Linking livelihood and ecosystem change in two dryland sites in Southern Africa over a period of 30 years
- Authors: Masunungure, Current
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Marwendo Village (Zimbabwe) -- Social conditions , Tshivhulani Village (South Africa) -- Social conditions , Marwendo Village (Zimbabwe) -- Environmental conditions , Tshivhulani Village (South Africa) -- Environmental conditions , Climatic changes -- South Africa -- Tshivhulani Village , Climatic changes -- Zimbabwe -- Marwendo Village
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/4819 , vital:20732
- Description: The ongoing and rapid change (from global to local level) in climate, populations, governments, cultures, environment, land use and economies are critical issues, especially for poor rural communities found in the dryland parts of southern Africa. The manifestations of change can combine to increase rural livelihood vulnerability, through the erosion of assets and insecurity, but can at the same time create new opportunities. Studies that consider the complex nature of change across scales and how it affects changes in livelihoods, ecosystems and responses at local level, are increasingly needed. This study, carried out in two purposefully selected study sites in the communal drylands of south-eastern Zimbabwe (Marwendo village) and Limpopo province in South Africa (Tshivhulani village), examined the complex nature of change across scales by assessing the way in which change at the global scale results in localised trends, shocks and stressors, and its impacts on livelihoods and ecosystems and responses over the past 30 years. The study applies social-ecological system thinking in understanding human-environment change. Particular emphasis was put on the role of social protection and natural resources in responding to change, shocks and stressors. The study employed a mixed method approach to gather data which included a household survey, life history interviews, transect walks, focus group discussions as well as secondary sources of information. The results of the study illustrate that shocks and stressors are common in both villages and are likely to increase in severity and frequency with ongoing and rapid human-environmental change, especially climate change. The local responses to change, shocks and stressors are primarily reactive and mainly intensify exploitation of existing natural resources and social protection as safety-nets. In Marwendo village, the villagers relied more on the use and sale of natural resource products readily available to them, whereas in Tshivhulani village they mainly tend to rely on social grants. Thus, in the future, households’ vulnerability might increase, and may be worse in Marwendo village, since important components of current livelihoods remain natural resource-based and climate sensitive. In Tshivhulani village, livelihoods characterised by high dependence on social grants can have severe consequences for households as children get older or elderly members die and grants cease to be available. Social grants therefore only really offer a temporary relief. This coupled with environmentally destructive practices such as brick-moulding in Marwendo village and uncontrolled settlements in Tshivhulani village may reinforce the negative impacts of change and thus undermine sustainable adaptation. The study concludes that multiple lenses for understanding the links between livelihood and ecosystem vulnerability in the context of the ongoing and rapid change are essential, and these provide insights into how different policy options for livelihood improvement and social protection might be appropriate for reducing household and ecosystem vulnerabilities in the future.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Masunungure, Current
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Marwendo Village (Zimbabwe) -- Social conditions , Tshivhulani Village (South Africa) -- Social conditions , Marwendo Village (Zimbabwe) -- Environmental conditions , Tshivhulani Village (South Africa) -- Environmental conditions , Climatic changes -- South Africa -- Tshivhulani Village , Climatic changes -- Zimbabwe -- Marwendo Village
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/4819 , vital:20732
- Description: The ongoing and rapid change (from global to local level) in climate, populations, governments, cultures, environment, land use and economies are critical issues, especially for poor rural communities found in the dryland parts of southern Africa. The manifestations of change can combine to increase rural livelihood vulnerability, through the erosion of assets and insecurity, but can at the same time create new opportunities. Studies that consider the complex nature of change across scales and how it affects changes in livelihoods, ecosystems and responses at local level, are increasingly needed. This study, carried out in two purposefully selected study sites in the communal drylands of south-eastern Zimbabwe (Marwendo village) and Limpopo province in South Africa (Tshivhulani village), examined the complex nature of change across scales by assessing the way in which change at the global scale results in localised trends, shocks and stressors, and its impacts on livelihoods and ecosystems and responses over the past 30 years. The study applies social-ecological system thinking in understanding human-environment change. Particular emphasis was put on the role of social protection and natural resources in responding to change, shocks and stressors. The study employed a mixed method approach to gather data which included a household survey, life history interviews, transect walks, focus group discussions as well as secondary sources of information. The results of the study illustrate that shocks and stressors are common in both villages and are likely to increase in severity and frequency with ongoing and rapid human-environmental change, especially climate change. The local responses to change, shocks and stressors are primarily reactive and mainly intensify exploitation of existing natural resources and social protection as safety-nets. In Marwendo village, the villagers relied more on the use and sale of natural resource products readily available to them, whereas in Tshivhulani village they mainly tend to rely on social grants. Thus, in the future, households’ vulnerability might increase, and may be worse in Marwendo village, since important components of current livelihoods remain natural resource-based and climate sensitive. In Tshivhulani village, livelihoods characterised by high dependence on social grants can have severe consequences for households as children get older or elderly members die and grants cease to be available. Social grants therefore only really offer a temporary relief. This coupled with environmentally destructive practices such as brick-moulding in Marwendo village and uncontrolled settlements in Tshivhulani village may reinforce the negative impacts of change and thus undermine sustainable adaptation. The study concludes that multiple lenses for understanding the links between livelihood and ecosystem vulnerability in the context of the ongoing and rapid change are essential, and these provide insights into how different policy options for livelihood improvement and social protection might be appropriate for reducing household and ecosystem vulnerabilities in the future.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Cradock thermal springs spa: the design of a thermal springs spa located at the Cradock hot springs
- Authors: Ferreira, Anita
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Health resorts -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Design and construction Bathhouses -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Design and construction , Health resorts -- Decoration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Interior architecture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15334 , vital:28220
- Description: This treatise is focussed on the design of a Healing Spa Complex based on the relationship to the natural thermal springs 4km outside of the town of Cradock in the Karoo region of the Eastern Cape. The design response extends the dialogue between man and nature to structure in order to create an environment for healing within the natural landscape. The structure will accommodate spa facilities situated and specialized around the natural source of thermal water from the three springs on site. The site currently houses pool and accommodation facilities run by the local municipality. Due to a lack of funding these facilities have become dilapidated to the point where most of the buildings on site are unused and structurally unsound. The spring source on site was previously a major tourism attraction, but has subsequently shut down due to the degradation of the facilities. The Karoo is a dry, harsh and unforgiving landscape within which water is one of the most precious life-giving elements. Life is situated and celebrated around water, not only by humans, but also by nature. Settlements were built adjacent to rivers or springs, greenbelts flourished and formed along its edges, and animals migrate following the waters' (Hawkins, Sharrock and Havens, 2008). The region is characterised by extremes and contrasts, from scolding heat to freezing snow. This has contributed to a continuous display of dramatic contrasts within the landscape and created a unique character. Rain usually arrives in summer in the form of dramatic aernoon thunderstorms that bring relief to the relentless dry summer heat. Winter months are usually dry, allowing the sun to slowly heat up the open frosted plains before the intensely cold night brings another layer of snow to the Karoo koppies (Bloom, 2001). Eve Palmer, in her book, the Plains of Camdeboo, describes her Trust memories of the Karoo summer: “.....heat like blazing ovens; of shutters and sunbeams making a hot bright path through a chink in a dark blind, of soil too hot to walk on barefoot and rocks too hot to touch.” (Palmer 1986:3) Rain makes life possible in this part of the world. The joy and relief bit brings to the residents is very real and palpable (Palmer 1986:6). In response to the sensitivity of the natural environment of the site, and the desire to link this to the development of a healing environment, the architecture in this treatise will explore the unique sense of place of the Karoo and more speciacally the Cradock area. This will entail the exploration of the region and area in terms of physical and spatial features. Through the analyses of the natural structural elements, characteristics and local materials and assessment of Karoo architecture in terms of its use of materials, layout and craftsmanship, an appropriate response to the Karoo context should be achieved. The harsh environment will provide the opportunity to explore innovative means of optimum utilisation of resources, in order to ensure that the design is sustainable and therefore relevant to its context. This will contribute to a architectural expression which would allow a connection to nature and the area, by using nature to inspire this insight.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Ferreira, Anita
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Health resorts -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Design and construction Bathhouses -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Design and construction , Health resorts -- Decoration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Interior architecture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15334 , vital:28220
- Description: This treatise is focussed on the design of a Healing Spa Complex based on the relationship to the natural thermal springs 4km outside of the town of Cradock in the Karoo region of the Eastern Cape. The design response extends the dialogue between man and nature to structure in order to create an environment for healing within the natural landscape. The structure will accommodate spa facilities situated and specialized around the natural source of thermal water from the three springs on site. The site currently houses pool and accommodation facilities run by the local municipality. Due to a lack of funding these facilities have become dilapidated to the point where most of the buildings on site are unused and structurally unsound. The spring source on site was previously a major tourism attraction, but has subsequently shut down due to the degradation of the facilities. The Karoo is a dry, harsh and unforgiving landscape within which water is one of the most precious life-giving elements. Life is situated and celebrated around water, not only by humans, but also by nature. Settlements were built adjacent to rivers or springs, greenbelts flourished and formed along its edges, and animals migrate following the waters' (Hawkins, Sharrock and Havens, 2008). The region is characterised by extremes and contrasts, from scolding heat to freezing snow. This has contributed to a continuous display of dramatic contrasts within the landscape and created a unique character. Rain usually arrives in summer in the form of dramatic aernoon thunderstorms that bring relief to the relentless dry summer heat. Winter months are usually dry, allowing the sun to slowly heat up the open frosted plains before the intensely cold night brings another layer of snow to the Karoo koppies (Bloom, 2001). Eve Palmer, in her book, the Plains of Camdeboo, describes her Trust memories of the Karoo summer: “.....heat like blazing ovens; of shutters and sunbeams making a hot bright path through a chink in a dark blind, of soil too hot to walk on barefoot and rocks too hot to touch.” (Palmer 1986:3) Rain makes life possible in this part of the world. The joy and relief bit brings to the residents is very real and palpable (Palmer 1986:6). In response to the sensitivity of the natural environment of the site, and the desire to link this to the development of a healing environment, the architecture in this treatise will explore the unique sense of place of the Karoo and more speciacally the Cradock area. This will entail the exploration of the region and area in terms of physical and spatial features. Through the analyses of the natural structural elements, characteristics and local materials and assessment of Karoo architecture in terms of its use of materials, layout and craftsmanship, an appropriate response to the Karoo context should be achieved. The harsh environment will provide the opportunity to explore innovative means of optimum utilisation of resources, in order to ensure that the design is sustainable and therefore relevant to its context. This will contribute to a architectural expression which would allow a connection to nature and the area, by using nature to inspire this insight.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
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