by Makhanda respondents. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2024
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2024-10-11

Exploring social learning practices for catchment management: a case study of two catchments in South Africa

Authors: Siyengo, Kwanele
Date: 2024-10-11
Subjects: Social learning , Watersheds South Africa , Watershed management , Natural resources Management , Olifants River Watershed (South Africa) , Mzimvubu River Watershed (South Africa)
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/464848 , vital:76550
Description: Social learning is achieved through a wide range of practices and is understood in different ways through multiple definitions in the literature. It is recognised as an outcome of stakeholder engagement through collaborative activities such as catchment management. Stakeholder engagement and collaboration in catchment management helps stakeholders understand the complex systems they work in, by enabling deliberation, dialogue, knowledge sharing and interdependencies. These are seen as processes which enable not only the sustainable use of natural resources but also help to achieve outcomes of transformative social learning. In partnership with the Living Catchments Project (implemented by the South African National Biodiversity Institute - SANBI), this study explores social learning practices and facilitation – and the role these play for transformation. Exploring two case studies, the Olifants River catchment and the Umzimvubu River catchment, the study adopted a qualitative participatory case study approach. It used observations, semi-structured interviews and reflections to look at the social learning practices in the two catchments. Additionally, it made use of the Social Learning, Knowledge Management and Mediation (SLKMM) framework as an analytical tool to investigate social learning practices and tools in the cases and explore how support for these can be enhanced in future. The results showed that there are existing social learning platforms and facilitation practices in the two catchments. Though not often explicit, social learning exists, and various tools (analytical, visual, participatory, and conceptual) and practices can be used to facilitate social learning. The greatest challenge for transformative social learning in these catchments is the need for a monitoring and evaluation practice which documents and makes explicit important learning and transformation taking place. This is therefore why, through a set of recommendations, it is suggested that it is key to build capacities within existing facilitators and to work closely with stakeholders from research, policy, and implementation to grow the existing social learning work, for future transformation. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2024
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2024-10-11

Exploring the influence of power dynamics on collaborative governance in the Thukela Catchment

Authors: Dunyana, Philisa
Date: 2024-10-11
Subjects: Stakeholder participation , Watershed management South Africa Tugela River Watershed , Water security South Africa , Collaborative governance , Decision making , Conflict management
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/464809 , vital:76547
Description: South Africa is a water-scarce country with unequally distributed water. This dilemma has been brought about by insufficient water supply and governance fragmentation, among other drivers. The democratic national water policies (National Water Act No. 36 of 1998) intend to foster collaborative water governance (CWG), where stakeholders within catchments must come together to learn and share decision-making responsibility through collaborative platforms that should ensure the sustainability and equitable distribution of water resources. Still, CWG is not functioning well in most parts of the country, partly due to power dynamics that compromise dynamics on collaborative governance processes and outcomes in the Upper Thukela Catchment (UTC). It did this by identifying the roles of stakeholders, looking into the nature of power dynamics among stakeholders and how these affect collaborative processes, and by examining how power dynamics interact with resources and mechanisms to influence collaborative governance outcomes. The research used two interrelated conceptual frameworks (Franks and Cleaver (2007) and the 4Rs framework (Mayers, 2005)) to explore power dynamics. The study was conducted through qualitative research using a case study approach, which consists of data collection methods such as in-depth semi-structured interviews, document review, direct observation and participant observation. The 4Rs framework highlighted the insufficient involvement of critical stakeholders in water governance, specifically those from the public sector with water management and governance authority rights. The analysis also exposed conflicting relationships among stakeholders involved in water governance, mostly stemming from some public sector stakeholders evading roles and responsibilities, a lack of trust, and limited access to information. These factors contribute to challenges and tensions within the water governance landscape in the UTC. The research also showed that the presence of different political parties in the water governance and management space seems to be the primary roots of the power dynamics that affect the processes of water governance and management. Political parties contesting power over the same communities led to conflict, corruption, competition, negligence, and sabotage. These challenges impact operational flow, service delivery, sense of urgency, and decisionmaking. Thus, the nature of power dynamics in collaborative governance processes further exposed the underlying issue of limited statehood. Application of the Franks and Cleaver (2007) framework revealed that through their influence on power dynamics, resources and mechanisms of access affect livelihoods and catchment outcomes. The study contributes to the body of knowledge on the influence of power dynamics on collaborative governance and provides recommendations for further studies to improve collaborative water governance. It highlights the complex interplay between power dynamics, stakeholder participation, and water governance processes in the UTC. To improve collaborative water governance, it is crucial to address limited stakeholder participation, mitigate the negative influence of political parties, and meaningfully empower local communities. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2024
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2024-10-11

Potential futures: land management decision making in the Albertinia-Herbertsdale area of the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve

Authors: Johnson, Ryana Elizabeth Milne
Date: 2024-10-11
Subjects: Biosphere reserves South Africa , Land management , Decision making , Futures market , Sustainable land management , Adaptation strategy
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/464823 , vital:76548
Description: Land use change drives biodiversity losses, and UNESCO biosphere reserves serve as laboratories for solving complex problems in the uncertain Anthropocene geological era. Land users' decisions form turning points for land use, biodiversity conservation and future trajectories of land management. This qualitative study used grounded theory, one-on-one interviews and a futures thinking workshop to explore land user decision making in the mixed agricultural Herbertsdale- Albertinia area of the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve. The study included participants using a variety of land management approaches, ranging from conservation to intensive agriculture. This study found that land managers in the study area interact with multiple complex social-ecological systems, and land management outcomes can be unpredictable for diverse reasons. Informed by learning and risk mitigation as well as their motivation for their present and future, land users are integrating sustainable land management practices in their commercial land management decisions. Their risk adaptation strategies tend to be hands on, independent and practical, as well as action oriented. This can be limiting when adaptation requires abstract, collective or systemic changes. All the participants know that they are dependent on natural resources. They all value their community and social networks. They have a strong appetite for learning, and combine an understanding of the historical context of their land management with an understanding that positive futures will require dynamic and extensive changes at multiple scales. They desire more integrated land use planning at catchment and landscape scales. Collaboration and collaborative strategies emerged as important pathways to the desired future. These include landscape level planning, lobbying for political and legal change, building community, learning, sustainable land management and social integration. It emerged that giving people time to think about abstract or large scale issues is appreciated, and not currently routine. This provides a potential leverage point for collaborative environmental stewardship in this highly biodiverse region. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2024
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2024-10-11

The assessment of abandoned cultivated lands: a case study of Lower Tsitsana and Hlankomo villages in the Tsitsa River catchment, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Authors: Dakie, Regina Nokufa
Date: 2024-10-11
Subjects: Agricultural land , Grasslands South Africa Eastern Cape , Abandoned land , Social ecology , Aerial photography
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/464787 , vital:76545
Description: Globally, agriculture is an essential part of people’s livelihoods, contributing to rural economies and food security. However, cultivated land abandonment, the intentional or unintentional cessation of agricultural activities for takeover by other land uses, is becoming increasingly common. Although widely studied, the outcomes of cultivated land abandonment are highly context-dependent and varied. Understanding this phenomenon would thus benefit from placed-based social-ecological case study perspectives, particularly in more understudied contexts. This study represents such a perspective, taking a social-ecological approach to understand how land abandonment has emerged and what its consequences are for the desired future outcomes in the Hlankomo and Lower Tsitsana villages in the Tsitsa River catchment. Drawing on McGinnis & Ostrom’s (2009) framework, I framed cultivated land abandonment in my study area as a “focal action situation” informed by the interaction of natural resource systems, governance systems, actors, and resource units. To better understand the current state of the natural resource system and important ecological (resource) units (grass), I used two measures of ecological condition: a rapid assessment test that provided a broad, if superficial, understanding of degradation and land condition, and a veld condition assessment that provided an understanding of grassland composition and quality in abandoned fields. I also used aerial photographs to assess the extent of changes in abandoned cultivation in the catchment. To understand actors, governance systems, how they interacted with natural resource systems and units for land abandonment to emerge, and what implications these interactions may have for the future of these lands, I used semi-structured interviews. The Rapid Assessment Test tool showed that the abandoned cultivated fields were dominated by grasses (58.3%), while shrubs (11%) and succulents (11%) were the least prevalent. The veld assessment identified sixteen grass species in both villages, with Aristida junciformis (23%) and Eragrostis plana (22.2 %) being the most dominant. The grazing statuses of the grasses showed that there were more Increaser II species, followed by Increaser III, Exotic, Increaser I and Decreaser species, respectively. There were more grass species with low grazing and average grazing values than grass species with high grazing values. The Rapid Assessment tool and the Veld assessment showed that the fields were dominated by poor grass species that grow on degraded lands. The results thus showed that the abandoned cultivated lands are degraded and in poor condition, as they are covered mainly by poor grass species that are dominant in over-utilised and overgrazed areas. The aerial photographs showed a decline in cultivated lands from 1966 to 2015, with a significant decline between 1966 and 2003. The land under cultivation between 1966 and 2003 decreased by 95 %, resulting in an annual decline of 2.56 %. The land under cultivation from 2003 and 2015 decreased by 60 %, resulting in a decline of 4 % per year. Local people corroborated the increase in cultivated land abandonment in the interviews, and this is why I attempt to understand why abandoned cultivated land happened (how the resource system and governance systems/actors interacted to shape cultivated land abandonment). As in other South African rural contexts, reasons people gave for land cultivation abandonment revealed the strongly intertwined nature of ecological and social systems, including no fence, livestock eating crops, no cattle, lack of labour, migration, lack of resources (money and equipment), parents passing on, expensive fertilizers, rainfall variability, dependency on grants, lack of interest and laziness. People had different views about the future of the abandoned cultivated lands, suggesting building homes, recreational parks, poultry farms, and recultivating and livestock protection camps, while others indicated that they didn’t care what happens to the abandoned fields. Many people still value abandoned lands and would prefer for the land to be recultivated, but they are held back by factors beyond their control, such as no fencing and a lack of governmental support in the form of fertilisers and machinery for ploughing. Additionally, our ecological results suggest that, due to the degraded states of these lands, significant rehabilitation would be required to realize these desired outcomes. Overall, this study shows the social-ecological complexity that drives cultivated land abandonment in the Tsitsa River catchment, providing a context-specific understanding of the drivers and consequences of abandoned cultivated land, future options more specific to these villages, and the broader Tsitsa catchment. At the same time, my study also corroborates similar studies in rural African and other global South contexts, thus supporting generalizable knowledge that can be used in the development of agrarian, social and environmental policies in these regions. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2024
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2024-10-11

The spatial extent, practices, and impacts of illegal solid waste dumping across an income gradient in Makhanda and Knysna, South Africa

Authors: Tombe, Yumuna Chenjerai
Date: 2024-10-11
Subjects: Refuse and refuse disposal South Africa Makhada , Refuse and refuse disposal South Africa Knysna , Refuse and refuse disposal Law and legislation , Illegal dumping , South Africa Social conditions , Pollution South Africa , Municipal services South Africa
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/464875 , vital:76553
Description: The disposal of household solid waste (HSW) through illegal dumping has become a widespread issue globally, especially in developing countries. The problem has been exacerbated by several factors such as rapid population growth, urbanization, poor infrastructure, poor enforcement of bylaws, mismanagement, poor municipal service delivery, and lack of funding, resulting in most urban residents resorting to illegal solid waste dumping (ISWD). Illegal solid waste dumping by urban residents in most developing countries is becoming a standard occurrence particularly along roadsides, vacant plots, riverbanks, forests edges, and in commonages near and within human settlements. In most South African towns and cities, the practice of ISWD is an immense social, economic, and environmental problem. The practice has led to nationwide environmental pollution and has posed significant socio-economic and health risks to urban residents particularly the urban poor, who reside in areas where ISWD is more pronounced. Studies on ISWD in South Africa are mostly within metropolitans and cities neglecting medium-sized towns like Makhanda and Knysna where such information is needed to improve municipal household solid waste (HSW) management plans and policies. Using street surveys, illegal dumpsite mapping, waste categorization templates, and household survey interviews the study examined the spatial extent, composition, dumpsite sizes, as well as residents’ practices and perceived causes and impacts of ISWD across different income groups in two medium-sized towns of Makhanda and Knysna, South Africa. The results showed that more dumpsites were enumerated in Makhanda (155) than in Knysna (60), however, the occurrence, size and prevalence of illegal dumpsites were unevenly distributed, with most dumpsites being in low-income compared to high-income neighbourhoods. In both towns, most of the dumpsites were within open access areas such as roadsides, vacant plots, and commonages. The composition of waste within dumpsites consisted mostly of household waste (Makhanda = 42% and Knysna = 49%), garden waste (Makhanda = 37% and Knysna = 30%), and construction waste (Makhanda = 21% and Knysna = 21%). More residents in low-income than in high-income neighbourhoods reported dumping, attributing it primarily to poor municipal services (Makhanda= 59% and Knysna= 54%). Within both towns, environmental impacts of ISWD were experienced by residents from both income groups, with over 50% of the respondents citing visual pollution as the most serious impact. The health impacts of ISWD were exclusively reported by low-income residents with over 30% reporting TB and Rashes as the key health impacts. Overall, the research concluded that ISWD distribution, prevalence, dumpsite sizes and impacts were unevenly distributed across low-income and high-income neighbourhoods with the former disproportionately facing v an overall higher occurrence of illegal dumpsites and subsequent health risks. The occurrence of more dumpsites in low-income areas seem to suggest that factors like socio-economic inequalities, historical legacies, lack of education and awareness, and poor municipal services in these areas are at play and need to be addressed to mitigate ISWD. To tackle the problem of ISWD a collaborative approach is recommended, one that incorporates stakeholders, households and municipal efforts and improvements. Such solutions could include improved municipal funding to develop an efficient service delivery system, solid waste awareness campaigns in communities, and provisioning of bins along open access areas. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2024
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2024-10-11

Implications of Lantana camara invasion on rural livelihoods and native woody species in the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, Zimbabwe

Authors: Francis, Buhle
Date: 2024-04-05
Subjects: Invasive plants Zimbabwe , Livelihood , Cost–benefit analysis , Commons , Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area Secretariat , Invasive plants Environmental aspects Zimbabwe
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/435896 , vital:73210 , DOI 10.21504/10962/435896
Description: Lantana (Lantana camara Linn, Verbenaceae) is an invasive alien species found in many disturbed and conservation habitats worldwide. Much work has been conducted on the impacts that L. camara has on ecosystems and communities living in affected areas. In some localities, interventions to eradicate L. camara have been made to reduce the impacts, with follow-up assessments on the benefits of these restoration efforts at some locations. However, L. camara continues to spread globally, and the Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) in Zimbabwe has not been spared. The KAZA TFCA is an important area for biodiversity conservation, ecotourism, and enabling and encouraging regional peace, cooperation and socio-economic advancement. This study was carried out in the KAZA TFCA, covering the Hwange District in Zimbabwe, with the primary aim to ascertain the effects of L. camara on rural livelihoods, native woody species and the soil properties of KAZA TFCA, and whether the policy environment and passive restoration efforts have been effective in controlling it in the area. The study employed a mixed-methods approach using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to resolve the research problem. Firstly, 102 plots were randomly established in the study areas where native woody species were recorded. In the first section of the Communal area, there were 60 plots in total comprising of 34 invaded and 8 uninvaded. In the other section of the Communal area, 21 plots were sampled, with 7 invaded, 7 control and the other 7 cleared. In the Victoria Falls National Park, 18 plots were established which comprised of 12 invaded and 6 uninvaded. In the Victoria Falls Rainforest area, 21 plots were established which comprised of 7 invaded, 7 cleared and 7 control. The criteria of selecting 102 plots was based on a number of factors which included; Research objectives, Randomisation, Historical data (From locals and Environmental Management Agency), Environmental variables, Spatial distribution if invasion, Accessibility, Budget and Time constraints. A total of 72 soil samples were collected for laboratory analysis of nitrogen, pH, organic carbon, phosphorous and potassium. The 72 soil samples were considered based on available funding for analysis. This soil samples collected samples were representative of the entire study site. In the Communal areas, 300 household questionnaires (representing approximately 12.35% of the total number of 2 430 households) were administered, two focus groups with elderly residents were conducted, and 11 key informant interviews were held. One-way ANOVAs and several multivariate tests were conducted to assess the impact of L. camara invasion on native woody species composition and soil properties. Descriptive statistics were used to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the presence of L. camara in the study sites. This was coupled with a principal component analysis to assess vulnerability of respondents to invasion, based on variables such as age, gender and level of education. One-way ANOVAs and multivariate analysis were also used to assess if passive restoration contributed to the recovery of native woody vegetation and the improvement of soil properties. In invaded plots, restoration natural recovery occurred after removing the L. camara invasion with no further intervention done after the removal. Document and thematic analyses were conducted to evaluate perceptions and knowledge of policy and legislation pertaining to L. camara management. Lantana camara negatively affected the native woody species, as evidenced by a reduction in species richness, abundance, density, height and canopy cover. Lantana camara also altered soil properties such as texture, chemical composition, colour and porosity, as found by comparing invaded and non-invaded plots in both the Park and Communal areas. Once L. camara invades an area it tends to become dominant at the expense of native species, many of which are a source of livelihood for the local people. Thus, displacement of native species by L. camara potentially increases the vulnerability of local people, some of whom are already experiencing challenges, such as drought and human-wildlife conflict. The invasion of L. camara was found to date back over eight decades ago. Based on focus group discussions with elderly participants, the initial invasion of L. camara in the Ndlovu Communal area was approximated to 1942. This invasion was noted to have begun in ward 2 of Ndlovu Communal area and spread to the other four wards in the study area over 16 years. Despite the challenges of losses and costs induced by the invasion of L. camara, benefits and gains were reported in some areas. For example, in the protected areas, the fruits of L. camara are eaten by birds, while bees use the flowers for honey production. It is noted that L. camara seeds spread through bird droppings become a cost to the environment through further proliferation of the invasion. In some communal areas, households use L. camara for hedges, herbal medicine, cane for furniture, and as an ornament. The relative losses and gains associated with L. camara are context-specific and are dependent on several factors. In this study, the presence of L. camara resulted in negative impacts that included the reduced area of productive land for crops and grazing. Combined, the mean costs borne were US$ 483 household-1 year-1. Furthermore, the combined mean benefits of L. camara, such as use as live fencing around homesteads and fields, mosquito repellent, fruit, fire kindling and ornaments, protection of fowls from raptors, and the prevention of gully erosion along watercourses, were valued at US$ 716 household-1 year-1, thereby exceeding the costs by 48%. However, most (62%) households experienced a net negative cost-benefit ratio. The overall mean value across the sample indicates benefits outweigh costs because a minority of households experience large net benefits. Although L. camara is invasive in the area, communities have taken advantage of its presence to find uses that contribute to their day-to-day lives. Despite the use of L. camara by communities, efforts to remove it have been made in some parts of the Ndlovu Communal area as well as in the Parks (Victoria Falls and Rainforest). The study investigated the impact of passive restoration on native woody species and soil properties. The findings showed a significant improvement in species richness and diversity in cleared plots compared with invaded plots. The species composition differed in the cleared, invaded and uninvaded plots with specific species favouring the different types of “treatments”. This showed the relationship between invasion and associated species. Soil properties had visible differences due to passive restoration, with figures of cleared sites consistently being intermediates of invaded and uninvaded plots. Despite the passive restoration projects, an analysis of knowledge and management showed that most local respondents whose age ranged between 25- 93 years, did not consider L. camara to be invasive but viewed it as part of the vegetation in the area. They also took little responsibility for its management. A further analysis of documents and policies related to the management of invasive alien species found that there were legal instruments in place for the management of invasive alien plants in Zimbabwe, including L. camara. The key informant interviews and the questionnaire surveys showed conflicting views on perceptions and opinions about whose responsibility it was to manage L. camara, with communities saying it is the authority’s responsibility, while some of the authorities suggested that it was everyone’s responsibility. However, some of the key informants highlighted the need to review the policies, guided by empirical studies on of the impacts of L. camara. Currently, it appears the policies are adopted from international bodies as a means of alignment to global policies, but they are not contextualised to suit the dynamics in the country. Overall, the study showed that the presence of L. camara in the KAZA TFCA has notable negative impacts on the native woody vegetation, as well as on local livelihoods, but some households have adapted to using L. camara to benefit them. This, however, has implications for efforts to stop the spread of L. camara if its presence is considered a benefit by some and a cost by others. The efforts to remove L. camara show that the native woody vegetation recovered. The study showed the need to raise awareness of the invasive nature of L. camara because some respondents did not consider it invasive. Findings from this study have implications for the management of L. camara in KAZA TFCA and similar areas, and inferences can be made to assist in the management of other invasive alien plants. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2024
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2024-04-05

Wild edible plants in rural home gardens: livelihoods, perceptions, economic value & traditional knowledge

Authors: Mothupi, Frans Makwena
Date: 2024-04-05
Subjects: Wild plants, Edible South Africa , Sustainable livelihood , Traditional knowledge , Economic value , Food security South Africa
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/435885 , vital:73209 , DOI 10.21504/10962/435885
Description: The prevalence of hunger and malnutrition has been steadily increasing in the world over the past decades. The rate of food insecurity was further exacerbated by the COVID 19 pandemic which plunged millions more into hunger as a result of a recovering economy and high food prices. These challenges are mostly experienced in Africa and are estimated to worsen in this region already affected by conflict, poor healthcare, and natural disasters such as floods and droughts. The green revolution in the 1960’s elevated agricultural production to play a pivotal role in the provision of food. However, production focused mainly on the cultivation of staple crops such as rice, wheat, and maize. The reliance on these crops has contributed to the lack of micronutrient intake and consumption of non-diverse diets. Wild edible plants (WEPs) which previously formed a significant part of indigenous people’s diet, have been regarded as an important food source crucial for the alleviation of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. Despite their nutritional qualities, they are often ignored, overlooked, and undermined by agricultural programmes and food security interventions. Additionally, WEPs are largely absent in modern diets, they are often surrounded by negative perceptions, they are economically undervalued, and the indigenous knowledge of these species is under threat. As a result, this study regards WEPs as important resources that can significantly contribute to improved livelihood outcomes such as income, food security and good health. Using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, this study evaluated the contribution of WEPs to sustaining livelihoods, providing economic value, and examined how WEPs are perceived as well as the relationship between their knowledge and consumption in rural areas. This study was conducted in rural villages that are under the jurisdiction of the Moletjie and Matlala tribal authorities in the Polokwane and Aganang local municipalities, South Africa. Qualitative and quantitative research methods were employed for data collection. A total of 356 participants were interviewed for this study. Firstly, in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 elderly participants (Chapter 2). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a total of 120 participants stratified by age, gender, and income groups (Chapter 3). A total of 96 household surveys were conducted in selected villages, this was complemented by direct observations and field surveys of the home gardens (Chapter 4). Questionnaires and freelists were administered to a total of 120 participants also stratified by age, gender, and income groups to collect data on indigenous knowledge of WEPs (Chapter 5). Thematic analysis were performed for interview data (Chapter 2) and data were summarised, descriptive statistics, chi square tests (Chapter 3), Kruskal-Wallis tests (Chapter 4), ANOVA tests and correlation tests (Chapter 5) were performed using SPSS software. The findings show that there has been a major nutrition transition characterised by changed meal composition, patterns, and frequency relating to the consumption of WEPs. The changes can be attributed to increasing western influence characterised by rising urbanisation, western lifestyle of church, school, and employment in an income-based economy dependent on retail stores to fulfil their daily dietary needs. Despite this, WEPs are still valuable to rural people, this is indicated by the fact that traditional foods are made optional at some modern and traditional celebrations. Overall, most of perceptions (65.6%) regarding the consumption of WEPs were positive. The overwhelming majority of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that preparations from the local WEPs are relatively more tasty (98.3%), healthy (96.6%), nutritious (86.7%), and better represent the traditional foods (94.1%). Additionally, participants perceived WEPs to have health benefits in that they have medicinal properties to help prevent diseases, are a good source of energy, highly nutritious and they give strength. Despite these benefits and positive perceptions, most participants expressed doubt over the commercial success of WEPs if they were to compete with cultivated crops in the market. As a result, they perceive the future of WEPs to be bleak as 95% of participants believe that their consumption is in decline. This can be largely attributed to deagrarianisation, climate change, and preference of cultivated foods by the youth. The study also showed that a diversity fruits and vegetables are available in rural home gardens, with cultivated fruits grown in abundance and WEPs available in almost all households (98%). WEPs represented 34% of the total estimated economic value of plants available in rural home gardens. Most of the home gardens produce food to supplement household food supply with only a few households engaged in trading. The trading of WEPs was recorded in 9% of the home gardens while 16% sold cultivated fruits and/or vegetables. Challenges such as lack of water and poor rainfall are shocks which affect the availability, richness, and abundance of home garden produce. WEPs are generally well known in rural areas as participants listed an average of 8.4±2.4 species. There was a significant statistical difference between the number of species listed by age group (p = 0.009) with the elderly listing a higher average number of species (9.3±2.6) compared to adults (8.1±2.5) and the youth (7.8±1.7). Vangueria infausta, Sclerocarya caffra, Ximenia caffra, Amaranthus retroflexus L. retroflexus, Citrullus lanatus,and Cleome gynadra where among the top listed species. There was also a significant positive correlation between the number of listed fruits with number of listed vegetables. The study also found a positive correlation between knowledge of WEPs and consumption. Most of the knowledge about WEPs was learned from a family member (89%), own observation (86%), a village elder (75%). This knowledge was mostly acquired from childhood through oral tradition (63%) and through participation (21%), and consumption (12%). , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2024
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2024-04-05

Acacia dealbata invasion and clearing in Upper Tsitsana communal areas of South Africa: human perceptions and ecological impacts

Authors: Coka, Nwabisa
Date: 2024-04-04
Subjects: Restoration ecology South Africa Eastern Cape , Acacia dealbata , Invasive plants South Africa Eastern Cape , Working for Water Programme , Invasive plants Control South Africa Eastern Cape
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/434876 , vital:73113
Description: The number of invasive alien plants in South Africa and globally continue to increase mostly due to increased human movement and climate change. It is estimated that approximately 10 000 hectares of South Africa’s terrestrial land is invaded by invasive alien species. Recent studies have reported that invasion by invasive alien plants cost South Africa billions of Rands every year through loss of water and ecosystem services. Although much has been done to understanding invasion trends, patterns, and processes in South Africa, little is knowns regarding human benefits linked to alien plant invasion as well as human perceptions regarding management interventions, particularly clearing by the national Working for Water programme. This thesis took a socio-ecological approach to assess (i) local people perceptions and knowledge of Acacia dealbata invasion and clearing, and (ii) extent of grazing grass diversity and composition recovery following A. dealbata clearing. To answer the above-mentioned objectives, both qualitative (face-to-face interviews) and quantitative (vegetation surveys) methods were used in grasslands located in upper Tsitsana catchment, South Africa. Results from the 165 interviews conducted in six villages show that most villagers are aware of A. dealbata in the area, but do not know that it is an invasive alien plant. Respondents accrue several benefits from the plant that include firewood (98% across all villages), construction pools (34% across all villages), and shade (3% across all villages). Respondents identified several costs associated with A. dealbata invasion, such as roots damage to houses (37% across all villages), hindering growth of crops (15% across all villages), and takes up yard space (29% across all villages). Most of the villages ranked the effects of A. dealbata on grazing as highly severe. Villages indicated that the Working for Water clearing programme presents them with socio-economic benefits such as employment and money. Some villagers noted that the clearing of A. dealbata in the area restores grazing grass (62% across all villages) and water (32% across all villages). Based on these interview survey results, the study concludes that A. dealbata has both costs and benefits that support local people’s livelihoods; therefore, its management should consider views for local users. Grass surveys conducted in 1 m2 quadrats that were replicated 15 times across four paired A. dealbata cleared and grassland sites showed that the removal of A. dealbata facilitates the recovery of native grasses. Of the 14 different grazable grass species that were identified across all quadrats only one (Bulbostylis sp.) is not palatable to livestock. Although grass cover was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the grasslands than the cleared patches, grass richness was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the cleared patches an indication that recovery of different grasses is taking place. Based on these vegetation survey results; the study concludes that recovery of grazing grasses after A. dealbata clearing four years ago is following a positive trajectory as the cleared sites are looking like the grassland sites. Overall, the study recommends that management of A. dealbata in Tsitsana landscape requires a socio-ecological approach to understand user benefits whilst at the same time developing measure to control the plant. The study has provided evidence that A. dealbata clearing facilitates passive restoration of grazing grass and local villages are aware of these restoration benefits. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2024
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2024-04-04

Drought impacts on livestock and crop production along an urban-rural gradient: perceptions and response strategies in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa

Authors: Pamla, Avela
Date: 2023-10-13
Subjects: Livestock Effect of drought on South Africa Eastern Cape , Farms, Small South Africa Eastern Cape , Crops and climate South Africa Eastern Cape , Drought management South Africa Eastern Cape
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424732 , vital:72179
Description: Drought is a major challenge threatening agricultural productivity in urban and rural areas across southern Africa. Drought events are expected to be more frequent, severe, last longer, and, impact land-based livelihoods in the coming decades. Despite the growing literature on the impacts of drought on livelihoods, there is limited focus on the impacts of droughts across rural-urban gradients. The study examined small-scale farmers’ perceptions of drought impacts and response strategies in the contexts of persistent droughts in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. A total of 163 respondents, practicing livestock and/or crop farming across six towns, in urban and rural contexts were purposively identified. The study used snowball sampling approach to identify the relevant respondents. Data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire survey, exploring the respondents' socio-demographic profiles, agricultural activities, perceptions of drought impacts, and drought response strategies. Qualitative data were coded and analyzed using descriptive statistics, thematic analysis, t-tests, and chi-square tests to identify patterns, themes, and relationships within the data. Nearly all (>95%) respondents owned livestock while substantially more rural farmers (81%) than urban farmers (35%) engaged in crop production. Drought was perceived by a sizeable proportion (>70%) of small-scale farmers as a very serious environmental challenge with adverse socio-economic repercussions on land-based activities. Livestock losses and crop failure were the key impacts reported by small-scale farmers in both rural and urban settings. About 86% of respondents across the sample reported declines in crop yields, with significantly more farmers in rural sites (45%) than urban sites (31%) reporting so. A substantial proportion of farmers across the sample (93%) reported drought response strategies relating to livestock and crop production, such as changing of farming practices, use of drought-resistant crops and government support, with slight differences in the proportion of farmers reporting so between urban (89 %) and rural (95 %) sites. Concerning government support, most respondents (>70%) stated that they were dissatisfied, with slightly more respondents in urban areas (77%) than in rural (70%) areas reporting so. Overall, the results of this study suggest a minimal response capacity of small-scale farmers to droughts in both rural and urban settings due to socio-economic and administrative factors, which calls for the need for drought-response strategies to build adaptive capacity for small-scale farmers. Turning to close cooperation between different stakeholders, such as local farmers, government officials, practitioners, and scientists might allow co-production of knowledge needed to inform drought response strategies. In some instances, attention needs to be given to farmers who are more vulnerable than others. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2023
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2023-10-13

Marine plastic pollution impacts on ecosystem services and livelihoods in South Africa: a review and stakeholder perceptions

Authors: Yose, Papama
Date: 2023-10-13
Subjects: Marine ecology South Africa , Marine plastic pollution , Ecosystem services , Multi-stakeholder process , Marine biodiversity conservation
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424743 , vital:72180
Description: Marine plastic pollution is one of the major environmental problems globally, with adverse impacts on marine ecosystem services, functions and benefits and people. Yet, compared to plastic pollution impacts on terrestrial ecosystems, the impacts of plastic waste on marine ecosystems are little studied and poorly understood in South Africa. In response, research interest on the ecological and economic impacts of marine plastic pollution has grown rapidly but socio-cultural impacts remain poorly conceptualized and little understudied. This trend is arguably driven by the dominance of a quantitative paradigm which is arguably inadequate to respond to dynamic socio-cultural issues and contexts. Further, in South Africa, marine ecosystems are used by diverse groups of people ranging from subsistence users, tourism operators, commercial fishers and recreational users, meaning that addressing marine plastic pollution requires a multi-stakeholder approach. However, few studies explore the perceptions of diverse stakeholders regarding marine plastic pollution, its impacts and potential interventions. Against this background, the objective of the thesis are twofold: (a) to argue for a more nuanced understanding of marine plastic pollution impacts on human well-being in order to strengthen conceptualization of impacts that goes beyond direct and quantitatively measured impacts (ecological, health and economic) but considers the socio-cultural dimensions of impacts (lifestyle disruptions, mental health costs and cultural and heritage impacts), and (b) examine stakeholders’ perceptions of marine plastic pollution, its impacts and potential interventions in South Africa. Drawing on case studies, this study provides a working definition of the socio-cultural impacts of marine plastic pollution and a conceptual framework for categorizing the impacts. It highlights three dimensions of the socio-cultural impacts of marine plastic pollution (lifestyle, mental health, and cultural and heritage impacts). It also illustrates connections between marine ecosystems and marine-based livelihood activities with the social and cultural dimensions of human wellbeing to show the links between marine environments and socio-cultural contexts. Concerning stakeholder perceptions, the study showed a tendency to associate marine plastic pollution with immediate, noticeable and easily quantifiable ecological impacts such as entanglement and ingestion of marine organisms, economic impacts and social impacts (e.g., loss of aesthetic appeal). However, secondary impacts such as loss of marine biodiversity and social impacts such as human health, were largely unknown. Moreover, there was heterogeneity in perceptions of marine plastic pollution impacts among the stakeholder groups. Prospective studies researching marine plastic pollution impacts should consider divergent and diverse perceptions of different stakeholders to capture the real costs of marine plastic pollution. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2023
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2023-10-13

Status and potential of green infrastructure to support urban resilience in Zomba City, Malawi

Authors: Likongwe, Patrick Jeremy
Date: 2023-10-13
Subjects: Biodiversity , Ecosystem services Malawi Zomba District , Green space , Land use Malawi Zomba District , Land cover Malawi Zomba District , Social ecology , Sustainability , Urban resilience , Trees Variation
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431821 , vital:72806 , DOI 10.21504/10962/431821
Description: Small and medium towns with less than one million inhabitants are regarded to be the fastest growing urban centres globally, absorbing the bulk of the urban population growth. This urban growth drives the diminishing natural capital within the urban settings, resulting in compromised ecosystem services delivery, thereby rendering urban dwellers and systems less resilient to hazards and shocks. It is known that urban resilience discourse is rooted in robust, empirical assessments of the nature, composition and distribution of urban green infrastructure. Using the concept of green infrastructure, a mechanism for the delivery of ecosystem services that are multi-functional, well connected, and that integrate the grey-green infrastructure while providing room for social inclusion, anchored the research in a small city of Zomba, Malawi, which is a fast-growing city facing natural resource and ecosystem service degradation. The research therefore was set to understand the status of urban green infrastructure in Zomba over space and time as the basis for enhancing urban resilience. This was facilitated by an understanding of the spatial and temporal quantity, quality, diversity and distribution of urban greenspaces and the composition, structure, diversity and distributional differences of urban trees within different urban greenspace classes. Further to this was an investigation on the perceptions of and preferences for urban greenspaces among the different socio-demographic groups and finally the role of residents, institutions and institutional frameworks in building urban resilience through the delivery of ecosystem services. To achieve these objectives, the study used a suite of methods. First was geographical information system and remote sensing to understand the spatial and temporal changes in greenspaces within the city in terms of quantity and distribution. Ecological methods of assessing the tree species composition, diversity, population structure and distribution were also employed. To gauge the perceptions of and preferences for urban greenspaces, a survey was done, targeting users found within the urban greenspaces plus residents that claimed to have patronised the urban greenspaces. Finally, to understand the role of nature and the relevant urban ecosystem services provided towards building urban resilience, remote sensing and key informant interviews were done to enrich the literature searches on a case study of urban community efforts involved in managing Sadzi hill to reverse ecosystem disservices versus Chiperoni hill that was not managed. A general impression of declining urban green infrastructure was verified through the study. The city has indeed lost 14 % tree cover between 1998 and 2018 due to increased housing and creation of agricultural land to support the growing urban population. The city has 168 tree species with 65 % of them being indigenous. Residential areas were dominated by exotic trees, mainly due to the abundance of exotic fruit trees like Mangifera indica. Generally, the city has a good tree diversity score but unequally distributed, with the formal residential areas, where the colonial masters settled, having more trees than the mixed and informal residential areas. Nine urban greenspace types were identified, but there was a low per capita urban greenspace area of 11.6 m2 per person, slightly above the minimum standard set by World Health Organisation. From the preferences for and perceptions of urban greenspaces, patronage to these greenspaces (treated as parks) was highest among the educated youth, a majority being from the high housing density areas where there are no urban parks. Walking to the nearest urban greenspace took more than 10 minutes for 85 % of the respondents. With the available by-laws in support for the governance of greenspaces within the city and the role of residents towards the same, restoration efforts that targeted Sadzi hill yielded positive results through reversing ecosystem disservices that were being experienced by the community members around the hill. The community enjoys several ecosystem services that have also contributed towards building their resilience to climatic and environmental hazards. The results of this study have unveiled several green infrastructure attributes that can contribute towards building urban social ecological resilience like the presence of high proportion of indigenous tree species, healthy urban forest, high proportion of fruit trees, high diversity scores, unparalleled demand for urban greenspaces for cultural and regulatory ecosystem services, the willingness to pay and work towards managing and conserving greenspaces and the social capital available from the urban communities. However, the study also unveiled several green infrastructure related attributes that if not checked will continue to undermine efforts towards building urban resilience. These included the continued drop in tree and greenspace cover, poor governance of the available public greenspaces, unequal distribution of trees and urban greenspaces, poor management of greenspaces, bare river banks, lack of park amenities and a lack of a clear strategy, policy or an urban plan that clearly outlines green infrastructure. Efforts towards addressing these will mean acknowledging the role of green infrastructure in supporting urban social ecological resilience. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2023
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2023-10-13

Innovation in ecological restoration techniques: Enhancing Portulacaria afra survivorship in degraded arid thicket

Authors: Norman, Yondela Masande
Date: 2023-03-31
Subjects: Land degradation South Africa , Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Planning , Portulacaria afra , Restoration ecology , Nurse plants
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/419276 , vital:71630
Description: The Albany Thicket Biome has undergone extensive degradation over the past century, particularly from overstocking of livestock in the arid types of thicket. The degradation of the biome, coupled with little to no natural recovery, prompted the South African Government to implement the Subtropical Thicket Restoration Programme (STRP) in the early 2000s to rehabilitate degraded thicket using unrooted Portulacaria afra truncheons. The STRP also sought to create job opportunities, bring about social upliftment, promote biodiversity conservation and incentivise farmers and landowners in the region to promote carbon trading and farming of P. afra using carbon credits. However, the survivorship of P. afra planted using the STRP planting protocol has been less than ⁓30% because they are planted in degraded areas, where the truncheons are subjected to harsh biophysical conditions such as hard, capped soil, high soil temperatures, drought and herbivory. The aim of this study, therefore, was to improve the survivorship of P. afra planted in degraded thicket to at least 30%, using modified planting methods. In this study, four treatments were applied in 210 pondings (or micro-dams), each with P. afra planted in them (the first three treatments used rooted cuttings). The first treatment involved watering regimes where pondings were watered at varying frequencies. The second treatment involved planting companion species alongside P. afra while the third treatment involved planting P. afra underneath a nurse canopy. In the fourth treatment, unrooted P. afra truncheons were planted inside pondings. The mean survivorship of the P. afra cuttings was assessed 18 months after planting. The watering regime treatments, including the control, all yielded a survivorship of over 75%, with the significantly highest levels of survivorship being displayed in the weekly watering treatment (90.9 ± 6.8%) (p < 0.01). The companion plant treatment also produced a high mean survivorship of P. afra (94.9 ± 3.6%), significantly higher than that of the nurse plants (87.5 ± 6.3%) (p < 0.01). Among the unrooted truncheons it was found that untreated truncheons had the highest survivorship (76.2 ± 17.6%), with the lowest mean being found in truncheons that were both pruned and scarified (70.8 ± 20.8%), suggesting that this treatment, out of all of them, is the least successful under the prevailing environmental conditions in the study area. However, there was no significant differences among the unrooted truncheon treatments and their respective survivorship values to further substantiate this assertion (p = 0.26). Findings in this study also suggest that planting P. afra cuttings under a nurse plant was ideal for P. afra survivorship due to the nurse plant’s ability to ameliorate the microclimate under which the cuttings can establish and grow. Despite the soil under the nurse canopy having a significantly lower mean soil water potential (-160.9 ± 200.5 kPa), compared to the open areas (-73.4 ± 55.7 kPa) (p = 0.04), the pondings under the nurse canopy still had a lower mean soil temperature (31.4 ± 5.25°C) than the treatments in the open areas (38.5 ± 2.7°C), during the harsh midday sun. These favourable characteristics are reflected in the P. afra cuttings under a nurse canopy having a higher chlorophyll fluorescence (0.76 ± 0.06). compared to those planted in open areas (0.73 ± 0.13), suggesting that the P. afra cuttings in the former treatment had a higher photosynthetic efficiency compared to those in the latter, despite there being no statistically significant difference in chlorophyll fluorescence between the treatments (p = 0.14). Although these findings suggest that applying these modifications to planting P. afra, having achieved its objective of increasing survivorship to well over 50%, is likely to produce favourable results not only in overall survivorship, but also in fast-tracking arid thicket rehabilitation and restoration, further research on these rehabilitation techniques and their effectiveness is required. Furthermore, the downside to these treatments is that they are costly and time consuming, which puts the feasibility of large-scale programmes using these applications into question. Further investigation is required to determine ways in which the cost-effectiveness of these applications can be enhanced. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2023
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2023-03-31

Showing items 1 - 20 of 158

Bushmeat hunting and use by rural communities living adjacent to indigenous forests in the Eastern Cape

Evaluating social effects of arable field abandonment in communal areas of South Africa

Assessing how bird diversity of urban golf courses is influenced by course and landscape connectivity

Assessing land use and land cover change dynamics of wildlife ranches in South Africa

A social realist account of the way smallholder farmers exercised their agency in the adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices in degraded landscapes in Machubeni, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Assessing the impacts of Lantana camara and opportunities for ecological restoration after its removal: does clearing facilitate both soil and native vegetation recovery?

Co-management and social equity at Silaka and Hluleka Nature Reserves, South Africa

Exploring food waste narratives and perceptions in print media and in the urban community of Makhanda, in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Exploring social learning practices for catchment management: a case study of two catchments in South Africa

Exploring the influence of power dynamics on collaborative governance in the Thukela Catchment

Potential futures: land management decision making in the Albertinia-Herbertsdale area of the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve

The assessment of abandoned cultivated lands: a case study of Lower Tsitsana and Hlankomo villages in the Tsitsa River catchment, Eastern Cape, South Africa

The spatial extent, practices, and impacts of illegal solid waste dumping across an income gradient in Makhanda and Knysna, South Africa

Implications of Lantana camara invasion on rural livelihoods and native woody species in the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, Zimbabwe

Wild edible plants in rural home gardens: livelihoods, perceptions, economic value & traditional knowledge

Acacia dealbata invasion and clearing in Upper Tsitsana communal areas of South Africa: human perceptions and ecological impacts

Drought impacts on livestock and crop production along an urban-rural gradient: perceptions and response strategies in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa

Marine plastic pollution impacts on ecosystem services and livelihoods in South Africa: a review and stakeholder perceptions

Status and potential of green infrastructure to support urban resilience in Zomba City, Malawi

Innovation in ecological restoration techniques: Enhancing Portulacaria afra survivorship in degraded arid thicket