On the implementation effectiveness and efficiency of ecological interventions in operational contexts : the case of Working for Water
- Authors: McConnachie, Matthew Morgan
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Working for Water Programme Alien plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Alien plants -- Control -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Alien plants -- Control -- Cost effectiveness -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Conservation of natural resources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Acacia mearnsii -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Revegetation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Restoration ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Environmental degradation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4729 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001956
- Description: There is little understanding of the implementation efficiency and effectiveness of restoring plant invaded landscapes within operational contexts. South Africa's Working for Water (WfW) programme is arguably the most ambitious alien plant control programme in the world, yet little is known about its cost-effectiveness and the challenges it faces in linking poverty and environmental objectives. My first aim was to assess the cost-effectiveness of invasive plant removal, and the factors that underpin its effectiveness over large spatial and temporal scales. The second aim was to compare the accuracy of evidence-based findings with managers' experience-based beliefs, and to assess whether managers are willing to change their beliefs after being exposed to it. The third aim was to assess the costs and benefits of removal versus removal followed by active native re-vegetation. My final aim is to assess the challenges and lessons learnt by managers linking ecological restoration with poverty alleviation objectives, specifically within the public works model. My study area was focused primarily on two WfW river catchment projects in the western region of the Eastern Cape province. I adopted an interdisciplinary approach drawing from a range of methods such as observational studies, statistical modelling and interviews with managers. The key findings were that control efforts in the two catchment projects are largely inadequate owing to many sites being re-invaded and not enough resources being allocated to the catchments. It would take between 54 and 695 years to clear the respective catchments. In terms of cost-effectiveness, my results exceeded previous estimates by 1.5 to 8.6 times for each catchment project. After being exposed to the evidence-based findings, the managers did not change their beliefs when it came to forecasting the future effectiveness. I found that active native re-vegetation after removal of invasive plants is very costly and that priority should be given to understanding the effectiveness of the removal treatments on native species recovery. The managers cited significant challenges in effectively and efficiently meeting the programmes dual objectives. Based on a broader review of the public works literature I recommend WfW re-examine the type of public works they currently use.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: McConnachie, Matthew Morgan
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Working for Water Programme Alien plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Alien plants -- Control -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Alien plants -- Control -- Cost effectiveness -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Conservation of natural resources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Acacia mearnsii -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Revegetation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Restoration ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Environmental degradation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4729 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001956
- Description: There is little understanding of the implementation efficiency and effectiveness of restoring plant invaded landscapes within operational contexts. South Africa's Working for Water (WfW) programme is arguably the most ambitious alien plant control programme in the world, yet little is known about its cost-effectiveness and the challenges it faces in linking poverty and environmental objectives. My first aim was to assess the cost-effectiveness of invasive plant removal, and the factors that underpin its effectiveness over large spatial and temporal scales. The second aim was to compare the accuracy of evidence-based findings with managers' experience-based beliefs, and to assess whether managers are willing to change their beliefs after being exposed to it. The third aim was to assess the costs and benefits of removal versus removal followed by active native re-vegetation. My final aim is to assess the challenges and lessons learnt by managers linking ecological restoration with poverty alleviation objectives, specifically within the public works model. My study area was focused primarily on two WfW river catchment projects in the western region of the Eastern Cape province. I adopted an interdisciplinary approach drawing from a range of methods such as observational studies, statistical modelling and interviews with managers. The key findings were that control efforts in the two catchment projects are largely inadequate owing to many sites being re-invaded and not enough resources being allocated to the catchments. It would take between 54 and 695 years to clear the respective catchments. In terms of cost-effectiveness, my results exceeded previous estimates by 1.5 to 8.6 times for each catchment project. After being exposed to the evidence-based findings, the managers did not change their beliefs when it came to forecasting the future effectiveness. I found that active native re-vegetation after removal of invasive plants is very costly and that priority should be given to understanding the effectiveness of the removal treatments on native species recovery. The managers cited significant challenges in effectively and efficiently meeting the programmes dual objectives. Based on a broader review of the public works literature I recommend WfW re-examine the type of public works they currently use.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Grouping complex systems for classification and parallel simulation
- Authors: Ikram, Ismail Mohamed
- Date: 1997
- Subjects: Digital computer simulation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4662 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006665
- Description: This thesis is concerned with grouping complex systems by means of concurrent model, in order to aid in (i) formulation of classifications and (ii) induction of parallel simulation programs. It observes, and seeks f~ furmalize _ and then exploit, the strong structural resemblance between complex systems and occam programs. The thesis hypothesizes that groups of complex systems may be discriminated according to shared structural and behavioural characteristics. Such an analysis of the complex systems domain may be performed in the abstract with the aid of a model for capturing interesting features of complex systems. The resulting groups would form a classification of complex systems. An additional hypothesis is that, insofar as the model is able to capture sufficient . programmatic information, these groups may be used to define, automatically, algorithmic skeletons for the concurrent simulation of complex systems. In order to test these hypotheses, a specification model and an accompanying formal notation are developed. The model expresses properties of complex systems in a mixture of object-oriented and process-oriented styles .. The model is then used as the basis for performing both classification and automatic induction of parallel simulation programs. The thesis takes the view that specification models should not be overly complex, especially if the specifications are meant to be executable. Therefore the requirement for explicit consideration of concurrency on the part of specifiers is minimized. The thesis formulates specifications of classes of cellular automata and neural networks according to the proposed model. Procedures for verificati6If - and induction of parallel simulation programs are also included.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1997
- Authors: Ikram, Ismail Mohamed
- Date: 1997
- Subjects: Digital computer simulation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4662 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006665
- Description: This thesis is concerned with grouping complex systems by means of concurrent model, in order to aid in (i) formulation of classifications and (ii) induction of parallel simulation programs. It observes, and seeks f~ furmalize _ and then exploit, the strong structural resemblance between complex systems and occam programs. The thesis hypothesizes that groups of complex systems may be discriminated according to shared structural and behavioural characteristics. Such an analysis of the complex systems domain may be performed in the abstract with the aid of a model for capturing interesting features of complex systems. The resulting groups would form a classification of complex systems. An additional hypothesis is that, insofar as the model is able to capture sufficient . programmatic information, these groups may be used to define, automatically, algorithmic skeletons for the concurrent simulation of complex systems. In order to test these hypotheses, a specification model and an accompanying formal notation are developed. The model expresses properties of complex systems in a mixture of object-oriented and process-oriented styles .. The model is then used as the basis for performing both classification and automatic induction of parallel simulation programs. The thesis takes the view that specification models should not be overly complex, especially if the specifications are meant to be executable. Therefore the requirement for explicit consideration of concurrency on the part of specifiers is minimized. The thesis formulates specifications of classes of cellular automata and neural networks according to the proposed model. Procedures for verificati6If - and induction of parallel simulation programs are also included.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1997
A structural investigation of the sulphated polysaccharide from Aeodes ulvoidea Schmitz
- Allsobrook, Anthony John Robert
- Authors: Allsobrook, Anthony John Robert
- Date: 1973
- Subjects: Red algae -- Composition Polysaccharides
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4437 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007482
- Description: Aeodes ulvoidea, a red seaweed of the Grateloupiaceae, yielded a highly sulphated polysaccharide which was shown to contain D- and L-galactose, 4-0-methy-L-galactose, 2-0-methyl - D- and L-galactose and 6-0-methyl-D-galactose, together with chromatographic traces of xylose and mannose. The sulphate was not labile to alkali, but it was largely removed with methanolic hydrogen chloride. Periodate oxidation of the polysaccharide, methylation of the de sulphated polysaccharide, and investigation of fifteen oligosaccharides from partial hydrolysis and acetolysis studies of the polysaccharide, indicate that (a) the polysaccharide is composed of a backbone of D-galactose residues which are 1,3- and 1,4-linked (b) at least some regions of alternating structure do occur (c) the 2-0-methylgalactose is linked through the 4-position (d) the 4-0-methyl-L-galactose is present as single unit side chains glycosidically linked to the galactose backbone at position 6, and (e) most of the 6-0-methyl-D-galactose is linked to the 4-position of 2-0-methyl-D-galactose.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1973
- Authors: Allsobrook, Anthony John Robert
- Date: 1973
- Subjects: Red algae -- Composition Polysaccharides
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4437 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007482
- Description: Aeodes ulvoidea, a red seaweed of the Grateloupiaceae, yielded a highly sulphated polysaccharide which was shown to contain D- and L-galactose, 4-0-methy-L-galactose, 2-0-methyl - D- and L-galactose and 6-0-methyl-D-galactose, together with chromatographic traces of xylose and mannose. The sulphate was not labile to alkali, but it was largely removed with methanolic hydrogen chloride. Periodate oxidation of the polysaccharide, methylation of the de sulphated polysaccharide, and investigation of fifteen oligosaccharides from partial hydrolysis and acetolysis studies of the polysaccharide, indicate that (a) the polysaccharide is composed of a backbone of D-galactose residues which are 1,3- and 1,4-linked (b) at least some regions of alternating structure do occur (c) the 2-0-methylgalactose is linked through the 4-position (d) the 4-0-methyl-L-galactose is present as single unit side chains glycosidically linked to the galactose backbone at position 6, and (e) most of the 6-0-methyl-D-galactose is linked to the 4-position of 2-0-methyl-D-galactose.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1973
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