Doctoral Degrees (Sociology)
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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (Sociology) by Author "Pelser, A. J."
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Item Open Access A community-based conservation programme for the management and conservation of land resources in Lesotho(University of the Free State, 2004-11) Esenjor, Akinagum Fidelis; Pelser, A. J.; Botes, L.English: Literature abounds with discussions regarding land degradation and the sustainability of land resources conservation programmes in sub-Saharan Africa. A thorough understanding of past and present intervention mechanisms and the consequences both to humans and to the entire ecosystem is necessary to advise stakeholders in conservation initiatives. This study employs comprehensive multiple participatory methodologies in analysing both the causes of land degradation and the importance of local communities’ real involvement in land resources conservation initiatives. The participatory methodologies include focus group discussions. The consequences of the paternalist classical model of land resources conservation programmes practised in the developing countries include endless conflicts between conservation officers and local communities, a lack of unequivocal acknowledgement of indigenous knowledge, denial to local communities of access to rights and adequate benefits, and a lack of local support and community participation which results in the sudden collapse and abandonment of conservation programmes. This indicates a wasting of government agencies’ heavy investment in conservation initiatives. Yet, worldwide advocation of a shift from official to community-based conservation approaches does not mean the total withdrawal of government agencies. It only means a trimming down of government agencies’ “do it all” recurrent roles to one of facilitation of the conservation initiatives of local communities. Government agencies may also give unconditional support in community-based initiatives. It has been established that the continuous occupation of the centre stage in land resources conservation programmes by government agencies has accelerated land degradation, has intensified conflicts between government officers and local communities, has wasted local available resources input, has denied local communities access, rights and benefits of land resources, and has increased the number of abandoned conservation projects. The hope of effectively practising real community-based land resources is an uphill task. This is so because government agencies operating in Lesotho have raised unsustainable expectations of food-for-work and/or cash payment incentives to local community members for participating in conservation work. This poor practice has established a false impression that land resources conservation is the sole responsibility of government agencies. This study has established that to practise community-based conservation would require drastic new training of government agencies; it would necessitate providing more sustainable incentives to local communities, and also re-orientating, empowering and capacitating the people for the challenging tasks ahead. Real involvement of local communities in the processes of identification of conservation needs, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation are sure ways of ensuring sustainable land resources conservation programmes.Item Open Access International conflict over fresh water resources: the formulation of preventive and interventive guidelines(University of the Free State, 2008) Redelinghuys, Nola; Pelser, A. J.The pressures of human society on available water resources lead to the grave and everworsening scarcity of this resource, which locally and internationally, strains policy and institutional capacity to deal with the issue cooperatively. While conflict over fresh water, to the extent even of war, is not generally characteristic of relations over water, tension is nevertheless felt between countries over various issues surrounding access to water. It is thus imperative to determine the nature and extent of issues that may give rise to future tension and conflict over freshwater resources. Given the above situation, this study aimed to meet the following objectives: - To gain in-depth understanding of the social, economic and political dynamics that underlie current relations over water, globally and more specifically in the Southern African region. - To assess current ways in which water issues are being addressed at the international and the regional level, by focusing on the existing global and regional policy frameworks for dealing with water scarcity. - To assess the institutional frameworks within which water issues are currently being dealt with at the international and the regional levels. - To develop a set of policy guidelines that can be used to facilitate cooperation over water issues in Southern Africa. The research design of this study was qualitative and interpretative, and four sources of information were utilised in data collection, namely primary and secondary literature sources; secondary demographic and environmental data; policy and legislative documents; and, information obtained from personal key-informant interviews. The following conclusions were drawn from the study - The dominant social paradigm underlying decision making with regard to natural resources does not support closer cooperation over fresh water. - The emphasis on political sovereignty in policy is inconsistent with the international commitment to cooperation over freshwater resources. - The policy obligation of equitable distribution of water between sectors and states is hampered by unresolved tensions in policy and institutional frameworks. - As a result of the vagueness with which contentious issues are addressed in international policy, current policy options may neither be adequately able to intervene in nor to prevent conflicts over fresh water. - A lack of both ratification and enforcement of the existing international policy framework renders these instruments powerless to prevent or intervene in future conflicts over fresh water. - Effective cooperation between water-resource institutions is hampered by significant shortcomings in vertical and horizontal communication linkages between such institutions. Recommendations made based on the study are: - A transition needs to be made from a technocentric approach focused on managing the issues arising from water scarcity, to an ecocentric approach focused on radical changes in policy formulation. - Current vague statements and terms in the international policy framework need to be conceptualised more clearly. - Policy makers at the regional and national levels should specifically work toward diffusing subtle tensions in current policy and institutional arrangements through closer integration of sectoral policies. - A regional perspective on the issues of water scarcity, conflict and cooperation over fresh water needs to be strengthened. - In line with the IWRM strategy’s emphasis on decentralisation, appropriate mechanisms need to be found to link institutions horizontally. - The capacity and functioning of multistakeholder platforms in the water sector need to be strengthened.Item Open Access The socio-economic impact of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project resettlement programme at Makhoakhoeng(University of the Free State, 2007) Kotelo-Molaoa, Mampho N.; Pelser, A. J.; Botes, L. J. S.Large dams are constructed for irrigation, generation of hydroelectricity, consumption and so forth. In the case of Lesotho, the LHWP was constructed with the sole purpose of selling water to South Africa in order to earn royalties and to generate hydroelectricity. Although a number of factors are used to justify the construction of large dams, worldwide experience has shown that the consequences emanating from their construction are sometimes irreversible and painful like having to be resettled. This study therefore sought to establish the extent of the impacts emanating from the LHWP Resettlement Programme at Makhoakhoeng, whether the standard of living of resettlees as measured in terms of access to services has improved or not, the extent of their participation in the resettlement programme, and their perception on their standard of living. The specific study objectives were to: i) determine the socio-economic impacts of the resettlement on the resettled communities; ii) elicit the perceptions of the displaced people about their participation in resettlement programme decision making; iii) evaluate the adequacy of the compensation and resettlement packages; and iv) ascertain the level of satisfaction of the resettlees with the resettlement programme. A combination of research techniques was used to collect both the qualitative and the quantitative data. Data collection instruments employed were: i) A literature review was undertaken to provide background information to the problem statement, the design of the methodology, and also on the theories and other factors used to justify the construction of large dams. Perusal of the existing literature also led to a deeper understanding of the impacts of large dams, international experiences and reaction towards construction of large dams and Lesotho’s experience regarding the construction of large dams. ii) Key informants interviews were conducted with selected individuals who in one way or another were key in terms of implementing the resettlement programme at Makhoakhoeng. iii) A questionnaire survey was conducted with the households who came from Molika-Liko and were resettled at Makhoakhoeng. iv) A focus group discussion was held with some of the resettlees. Information collected through filling in the questionnaire was keyed into the microcomputer network system using Microsoft Excel to produce graphs and tables. The data collected through key informants, special cases and focus group discussions were collated and written into descriptive reports, i.e., summarised field discussion records. The LHWP Resettlement Programme at Makhoakhoeng has resulted in both positive and the negative impacts. Furthermore, the study has concluded that there is a need to: i) engage with all the stakeholders affected by involuntary resettlement through an open and transparent public participation process ii) pay attention to the identification of more sustainable means of livelihoods iii) conduct SIAs that can point to those intangible aspects of resettlement iv) put in place an appeal system that is affordable and accessible to people who are dissatisfied with the resettlement package v) present resettlees with information on each of the options so as to enable them to make informed decisions vi) honour promises in order to build trust with the resettlees. The following recommendations are being made for future resettlement programmes: i) Change the mindset of those charged with the management of resettlement programmes so that they are more empathetic towards resettlees ii) Reform institutions within the water sector iii) Adopt a multidisciplinary approach in resettlement programmes iv) Differentiate resettlees into subgroups v) Engage in an open and transparent public participation process vi) Conduct SIAs with a monitoring and evaluation component vii) Identify sustainable means of livelihoods for the resettlees viii) Compensate affected people for loss of access to common property.