Doctoral Degrees (Centre for Environmental Management)
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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (Centre for Environmental Management) by Author "Pelser, A. J."
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Item Open Access Enviromental and socio-economic sustainability of marula harvesting in the Lubombo region, Swaziland(University of the Free State, 2017-01) Murye, Alfred Francis; Pelser, A. J.; Zietsman, P. C.English: People form an integral part of ecosystems and derive a range of products from, and also influence, ecosystem processes. Poverty stricken people in rural areas of Swaziland utilize marula to alleviate poverty and earn a living. To reduce poverty, the Government of Swaziland developed a Poverty Reduction Strategy and Action Plan, and put up a programme of action (2013-2018) to meet His Majesty King Mswati III’s1 dream of Swaziland becoming a developed country by 2022. Her Majesty Ntombi Thwala - the Queen Mother2 of Swaziland also initiated poverty eradication projects for rural women through the harvesting of marula fruits (Sclerocarya birrea). However, limited data exist on the socio-economic contribution of marula to rural livelihoods. Additionally, the possible impact of excessive harvesting (propelled by the commercialisation of the resource) on rural communities depending on marula for their livelihood is not known, let alone the impact of harvesting pressure on marula regeneration and recruitment. This situation can lead to overharvesting and local extinction of marula. This thesis aimed at determining the role that marula plays in the livelihoods of, and poverty alleviation among the rural population in Swaziland and set out to identify policy interventions to facilitate means of sustaining marula for future availability. A cross-sectional socio-economic survey embedded in an exploratory and descriptive research design and supplemented by a survey of the marula tree populations was carried out in the Lubombo region of Swaziland. Both quantitative and qualitative research approaches to data collection and analysis were employed. The study established that marula contributes significantly to the livelihoods of rural households in Swaziland as 53.3% of the respondents in the socio-economic survey supplemented their household income by harvesting marula. Marula was considered to be a very important source of household income by 68.5% of the respondents. About 49.8% of respondents earned an equivalent of US Dollar 36.2 (E500) per season, of which 46% used the income to buy books and uniforms and pay school fees and 42.4% used it to buy groceries, electricity and medication. Marula also contributes to cultural and spiritual enrichment and the creation of social ties. Several socio-demographic factors, such as gender, age, lack of employment and low level of education were found to be drivers of people to harvest marula for livelihoods. The thesis concluded that: marula harvesting makes a substantial contribution to the economies and livelihoods of rural households in Swaziland; marula harvesting plays a fundamental role in cultural practices and festivities in Swaziland and is paramount in creating social ties and cohesion among the Swazi nation; the increased harvesting of marula fruits and seeds has a detrimental impact on the sustainability of marula tree species in Swaziland; the current level of commercialized harvesting of marula in Swaziland is unsustainable and requires official monitoring and control of the harvesting process; environmental factors impact negatively on the regeneration, growth and sustainability of marula; distinctive socio-demographic attributes, such as gender and age, drive rural people to harvest marula beyond its sustainability thresholds; the depletion of marula will deepen the existing poverty levels of the respondents and lead to the deterioration of quality of life, especially in those impoverished households that are proportionately more dependent on marula; there are insufficient policy and legal frameworks for the protection of marula in Swaziland. The thesis recommended that: the marula population structure be stabilized by planting marula trees and nurturing seedlings in the agricultural fields and also by leaving some fruits in the fields during harvesting in order to ensure regeneration; the Department of Forestry should develop programmes to educate and train rural communities on the importance of conserving and sustaining marula trees and products in Swaziland; the Department of Forestry should revise the existing floral policies and legal frameworks in Swaziland so as to fill the existing gap in these policies on access to and control of marula harvesting; the Government of Swaziland should revisit the policies on rural development in order to encourage and strengthen the creation of employment opportunities in rural areas so as to reduce the dependency on natural resources and marula in particular; the Department of Forestry should establish the maximum sustainable yield of marula in order to set quotas for harvesting per individual/ household; the Department of Forestry should address the gaps in the existing knowledge base of marula biology in Swaziland.Item Open Access A participatory sustainability assessment framework for biodiversity conservation in rural areas(University of the Free State, 2008) Letšela, Limpho Malerato Senior; Pelser, A. J.; Seaman, M. T.English: Biodiversity conservation is critical for the continued supply of ecosystem services to secure the sustainability of livelihoods, especially for poor rural people. Therefore, current rates of biodiversity loss, which threaten human survival, need to be curbed using effective interventions. Implementation and decision-making on interventions require timely information. Undertaking a Sustainability Assessment (SA) and structuring this information within a SA framework of components and objectives is one effective way to aid decision-makers. An effective SA framework addresses key sustainability issues and priorities that are aligned with the regulatory policy and legal framework, as well as stakeholder aspirations. Sustainability Assessment development and application is evolving and is more widespread in developed countries than developing countries. Hence, this study sought to investigate how to apply SA in a participatory manner within rural areas in a developing country. Key objectives of the study focused on: i) identification of key aspects that make a SA framework effective; ii) mechanisms of effectively incorporating participation into SA processes; iii) investigations of the perceptions of stakeholders regarding the ecosystem and human conditions required for the sustainability of biodiversity conservation; and iv) determination of stakeholder perceptions on progress towards sustainability. The study was conducted in Lesotho within a trans-boundary project area. The project is known as the MDTP and is a collaborative initiative between Lesotho and South Africa to conserve globally significant biodiversity. A qualitative case study approach was employed through a combination of techniques including a literature review, field observations, key informant interviews, group discussions and workshops to collect data. Study participants consisted of MDTP partners at the national, district and local levels, and some members of the general community. Two SA tools were applied in a complementary manner during the study, namely the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) SA approach and the Community Sustainability Assessment (CSA) approach, developed by the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN). Experiences of applying sustainability assessment in both developed and developing countries revealed that an overall generic SA tool is not practical. There is a need for a context-specific framework consisting of principles, criteria, generic steps, objectives, indicators, a toolkit and other context-specific components. The SA framework employed in this study had to fit biodiversity conservation conditions in rural areas. The SA process revealed that the MDTP partners were knowledgeable about the conditions of sustainability and threats to biodiversity, while members of the general community were unaware of these threats. Regarding progress towards the sustainability of biodiversity in the study area, the results indicated that current practices are unsustainable, more from the point of view of the socio-ecological components than the socio-cultural and spiritual or the socio-economic components. Consequently, there is a need to raise awareness at the community level and implement action plans to realize changes that support the sustainability of biodiversity in the long-term. Key components for a participatory SA framework depend on whether a SA is a partial assessment or a full one. The components of a partial SA framework also depend on whether the focus is on reflection and learning or data handling. Hence, the main components of a participatory sustainability assessment framework comprise: a comprehensive vision of sustainable development; goals towards attaining the vision; a participatory process engaging various stakeholders; a toolkit of appropriate SA tools used for various tasks; relevant principles of sustainability assessment; and sustainability-led decision criteria. There is no blueprint on how to undertake a SA process and no rigid way of integrating participation within the SA processes. The application of a SA requires adaptability and flexibility in specific circumstances. Therefore, the study presents guidelines, key components of a participatory SA process, and highlights the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for applying a SA for biodiversity conservation in rural areas. Key words: sustainability assessment, stakeholder participation, environmental assessment, biodiversity conservation, rural areas, sustainability assessment framework.Item Open Access A participatory sustainability assessment framework for biodiversity conservation in rural areas(University of the Free State, 2008) Letšela, Limpho Malerato Senior; Pelser, A. J.; Seaman, M. T.English: Biodiversity conservation is critical for the continued supply of ecosystem services to secure the sustainability of livelihoods, especially for poor rural people. Therefore, current rates of biodiversity loss, which threaten human survival, need to be curbed using effective interventions. Implementation and decision-making on interventions require timely information. Undertaking a Sustainability Assessment (SA) and structuring this information within a SA framework of components and objectives is one effective way to aid decision-makers. An effective SA framework addresses key sustainability issues and priorities that are aligned with the regulatory policy and legal framework, as well as stakeholder aspirations. Sustainability Assessment development and application is evolving and is more widespread in developed countries than developing countries. Hence, this study sought to investigate how to apply SA in a participatory manner within rural areas in a developing country. Key objectives of the study focused on: i) identification of key aspects that make a SA framework effective; ii) mechanisms of effectively incorporating participation into SA processes; iii) investigations of the perceptions of stakeholders regarding the ecosystem and human conditions required for the sustainability of biodiversity conservation; and iv) determination of stakeholder perceptions on progress towards sustainability. The study was conducted in Lesotho within a trans-boundary project area. The project is known as the MDTP and is a collaborative initiative between Lesotho and South Africa to conserve globally significant biodiversity. A qualitative case study approach was employed through a combination of techniques including a literature review, field observations, key informant interviews, group discussions and workshops to collect data. Study participants consisted of MDTP partners at the national, district and local levels, and some members of the general community. Two SA tools were applied in a complementary manner during the study, namely the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) SA approach and the Community Sustainability Assessment (CSA) approach, developed by the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN). Experiences of applying sustainability assessment in both developed and developing countries revealed that an overall generic SA tool is not practical. There is a need for a context-specific framework consisting of principles, criteria, generic steps, objectives, indicators, a toolkit and other context-specific components. The SA framework employed in this study had to fit biodiversity conservation conditions in rural areas. The SA process revealed that the MDTP partners were knowledgeable about the conditions of sustainability and threats to biodiversity, while members of the general community were unaware of these threats. Regarding progress towards the sustain ability of biodiversity in the study area, the results indicated that current practices are unsustainable, more from the point of view of the socio-ecological components than the socio-cultural and spiritual or the socio-economic components. Consequently, there is a need to raise awareness at the community level and implement action plans to realize changes that support the sustainability of biodiversity in the long-term. Key components for a participatory SA framework depend on whether a SA is a partial assessment or a full one. The components of a partial SA framework also depend on whether the focus is on reflection and learning or data handling. Hence, the main components of a participatory sustainability assessment framework comprise: a comprehensive vision of sustainable development; goals towards attaining the vision; a participatory process engaging various stakeholders; a toolkit of appropriate SA tools used for various tasks; relevant principles of sustainability assessment; and sustainability-led decision criteria. There is no blueprint on how to undertake a SA process and no rigid way of integrating participation within the SA processes. The application of a SA requires adaptability and flexibility in specific circumstances. Therefore, the study presents guidelines, key components of a participatory SA process, and highlights the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for applying a SA for biodiversity conservation in rural areas.