1,721,025 research outputs found
Integrating conservation and development : community participation in ecotourism projects : an investigation into community participation in ecotourism development projects in order to ensure the integration of protected area conservation and rural development, with particular reference to a case study at Cathedral Peak in the Natal Drakensberg Park
No full textThis study arises out of a proposal of the Natal Parks Board (NPB) to develop a 200 bed hutted camp at Cathedral Peak in the Natal Drakensberg. In line with the NPB's stated commitment to the principles of Integrated Environmental Management (IEM), a multidisciplinary group, comprising five students from the Masters programme of the Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences of the University of Cape Town, was commissioned to conduct a Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment (PEIA) on the proposed development. The author was one of the members of this study team, hereafter referred to as the Masters Group, which conducted the PEIA at Cathedral Peak under the supervision of the Environmental Evaluation Unit of the University of Cape Town
Crossing over : interactive video as a tool to enable the increased participation of illiterate and semi-literate communities in environmental management
No full textBibliography: pages 53-57.This dissertation has four main aims: 1. To assess whether multi-media (particularly interactive video) can be used in illiterate and semi-literate communities as a tool for both increased environmental awareness and increased participation in various stages of the development process. 2. To assess whether interactive video as an approach in itself facilitates empowerment of target communities. 3. To create a visual communication experience which combines the rigours of academic research with the practical application of academic theories in the field. 4. To foster a sensitivity in the "reader" towards access to information
Sharing benefits from coastal resources with rual communities in South Africa : the influence of institutional arrangements
No full textThrough an analysis of three rural communities in these provinces, this research sought to understand how and why benefits arising from the use of coastal resources in the fisheries and mining sectors are shared and distributed in the manner that they are
Stakeholder involvement in the development of genetically modified (GM) food labelling policy in South Africa
No full textLike many other countries worldwide, South Africa has come under public pressure to introduce mandatory GM labelling. Although there is an increased understanding about the social and political implications of GM labelling in developed countries, there is still a research gap with regard to implications for developing countries. South Africa, as a country that consumes, produces and trades GM food, represents a fitting case study to investigate these dimensions in the context of a developing economy. There has been very little understanding about how the mandatory labelling law for GM food developed in South Africa. This study, thus, aims to analyse how this policy developed and has been implemented in South Africa, in order to draw wider conclusions about GM food labelling in developing countries. This has been achieved through review of the relevant literature, in-depth interviews with 27 stakeholders from industry, government, NGOs and the academic and scientific community, and document analysis. A stakeholder analysis approach was used for framing and informing the research findings of this study. This framework provided a stakeholder perspective through which to examine the policy development process of mandatory GM labelling. Findings from this research project reveal that the policy governing the mandatory labelling of GM foods in South Africa was developed and shaped by many significant events and decisions. However, the law evolved within a context of conflict from a diversity of stakeholders. Stakeholders, who participated in and contributed towards the process, had their own degree of "interest and power", which influenced and impacted on the GM labelling policy-making and the implementation processes. Research revealed that there were important issues that emerged during the policy development and implementation phases. These included: the effectiveness of stakeholder participation; the use of a "may contain" label; the percentage of the threshold level; and labelling costs. The stakeholders' viewpoints on each of these issues differed among different groups
The effects of urbanisation on non-timber forest product dependencies : a case study of three settlements in the Chobe district of northern Botswana
No full textThe aim of this study was to investigate the impacts of urbanisation on the use of, and access to, NTFPs in three settlements in the Chobe District of northern Botswana. Specific objectives were to determine the extent of NTFP use occurring in these areas; the purposes of use; the factors that influence use and access in the rural/urban context, particularly government rules and regulations; and implications for future NTFP use in this region. Research was conducted in three settlements: Kasane, Kazungula and Lesoma. Kasane is an urban town, Kazungula is less urbanised and Lesoma is a rural village. All areas are surrounded by state-owned Forest Reserves and the Chobe National Park. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods including household interviews (30 in Kasane, 30 in Kazungula and 25 in Lesoma), four key informant interviews, two focus groups with youth and the collection of other grey literature relating to government harvest permits and market data. Households in all three areas used NTFPs despite the different rural and urban contexts in which they exist. Kasane and Kazungula showed a less diverse range of resource use, with fuelwood and wild foods the most commonly used resources in all three areas. These resources were used mainly for subsistence purposes. Harvest locations varied but were most commonly in and around the settlements themselves. Households in Kasane and Kazungula expressed the desire to use fewer resources in the future, mainly for conservation reasons, while those in Lesoma wished to use more. The government rules and regulations, particularly the DFRR permit system, were found to restrict resource access. Despite this, households in the more urban areas felt that the laws were necessary while those households in Lesoma thought that the laws conflicted with community livelihood needs. The majority of respondents believed conservation management to be a barrier to resource access as the presence of wild animals and anti- poaching units in the harvesting areas compromised safety. The general absence of resource commercialisation and market opportunities in the settlements, especially the urban towns of Kasane and Kazungula, were other commonly cited barriers to resource access. The perceived degradation of traditional practices due to modernity and urbanisation was evident for most households in all three areas but the actual loss of indigenous knowledge was most apparent in the urban areas. Wider implications for this case study are the application of the findings to further research into the impacts of urbanisation. This study can add to the literature around the implementation of improved urban development strategies, including the reliance on NTFPs and declines in cultural and environmental degradation. Recommendations provided in this study include further investigations into resource use; the application of resource co-management; improved market infrastructure and the implementation of ecotourism and local craft-making projects
Who shapes agricultural transformation in Africa? exploring the case of the alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) from a think tank perspective
Get PDFDue to their high level of complexity and transnational character, environmental and climate change issues increasingly require specialised knowledge and international development strategies. One institution that regularly provides decision-makers with such scientific and international policy expertise is the think tank. With their particular competencies, environmentally-related and climate change related think tanks have become key actors in modern environmental governance systems. Since many African countries have a high proportion of smallholder farmers who experience daily food insecurity and poverty, the transformation of African agriculture has been prioritised in the agenda of many think tanks, international development initiatives, and aid agencies. This applies equally to the Nairobi-based Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), which was initiated by the Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2006 and is often labelled as an agricultural think tank. Through its activities, AGRA aims to improve food security in African countries by establishing industrial agricultural practices which were integral elements of earlier Green Revolutions. Accordingly, AGRA widely promotes the application of hybrid seeds, synthetic fertilisers, and other technological solutions to enhance agricultural productivity. However, AGRA and its key partners have increasingly been criticised by experts who claim that AGRA's agenda does not sufficiently address the needs of African smallholder farmers and that it mainly represents political and corporate interests from the Global North. Against this background, this study explored the role of AGRA within the current agricultural transformation in Africa. To this end, the research project analysed AGRA's organisational form, the key elements of its agenda and its network of partners from a think tank perspective. The study further examined how and on what levels AGRA and its partners shape environmental governance processes inside and outside of Africa. Multiple methods were combined to enhance the validity of the findings. These included a desktop study, a network analysis, a discourse-related case study, and key informant interviews. The findings reveal that AGRA is a hybrid organisation that combines key features of a think tank with strong operational dimensions. The results also demonstrated that due to its unidimensional agenda, AGRA fails to stimulate sustainable agricultural transformation in Africa. AGRA's partnerships are characterised by a Global North bias on the decision- making level, with the alliance displaying typical features of an ideological advocacy network. The shaping of governance processes by AGRA and its partners was observed at both national and intergovernmental levels
The race to zero: emission reduction strategies in the sugarcane growing industry in southern Malawi
Get PDFThis research explores emission reduction agendas in the sugarcane growing industry in southern Malawi. In doing so, it describes the various actors and their emission reduction agendas, understands relevant drivers for these, interrogates the interaction and collaboration of different actors in attaining them, and explores the relevance of polycentric governance in the emission reduction agendas of the sugarcane growing industry in southern Malawi. The research used qualitative methods including semi-structured interviews and mixed media reviews (reports, policies, websites, and videos). Findings suggest that governance within the sugarcane growing industry's emission reduction agenda has elements of polycentricity, and is characterised by the chaos and complexity of numerous actors working through self-governance with diffusion and linkages towards the achievement of a common goal but lacks coordination or collaboration between actors. Weaknesses were identified in the lack of consistency of focus areas, with divergence in areas for emission reduction including material inputs, electricity, and burning, and poor collaboration between actors. In the context of Malawi, it is suggested that these weaknesses further underscore equity issues amongst actors at global and local scales. Malawi accounts only for 0.005% of the global greenhouse gas emission share, with national emissions in agriculture accounting for 30%. Adding further complexity, sugarcane has a long history in Malawi , with the sector playing an important role in social and economic development and contributing significantly to the country's gross domestic product. The sector is also characterised by political power plays between the state, the private sector and other actors. The research offers recommendations to enhance linkages and collaboration between actors which potentially allow for improved emission reduction strategies and consideration of local contexts and national needs, and equitable share of responsibility of the climate agenda
Implementing conservation in the Cederberg: the role of the buchu (Agathosma betulina) sector
No full textThrough the early 2000s, the expanded popularity of the fynbos buchu shrubs (Agathosma betulina and Agathosma crenulata) for its use in medicinal products and as an essential oil drove demand to a point where wild stocks of the species became threatened by poor management practices and over-harvesting. In response, cultivation was encouraged to augment species supplies. The impact the continued expansion of commercialisation has had on the species and its wider landscape, however, remains unknown. As a member of the fynbos family of plants, buchu is an aromatic shrub endemic to the biodiversity-rich Cape Floristic Region (CFR) found predominantly in the Western Cape, South Africa. The study aimed to contribute to a better understanding of the role actors within the buchu sector economy play in either mitigating or exacerbating threats to buchu and surrounding vegetation. Further, the study looked to determine if the activities associated with wild buchu harvesting and the expansion of monoculture buchu plantations threaten biodiversity and the interconnectedness of species within the greater fynbos habitat. To meet this aim, the study utilised a qualitative methods approach and involved semi-structured interviews with buchu producers, users, and processors across the Cederberg Municipality and with regulators operating across the Western Cape Province. The research found that the regulations and laws applying to the South African context are well positioned to effectively protect indigenous plants such as buchu, while monitoring and implementation remains challenging due to landscape and resource constraints. All buchu value chain participants provided a general understanding and accurate interpretation of the concepts of biodiversity conservation. Furthermore, participants acknowledged that the protection of biodiversity was essential to sustaining the operations and functioning of the industry itself. All domestic participants expressed a personal connection to buchu as a species and a protectionist attitude towards its existence across both the wild and cultivated environments. Value chain participants involved in farming, wild harvesting, and processing saw themselves as contributors to conservation efforts aimed at protecting the species and mitigating threats, while those further afield believed conservation should be prioritised and implemented by national or provincial management authorities. The study concludes that due to many steps of the value chain occurring within the immediate environment where the plant grows, those involved in commercialisation of the species are well positioned to become active participants in a cross-disciplinary approach to conservation implementation and biodiversity management efforts at local and regional levels and could be recommended to advise on management priorities affecting buchu and the associated landscapes as key informants, as well as to assist authorities with the implementation of associated activities
Benefit sharing and environmental sustainability in policy and practice: the commercialisation of the resurrection bush (Myrothamnus flabellifolius) in Southern Africa
Get PDFThe trade of non-timber forest products (NTFPs), also known as biotrade, has existed for hundreds of years - as has the traditional knowledge associated with such products. More recently, this form of trade has advanced to include genetic resource components found within natural resources (bioprospecting). International agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Nagoya Protocol came into force in 1993 and 2010 respectively, to ensure that biological diversity is conserved, sustainably utilised, and that the benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources and/or associated traditional knowledge are shared in an equitable manner. In practice, however, there is a lack of evidence to suggest whether the provisions of the CBD and Nagoya Protocol are being adequately implemented and achieved. This research focuses on the commercialisation of the resurrection bush (Myrothamnus flabellifolius) in Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa and critically evaluates how the requirements of the CBD and Nagoya Protocol are applied. The resurrection bush spans a number of countries and has been used traditionally by a variety of ethnic communities residing in Africa. Traditional medicinal uses for the resurrection bush include using the plant to treat colds and flu, scurvy, coughs, abdominal pain, epilepsy, and asthma. This study aims to uncover and understand the way in which benefit sharing and environmental sustainability are interpreted and implemented in various resurrection bush commercialisation approaches. Six objectives are articulated to achieve this aim: (1) to review the historical use and traditional knowledge associated with the resurrection bush; (2) to describe the different ways the resurrection bush is commercialised and the different processes each commercialisation strategy follows; (3) to describe the actors involved in the different resurrection bush commercialisation strategies and their roles in the commercialisation process; (4) to explore, within each commercialisation strategy, how commercial actors gain access to resources; (5) to describe and analyse the range of benefits derived from each commercialisation approach; and (6) to assess the policy implications and practical applications of current resurrection bush commercialisation approaches. This research adopted a qualitative case study methodological approach, in which 26 key informant interviews and 137 semi-structured harvester interviews were conducted in Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The key informants consisted of private companies, NGOs, and government officials across all three countries. Interviews with these informants were carried out to determine the diversity of commercialisation approaches associated with the resurrection bush, the actors involved, the ways in which commercial entities gain access to resources, how benefits are shared, and what measures are put in place for environmental sustainability. Further interviews were conducted with resurrection bush collectors in Namibia and Zimbabwe to review the historical and traditional uses associated with the resurrection bush. Understanding these uses provides insight into the types of agreements developed for its commercialisation and associated environmental, social and economic benefits. It was found that there are three commercialisation approaches associated with the resurrection bush across Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. They are: (1) Informal trade, where harvesters sell raw material directly to consumers based on informal, verbal agreements; (2) Biotrade, where the value chain is longer and consists of more formal agreements; and (3) Bioprospecting, where research and development of the resurrection bush is a strong component, involving negotiations with harvesters and formal written agreements. Several key findings emerged to inform current and future commercialisation approaches. The inadequate implementation of regulatory frameworks within each commercialisation approach has negatively impacted harvesters and overall economic growth. Harvesters are not receiving maximum benefits from commercialisation due to elite capture of benefits from resurrection bush cultivation sites and significant profit margins on end products. Traditional knowledge holders are not adequately compensated and acknowledged for their innovations and practices due to the absence of sufficient historical records of traditional knowledge, and cooperation between countries and communities who share resources which are commonly used. Long-term conservation efforts associated with the resurrection bush are lacking in all commercialisation approaches due the belief that because there is an abundance of the resource in the wild, additional conservation measures are not needed
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