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Masters Degrees (Geography)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10413/6616

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Geography) by Author "Ahmed, Fathima."

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    An evaluation of the consequences of environmental impact assessments (EIAs) on KwaZulu-Natal's biodiversity targets.
    (2012) Thambu, Dinesree.; Ahmed, Fathima.
    Abstract not available.
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    The impacts of tourist and residential development on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast : Umhlanga Rocks to Salt Rock.
    (2005) Ahmed, Fathima.; Pillay, Srinivasan Seeni.; Lutchmiah, Johnny Soobramoney.
    The multiple uses of coastal space, the implications of coastal processes on society and the fragility of the marine - terrestrial interface requires integrated and sustainable coastal management strategies - one where humans can live harmoniously with nature. On the KwaZulu-Natal north coast of South Africa, property development is a key feature of economic development. The last two years have witnessed an unprecedented increase in up - market real estate along this coastline. This has been based on an increasing demand for coastal property for the development of tourist, commercial and residential development. It is also a sector that has contributed much towards environmental damage to sections of the coastline and places a considerable burden on current infrastructure (sewage, water and roads). A time-series analysis of aerial photography, spanning a period of 20 years (1983 and 2003), was used to assess the collective impacts of development on both land use and important ecosystems since 1983. The rate of change indicates significant decreases in coastal forest (3%), cultivated land (3%), rivers (1 %), sugar cane (3%) and untransformed grassland (1 %). There was a concomitant increase in non - residential development (2%), residential (4%), transformed grassland (2%), transport corridors (2%) and wetlands (0.4%). A social perspective from a total sample of 50 respondents was achieved by administering questionnaires off five different key coastal stakeholders (planners/managers/local authorities, CBOs, environmental groups, developers and tourism interest groups) to establish their perspectives on overall development, legislation, the state of the environment and stakeholder participation in coastal issues in the study area. The results yielded the following: development is currently occurring in an ad hoc fashion due to the amount of land owned privately. This is further compounded by the lack of legislation such as land use management systems and a Coastal Management Act which would allow for control over development. The biggest non-compliance issue is adhering to environmental management plans (EMPs). There are conflicts and constraints coupled with capacity issues which do not allow for effective management or the curtailment of bad land uses. The environment is being impacted on to a large degree through rationalization rather than expanding environmental concerns. Lastly, while stakeholders in the area are active, political decisions are still taken. In conclusion, while the White Paper for Sustainable Coastal Zone Management in South Africa advocates' sustainability', the only thing being sustained on this coastline is development. This coastline will probably provide significant opportunities for tourism, but its amenity from a natural perspective will be lost.
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    The use of wetland bird species as indicators of land cover change within the Mgeni Estuary and Beachwood Mangrove swamps.
    (2010) Batho, Andrew Paul.; Ahmed, Fathima.
    Because of the variety of ecological and economic functions they perform, estuaries and mangrove swamps are recognised as amongst the most valuable habitats on earth. However, estuaries and related mangrove swamps are threatened by human expansion and exploitation which leads to changes in land cover change within and surrounding these sensitive ecosystems. Such land cover changes can either have desirable or undesirable effects on natural ecosystems. Examples of undesirable impacts of land cover change include soil erosion and degradation, the removal of indigenous vegetation for human development, and the pollution of water. Without an effective means of identifying, monitoring and managing land cover changes over time, these sensitive ecosystems face a bleak and uncertain future. The researcher sought to determine whether wetland bird species could be used as an effective method of monitoring the environmental health of estuaries and mangrove swamps. In particular, the research sought to determine whether analysing fluctuations in the populations of wetland bird indicator species, as evident in the CWAC Bird Census data, could assist in monitoring and assessing undesirable and desirable land cover changes within the Mgeni Estuary and Beachwood Mangrove Swamps. An examination of the archival aerial imagery of the study area for the years 1991, 1997, 2003 and 2008 provided by the University and private companies, revealed significant changes in land cover over the last two decades. The land cover changes identified represent an actual decline or increase in the suitable foraging, roosting or reproductive habitats of wetland bird indicator species within the study area. The research focused on investigating whether fluctuations in wetland bird populations can be correlated with the recorded changes in land cover over the last two decades. The research discovered a direct and comprehensive link between fluctuations in specific populations of wetland bird indicator species and the land cover changes identified within the study area over a 20 year period.