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Can expansive (social) learning processes strengthen organisational learning for improved wetland management in a plantation forestry company, and if so how? : a case study of Mondi
- Authors: Lindley, David Stewart
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Mondi Group , Wetland management -- South Africa , Wetland conservation -- Study and teaching (Continuing education) , Employees -- Training of -- South Africa , Action theory , Critical realism , Social learning , Environmental education -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2003 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015661
- Description: Mondi is an international packaging and paper company that manages over 300 000 ha of land in South Africa. After over a decade of working with Mondi to improve its wetland management, wetland sustainability practices were still not integrated into the broader forestry operations, despite some significant cases of successful wetland rehabilitation. An interventionist research project was therefore conducted to explore the factors inhibiting improved wetland management, and determine if and how expansive social learning processes could strengthen organisational learning and development to overcome these factors. In doing so, the research has investigated how informal adult learning supports organisational change to strengthen wetland and environmental sustainability practices, within a corporate plantation forestry context. How individual and/or group-based learning interactions translate to the collective, at the level of organisational change was a key issue probed in this study. The following three research questions were used to guide the research: 1. What tensions and contradictions exist in wetland management in a plantation forestry company? 2. Can expansive learning begin to address the tensions and contradictions that exist in wetland management in a plantation forestry company, for improved sustainability practices? 3. Can expansive social learning strengthen organisational learning and development, enabling Mondi to improve its wetland sustainability practices, and if so how does it do this? Cultural historical activity theory (CHAT) and the theory of expansive learning provided an epistemological framework for the research. The philosophy of critical realism gave ontological depth to the research, and contributed to a deeper understanding of CHAT and expansive learning. Critical realism was therefore used as a philosophy to underlabour the theoretical framework of the research. However CHAT and expansive learning could not provide the depth of detail required to explain how the expansive learning, organisational social change, and boundary crossings that are necessary for assembling the collective were taking place. Realist social theory (developed out of critical realism by Margaret Archer as an ontologically located theory of how and why social change occurs, or does not) supported the research to do this. The morphogenetic framework was used as a methodology for applying realist social theory. The expansive learning cycle was used as a methodology for applying CHAT and the theory of expansive learning; guiding the development of new knowledge creation required by Mondi staff to identify contradictions and associated tensions inhibiting wetland management, understand their root causes, and develop solutions. Through the expansive learning process, the tensions and contradictions become generative as a tool supporting expansive social learning, rather than as a means to an end where universal consensus was reached on how to circumvent the contradictions. The research was conducted in five phases: • Phase 1: Contextual profiling to identify and describe three activity systems in Mondi responsible for wetland management: 1) siviculture foresters; 2) environmental specialists; 3) community engagement facilitators. The data was generated and analysed through through document analysis, 17 interviews, 2nd generation CHAT analysis, and Critical Realist generative mechanism analysis; • Phase 2: Analysis and identification of tensions and contradictions through a first interventionist workshop. Modelling new solutions to deal with contractions, and examining and testing new models in and after the second interventionist workshop; • Phase 3: Implementing new models as wetland management projects and involved project implementation. This included boundary crossing practices of staff in the three activity systems, reflection and re-view in a further five progress review/interventionist workshops, and a management meeting and seminar; • Phase 4: Reflecting on the expansive learning process, results, and consolidation of changed practices, through nine reflective interviews and field observations; • Phase 5: Morphogenic/stasis analysis of the organisational change and development catalysed via the expansive social learning process (or not). The research found that expansive social learning processes supported organisational learning and development for improved wetland management by: 1) strengthening the scope, depth, and sophistication of participant understanding; 2) expanding the ways staff interact and collaboratively work together; 3) democratising decision making; 4) improving social relations between staff, reducing power differentials, and creating stronger relationships; 5) enhancing participant reflexivity through deeper understanding of social structures and cultural systems, and changing them to support improved wetland and environmental practice of staff, and developing the organisational structures and processes to strengthen organisational learning and development; and 6) using the contradictions identified as generative mechanisms to stimulate and catalyse organisational learning and development for changed wetland/environmental management.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Lindley, David Stewart
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Mondi Group , Wetland management -- South Africa , Wetland conservation -- Study and teaching (Continuing education) , Employees -- Training of -- South Africa , Action theory , Critical realism , Social learning , Environmental education -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2003 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015661
- Description: Mondi is an international packaging and paper company that manages over 300 000 ha of land in South Africa. After over a decade of working with Mondi to improve its wetland management, wetland sustainability practices were still not integrated into the broader forestry operations, despite some significant cases of successful wetland rehabilitation. An interventionist research project was therefore conducted to explore the factors inhibiting improved wetland management, and determine if and how expansive social learning processes could strengthen organisational learning and development to overcome these factors. In doing so, the research has investigated how informal adult learning supports organisational change to strengthen wetland and environmental sustainability practices, within a corporate plantation forestry context. How individual and/or group-based learning interactions translate to the collective, at the level of organisational change was a key issue probed in this study. The following three research questions were used to guide the research: 1. What tensions and contradictions exist in wetland management in a plantation forestry company? 2. Can expansive learning begin to address the tensions and contradictions that exist in wetland management in a plantation forestry company, for improved sustainability practices? 3. Can expansive social learning strengthen organisational learning and development, enabling Mondi to improve its wetland sustainability practices, and if so how does it do this? Cultural historical activity theory (CHAT) and the theory of expansive learning provided an epistemological framework for the research. The philosophy of critical realism gave ontological depth to the research, and contributed to a deeper understanding of CHAT and expansive learning. Critical realism was therefore used as a philosophy to underlabour the theoretical framework of the research. However CHAT and expansive learning could not provide the depth of detail required to explain how the expansive learning, organisational social change, and boundary crossings that are necessary for assembling the collective were taking place. Realist social theory (developed out of critical realism by Margaret Archer as an ontologically located theory of how and why social change occurs, or does not) supported the research to do this. The morphogenetic framework was used as a methodology for applying realist social theory. The expansive learning cycle was used as a methodology for applying CHAT and the theory of expansive learning; guiding the development of new knowledge creation required by Mondi staff to identify contradictions and associated tensions inhibiting wetland management, understand their root causes, and develop solutions. Through the expansive learning process, the tensions and contradictions become generative as a tool supporting expansive social learning, rather than as a means to an end where universal consensus was reached on how to circumvent the contradictions. The research was conducted in five phases: • Phase 1: Contextual profiling to identify and describe three activity systems in Mondi responsible for wetland management: 1) siviculture foresters; 2) environmental specialists; 3) community engagement facilitators. The data was generated and analysed through through document analysis, 17 interviews, 2nd generation CHAT analysis, and Critical Realist generative mechanism analysis; • Phase 2: Analysis and identification of tensions and contradictions through a first interventionist workshop. Modelling new solutions to deal with contractions, and examining and testing new models in and after the second interventionist workshop; • Phase 3: Implementing new models as wetland management projects and involved project implementation. This included boundary crossing practices of staff in the three activity systems, reflection and re-view in a further five progress review/interventionist workshops, and a management meeting and seminar; • Phase 4: Reflecting on the expansive learning process, results, and consolidation of changed practices, through nine reflective interviews and field observations; • Phase 5: Morphogenic/stasis analysis of the organisational change and development catalysed via the expansive social learning process (or not). The research found that expansive social learning processes supported organisational learning and development for improved wetland management by: 1) strengthening the scope, depth, and sophistication of participant understanding; 2) expanding the ways staff interact and collaboratively work together; 3) democratising decision making; 4) improving social relations between staff, reducing power differentials, and creating stronger relationships; 5) enhancing participant reflexivity through deeper understanding of social structures and cultural systems, and changing them to support improved wetland and environmental practice of staff, and developing the organisational structures and processes to strengthen organisational learning and development; and 6) using the contradictions identified as generative mechanisms to stimulate and catalyse organisational learning and development for changed wetland/environmental management.
- Full Text:
Factors influencing wetland distribution and structure, including ecosystem function of ephemeral wetlands, in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM), South Africa
- Melly, Brigitte Leigh, Gama, Phumelele T
- Authors: Melly, Brigitte Leigh , Gama, Phumelele T
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Wetland management -- South Africa , Wetland ecology -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11721 , vital:26960
- Description: The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) is a semi-arid area along the southern coastline of South Africa (SA). Until recently, there was no systematic approach to research on wetland systems in the NMBM. The systematic identification of wetlands was made more difficult by the relatively large number of small, ephemeral systems that can be difficult to delineate. This has meant that fundamental knowledge on wetland distribution, structure and function has been limited and, consequently, management and conservation strategies have been based on knowledge on systems from other regions of the country. Environmental processes occur at different spatial and temporal scales. These processes have an effect on the abiotic factors and biotic structure of wetlands, resulting in inherently complex systems. The location of the NMBM provides a good study area to research some of these environmental and biological attributes at different spatial scales, due to the variability in the underlying geology, geomorphology, vegetation types and the spatial and temporal variability in rainfall, within a relatively small area of 1951 km2. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the factors influencing wetland distribution, structure and ecosystem functioning within the NMBM. The first Research Objective of work presented here was to identify wetlands using visual interpretation of aerial photographs. A total of 1712 wetlands were identified within the NMBM using aerial photographs, covering an area of 17.88 km2 (Chapter 5). The majority of these wetlands were depressions, seeps and wetland flats. Valley bottom wetlands (channelled and unchannelled) and floodplain wetlands were also identified. A range of wetland sizes was recorded, with 86% of the wetlands being less than 1 ha in size and the largest natural wetland being a floodplain wetland of 57 ha, located south of the Swartkops River. The identified wetlands were used to create a wetland occurrence model using logistic regression (LR) techniques (Chapter 5), in accordance with Objective 2 of the study. An accuracy of 66% was obtained, which was considered acceptable for a semi-arid climate with a relatively high degree of spatial and temporal rainfall variability. The model also highlighted several key environmental variables that are associated with wetland occurrence and distribution at various spatial scales. Some of the important variables included precipitation, evapotranspiration, temperature, flow accumulation and groundwater occurrence. Wetland distribution patterns were described in Chapter 6. Spatial statistics were used to identify whether wetlands are clustered and, therefore, form mosaics within the surrounding landscape (Objective 3). Systems were found to be highly clustered, with 43% of wetlands located within 200 m of another system. Clustering and wetland presence was especially prominent in the southern portion of the Municipality, which is also associated with a higher mean annual precipitation. Smaller wetlands were also significantly more clustered than larger systems (Average Nearest Neighbour statistic, p-value < 0.0001). Average distances also significantly varied according to HGM type, with depressions being the most geographically isolated wetland type compared to the other HGM types. Overall, distances between wetlands indicated good proximal connectivity. Potentially vulnerable areas associated with wetland systems were identified successfully using landscape variables, in accordance with Objective 4. These variables were: land cover, slope gradient, flow accumulation, APAN evaporation, mean annual precipitation (MAP) and annual heat units. The existing Critical Biodiversity Network was also used in connection with these variables to further identify potentially vulnerable areas. The abiotic and biotic characteristics were decribed for three hydrogeomorphic (HGM) types at a total of 46 wetland sites (Chapter 7), as per Objective 5. Depressions, seeps and wetland flats were sampled across the different geological, vegetation and rainfall zones within the NMBM. The wetland sites were delineated up to Level 6 of the Classification System used in SA, and the various abiotic and biotic characteristics of these systems were defined. A total of 307 plant, 144 aquatic macroinvertebrate and 10 tadpole species were identified. Of these species, over 90 species were Eastern Cape and SA endemic species, as well as three threatened species on the IUCN Red List. Multivariate analyses (including Bray-Curtis similarity resemblance analyses, distance-based redundancy analyses, SIMPER analyses and BIOENV analysis in Primer), together with environmental data, were used to define community structure at an HGM level, in accordance with Objective 5. The importance of the spatial scale of the environmental data used to define plant and macroinvertebrate community structure was described in Chapter 7, to address Objective 6. The results showed that both broad-scale and site-level characteristics were important in distinguishing community structure within the HGM types that superseded general location, the sample timing or the stage of inundation. These results also indicated that a combination of both landscape and site-level data are important in defining the community structure in the various HGM types. Some of the important environmental variables that explained some of species assemblages were similar to those in the wetland occurrence model (Chapter 5), with some additional hydrological and soil physico-chemical parameters (e.g. soil electrical conductivity, soil pH, and surface and subsurface water nutrients). These significant variables indicate the complex, multi-scalar role of environmental attributes on wetland distribution, structure and function.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Melly, Brigitte Leigh , Gama, Phumelele T
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Wetland management -- South Africa , Wetland ecology -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11721 , vital:26960
- Description: The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) is a semi-arid area along the southern coastline of South Africa (SA). Until recently, there was no systematic approach to research on wetland systems in the NMBM. The systematic identification of wetlands was made more difficult by the relatively large number of small, ephemeral systems that can be difficult to delineate. This has meant that fundamental knowledge on wetland distribution, structure and function has been limited and, consequently, management and conservation strategies have been based on knowledge on systems from other regions of the country. Environmental processes occur at different spatial and temporal scales. These processes have an effect on the abiotic factors and biotic structure of wetlands, resulting in inherently complex systems. The location of the NMBM provides a good study area to research some of these environmental and biological attributes at different spatial scales, due to the variability in the underlying geology, geomorphology, vegetation types and the spatial and temporal variability in rainfall, within a relatively small area of 1951 km2. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the factors influencing wetland distribution, structure and ecosystem functioning within the NMBM. The first Research Objective of work presented here was to identify wetlands using visual interpretation of aerial photographs. A total of 1712 wetlands were identified within the NMBM using aerial photographs, covering an area of 17.88 km2 (Chapter 5). The majority of these wetlands were depressions, seeps and wetland flats. Valley bottom wetlands (channelled and unchannelled) and floodplain wetlands were also identified. A range of wetland sizes was recorded, with 86% of the wetlands being less than 1 ha in size and the largest natural wetland being a floodplain wetland of 57 ha, located south of the Swartkops River. The identified wetlands were used to create a wetland occurrence model using logistic regression (LR) techniques (Chapter 5), in accordance with Objective 2 of the study. An accuracy of 66% was obtained, which was considered acceptable for a semi-arid climate with a relatively high degree of spatial and temporal rainfall variability. The model also highlighted several key environmental variables that are associated with wetland occurrence and distribution at various spatial scales. Some of the important variables included precipitation, evapotranspiration, temperature, flow accumulation and groundwater occurrence. Wetland distribution patterns were described in Chapter 6. Spatial statistics were used to identify whether wetlands are clustered and, therefore, form mosaics within the surrounding landscape (Objective 3). Systems were found to be highly clustered, with 43% of wetlands located within 200 m of another system. Clustering and wetland presence was especially prominent in the southern portion of the Municipality, which is also associated with a higher mean annual precipitation. Smaller wetlands were also significantly more clustered than larger systems (Average Nearest Neighbour statistic, p-value < 0.0001). Average distances also significantly varied according to HGM type, with depressions being the most geographically isolated wetland type compared to the other HGM types. Overall, distances between wetlands indicated good proximal connectivity. Potentially vulnerable areas associated with wetland systems were identified successfully using landscape variables, in accordance with Objective 4. These variables were: land cover, slope gradient, flow accumulation, APAN evaporation, mean annual precipitation (MAP) and annual heat units. The existing Critical Biodiversity Network was also used in connection with these variables to further identify potentially vulnerable areas. The abiotic and biotic characteristics were decribed for three hydrogeomorphic (HGM) types at a total of 46 wetland sites (Chapter 7), as per Objective 5. Depressions, seeps and wetland flats were sampled across the different geological, vegetation and rainfall zones within the NMBM. The wetland sites were delineated up to Level 6 of the Classification System used in SA, and the various abiotic and biotic characteristics of these systems were defined. A total of 307 plant, 144 aquatic macroinvertebrate and 10 tadpole species were identified. Of these species, over 90 species were Eastern Cape and SA endemic species, as well as three threatened species on the IUCN Red List. Multivariate analyses (including Bray-Curtis similarity resemblance analyses, distance-based redundancy analyses, SIMPER analyses and BIOENV analysis in Primer), together with environmental data, were used to define community structure at an HGM level, in accordance with Objective 5. The importance of the spatial scale of the environmental data used to define plant and macroinvertebrate community structure was described in Chapter 7, to address Objective 6. The results showed that both broad-scale and site-level characteristics were important in distinguishing community structure within the HGM types that superseded general location, the sample timing or the stage of inundation. These results also indicated that a combination of both landscape and site-level data are important in defining the community structure in the various HGM types. Some of the important environmental variables that explained some of species assemblages were similar to those in the wetland occurrence model (Chapter 5), with some additional hydrological and soil physico-chemical parameters (e.g. soil electrical conductivity, soil pH, and surface and subsurface water nutrients). These significant variables indicate the complex, multi-scalar role of environmental attributes on wetland distribution, structure and function.
- Full Text:
An assessment of the effectiveness of the Crossways Farm Village constructed wetland in the treatment of domestic wastewater
- Authors: Silbernagl, Ryan
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Crossways Farm Village FWS wetland (South Africa)-- Management , Sewage -- Purification -- South Africa , Wetland management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/145011 , vital:38400
- Description: A mass balance study was conducted comparing inflowing and outflowing solute loads in order to calculate the treatment efficiency of a free water surface (FWS) constructed wetland used to treat domestic wastewater following primary treatment in an anaerobic reactor and oxidation in a rotating biological contractor. Water samples were taken at six locations down the length of the treatment system and analysed for nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), nitrite nitrogen (NO2-N), ammonia nitrogen (NH4-N) and phosphorus as phosphate (PO4-P). Flow was determined using two V notch weirs combined with pressure transducers based on an empirically derived stage-discharge relationship. The concentration of each solute (g.m-3) multiplied by flow (m3.day-1) provides a measurement of the mass of each solute entering and leaving the treatment wetland such that the difference (inflow – outflow) indicates the nett storage in, or loss from, the wetland. In order to determine the water balance, apart from measuring surface inflows and outflows, rainfall was measured using an onsite rain gauge. Evapotranspirational losses were determined using the Penman-Monteith equation based on weather data collected at an onsite weather station. Other than water that entered the wetland via the primary water treatment works, surface inflows could be ignored as the wetland was sealed with a plastic liner, which also prevented groundwater inflow and outflow. Wetland outputs via surface outflow and evapotranspiration were then subtracted from wetland inputs to determine the water balance over the study period. Approximately 10.5% of water inputs into the hydrological mass balance calculation was not accounted for, which is considered to be accounted for by inaccuracy associated with the estimation of evapotranspiration and possibly by differences in water levels in the wetland at the start and end of the experiment. Total input, output and storage of NO3-N, NO2-N, NH4-N and PO4-P was calculated from April 2016 to September 2016 to give the treatment efficiency of the FWS wetland system. Results showed a 91.5% reduction in NO3-N, 76.6% reduction in NH4-N, and 88.8% reduction in PO4P between the inflow and outflow. Wetland sediment and vegetation (Typha capensis) samples were also analysed for nitrogen and phosphorus content to give an estimate of nutrient stocks/storage accumulated in plant tissues and sediments over the lifespan of the wetland. Standing stock calculations showed that a total of 450.1kg of nitrogen is stored in the wetlands, of which 69.3kg is stored in wetland sediments. Wetland phosphorus retention was found to be significantly lower with a total of 57.1kg of phosphorus, of which 77.4% was stored in sediments, indicating that wetland sediments comprise the largest store and therefore removal pathway of nutrients in the Crossways Farm Village FWS wetland.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Silbernagl, Ryan
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Crossways Farm Village FWS wetland (South Africa)-- Management , Sewage -- Purification -- South Africa , Wetland management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/145011 , vital:38400
- Description: A mass balance study was conducted comparing inflowing and outflowing solute loads in order to calculate the treatment efficiency of a free water surface (FWS) constructed wetland used to treat domestic wastewater following primary treatment in an anaerobic reactor and oxidation in a rotating biological contractor. Water samples were taken at six locations down the length of the treatment system and analysed for nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), nitrite nitrogen (NO2-N), ammonia nitrogen (NH4-N) and phosphorus as phosphate (PO4-P). Flow was determined using two V notch weirs combined with pressure transducers based on an empirically derived stage-discharge relationship. The concentration of each solute (g.m-3) multiplied by flow (m3.day-1) provides a measurement of the mass of each solute entering and leaving the treatment wetland such that the difference (inflow – outflow) indicates the nett storage in, or loss from, the wetland. In order to determine the water balance, apart from measuring surface inflows and outflows, rainfall was measured using an onsite rain gauge. Evapotranspirational losses were determined using the Penman-Monteith equation based on weather data collected at an onsite weather station. Other than water that entered the wetland via the primary water treatment works, surface inflows could be ignored as the wetland was sealed with a plastic liner, which also prevented groundwater inflow and outflow. Wetland outputs via surface outflow and evapotranspiration were then subtracted from wetland inputs to determine the water balance over the study period. Approximately 10.5% of water inputs into the hydrological mass balance calculation was not accounted for, which is considered to be accounted for by inaccuracy associated with the estimation of evapotranspiration and possibly by differences in water levels in the wetland at the start and end of the experiment. Total input, output and storage of NO3-N, NO2-N, NH4-N and PO4-P was calculated from April 2016 to September 2016 to give the treatment efficiency of the FWS wetland system. Results showed a 91.5% reduction in NO3-N, 76.6% reduction in NH4-N, and 88.8% reduction in PO4P between the inflow and outflow. Wetland sediment and vegetation (Typha capensis) samples were also analysed for nitrogen and phosphorus content to give an estimate of nutrient stocks/storage accumulated in plant tissues and sediments over the lifespan of the wetland. Standing stock calculations showed that a total of 450.1kg of nitrogen is stored in the wetlands, of which 69.3kg is stored in wetland sediments. Wetland phosphorus retention was found to be significantly lower with a total of 57.1kg of phosphorus, of which 77.4% was stored in sediments, indicating that wetland sediments comprise the largest store and therefore removal pathway of nutrients in the Crossways Farm Village FWS wetland.
- Full Text:
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