Masters Degrees (Geography)

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A 40,000-year record of vegetation and fire history from the Tate Vondo region, Northeastern Southpansberg, South Africa.
(2014) Baboolal, Deeva Lata.; Finch, Jemma M.
Records from the Quaternary period are used to confirm possible inferred climatic changes, reveal the responses of species to these changes, and serve as an archive against which modern environmental dynamics can be assessed. Fueled by a need to understand current climatic changes, the call for palaeoclimatic research in the southern African subregion has become more compelling. In southern Africa, such research has been largely restricted to springs and swamps as the subregion lacks natural lakes, with some exception of a few coastal lakes such as Lake Sibaya and Lake Eteza. Due to the arid and semi-arid landscapes which prevail in southern Africa, there is a paucity of suitable sedimentary deposits in the region. The highly organic peat deposit of Mutale Wetland, situated in the Tate Vondo region of the northeastern Soutpansberg presents an ideal opportunity for conducting palaeoenvironmental research. The Mutale Wetland contains relatively old sediments dating back to >30,000 cal years BP, placing this record within the late Quaternary period. Palaeoenvironmental techniques including radiocarbon, pollen and charcoal analyses were applied to produce a palaeoenvironmental reconstruction for Tate Vondo. A 302 cm sedimentary core was extracted from the Mutale Wetland. Detailed analyses show that prior to ca. 34,000 cal yr BP, conditions were fairly warm and dry. This is inferred from a dominance of open grassland vegetation. An expansion of Podocarpus forests together with an increase in fynbos elements suggest a shift to cool, subhumid conditions during the LGM. Cooler conditions persisted until ca. 12,000 cal yr BP. Thereafter, a climatic amelioration was experienced. The appearance of low charcoal concentrations throughout the late Pleistocene suggests that fire was infrequent. Between ca. 4000 – 1500 cal yr BP, conditions became warmer and drier, inferred from the development of arid savanna vegetation. The sharp increase in charcoal after ca. 4000 cal yr BP, broadly coinciding with the arrival of the first agriculturalists in the area, has implications for the history of human occupation in the Soutpansberg rather than shifts in climate. The succession from savanna to fynbos vegetation together with expanded forests implies a return to cool and moist conditions from ca. 1500 – 400 cal yr BP. Arid savanna persists from ca. 400 to the present, implying warmer and drier conditions towards the present day. Furthermore, from ca. 400 cal yr BP, the pollen and charcoal record indicate that the majority of recent changes in vegetation have been driven by anthropogenic activity. This record has contributed to an improved understanding of late Quaternary changes in climate, vegetation history and human impact in the northeastern Soutpansberg.
Achieving local economic development through natural resource-based tourism in KwaZulu-Natal.
(2003) Trotter, Dayle Carey.; Hill, Trevor Raymond.
A number of development strategies and programmes are currently being explored in South Africa as a part of a renewed ihitiative to overcome the imbalances persisting from the apartheid era with respect to development, wealth, income and opportunity, and in order to address problems increasing unemployment brought on by the decline of traditional employment sectors. Local Economic Development (LED) is one such strategy that seeks to utilize local resources and skills in order to promote economic growth and create employment opportunities. Similarly, tourism, which has become one of the most critical forces shaping the world's economy, has been recognised as a potential growth alternative in South Africa, and is being increasingly implemented into LED strategies across the country. Although the studies that have identified the link between tourism and LED are increasing, it is clear that research on the topic remains limited. This research therefore contributes to the existing literature, and investigates how three localities in Kwazulu-Natal have identified the tourism potential of the locally available natural resources, and how different actors have embarked on tourism-based projects that have sought to achieve LED. A series of semi-structured interviews formed the principle research method and information was obtained over a period of a year from a number of key stakeholders and role-players in each case study. It was found that all three case studies have created employment opportunities and have empowered local communities through skills development and training. This research attempts to highlight the potential opportunities and limitations of the pursuit of natural resource-based tourism as a catalyst for local economic development, such that other localities that are seeking to adopt a similar approach may learn from these experiences.
Adventure travel and sustainable tourism development in Lesotho : the case of pony trekking.
(1999) Mohasi, Lieketseng.; Fincham, Robert John.; Grant, Linda.
Tourism in Lesotho reached a peak in the mid-1970's, based upon the opening of modern hotels and casinos in Maseru and the attraction of gambling. This was an activity which was not then available in the neighbouring country of the Republic of South Africa. Casinos became Lesotho's dominant tourist product. The legalising of gambling in South Africa increased competition in the casino market and Lesotho could therefore no longer capitalise on casinos. Furthermore, the casinos in the country were externally owned and controlled. This form of tourism was therefore not economically viable for the greater proportion of the host population because most of the revenue generated drained back to parent countries. As a result, the strategy for tourism development shifted to the development of natural environment, landscape and outdoor pursuits such as pony trekking. Pony trekking became popular in the late 1970's and has since become one of the most important tourist products of the country. In the 1980's community pony trekking associations were established. These pony trekking initiatives were identified as one development option that could provide economic opportunities for rural communities where few other opportunities exist. The purpose of this study is to examine whether pony trekking initiatives in Lesotho can yield maximum possible economic, social and environmental benefits for the present and future host communities. While investigating its potential to meet the needs of host communities for improved living standards, it also examines whether this tourist product satisfies the demands and expectations of visitors. The field work described in this dissertation was carried out in three pony trekking centres, namely: the government owned Basotho Pony Trekking Centre located at Molimo-Nthuse in the Maseru district; the privately owned Malealea Pony Trekking Centre at Malealea in the Mafeteng district; and the community owned- Khohlonts'o Pony Trekking Centre at III Bokong in the Thaba-Tseka district. This study has revealed that pony trekking activities provide substantial socio- economic opportunities for local communities along the trek routes and around the trekking centres, from the renting of overnight facilities and horses, the production and selling of crafts and tour guiding by local people. Furthermore, the majority of members of pony trekking associations surveyed revealed high support for the activity due to the economic benefits. It was also found that the demands of the majority of visitors are being met. They were satisfied with the facilities and services offered in these centres and regarded public reception as being good. Though pony trekking contributes to social upliftment of the host communities, it is found, however, that there are major drawbacks. The survey indicates that at present limited number of people are involved or participate in pony trekking associations. Not only that, but even communities that are directly involved in pony trekking associations do not have control of such initiatives. Further, the survey shows that there is insufficient community capacity building and lack of government involvement in funding in the investment in infrastructure. Finally, the potential to attract more visitors remains relatively untapped due to a lack of proper marketing strategies; a lack of integrated marketing efforts in promotional campaigns; and weak advertising of the product between the public and private sectors. On the basis of these findings suggestions are made for further improvement. These include, firstly, a need to launch education and awareness programmes on the important role that tourism can play in socio-economic development of the communities. Secondly, more opportunities for the local population and new areas for pony trekking development should be opened. Finally, stronger support, from both the government and private firms for the tourist industry is needed.
Aerosols and atmospheric circulation characteristics over Durban.
(2000) Rahman, Muhammad Ziaur.; Diab, Roseanne Denise.
The main objective of this study was to investigate the vertical distribution of aerosols over Durban in relation to the vertical stability structure and horizontal transport of air masses. The importance of aerosols in the region is well recognised and recently there have been many international experiments which have focused on aerosol distribution over the subcontinent. Durban is situated at the approximate centre of a giant plume that is known to transport aerosols and trace gases off the east coast of southern Africa and is therefore strategically located for an investigation of the vertical distribution of aerosols. The vertical distribution of aerosols over Durban was measured using a LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) system on selected cloud free days in 1997. Backward trajectory modelling was used at selected pressure (standard) levels to determine the origin and transport pathways of aerosols. Six case studies are presented in an attempt to gain insight into the relationship between the vertical distribution of aerosols and absolutely stable layers. The results of the study revealed that the occurrence of absolutely stable layers governs the vertical distribution of aerosols in the troposphere. An absolutely stable layer at ~5km (~500hPa) appears to be the most effective in capping and trapping aerosols in the atmosphere. Below 5km, the atmosphere was charcterised by marked stratification and relatively higher concentration of aerosols. Above 5km, the concentrations were much lower, but generally increased slightly with height. Low aerosol concentrations are observed during post-frontal situations and relatively higher concentrations during anticyclonic conditions. The background to the problem and the objectives of this investigation are elaborated in Chapter 1. A description of the data sets and derived meteorological variables, along with the methodologies applied in this thesis, are given in Chapter 2. A theoretical review of aerosols, including their sources, effects and distribution over the globe and southern Africa, is discussed in Chapter 3. Atmospheric circulation and weather patterns and their relationship to the transport and dispersion of aerosols are described in Chapter 4. The results of the study and an analysis of the major findings are presented in Chapter 5. Finally, Chapter 6 summarises the major findings of this dissertation.
Amawoti : responding to the needs and rights of people with disabilities.
(1994) Philpott, Susan Carol.; McCarthy, Jeffrey J.; McClaren, Pamela.; Fincham, Robert John.; Lund, Frances Jane.
Abstract available in PDF.
Analysis of high ozone events over Africa using aircraft data.
(2002) Mahumane, Gilberto M. G.; Diab, Roseanne Denise.
Previous research has shown that there is considerable enhancement of tropospheric ozone over the African continent. The role of biomass burning as a source of ozone precursor gases and the atmospheric circulation, in particular the anticyclonic gyres over southern Africa, are known to be important in the accumulation of ozone over the subcontinent. In addition, the injection of ozone-rich air from the stratosphere is known to account for the occurrence of ozone peaks in the upper troposphere. This thesis is aimed at investigating the occurrence of high ozone events, defined as 2::100 ppbv, over Africa. Their variability in time (seasonal distribution) and space (latitudinal distribution) is quantified for the upper tropospheric region (~l 0 - 12 km) from 35°N to approximately 35°S . The data used are part of the MOZAIC (Measurement of OZone and wAter vapour by Airbus In-service airCraft) database. Ozone, water vapour. and temperature are measured at cruise altitude by these in-service aircraft, and this study explores data gathered on flights between Europe and Africa over the period January 1996 to December 1998. Complementary data from the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and satellite images are used to investigate case studies for selected flights in order to determine the origin of ozone episodes. Backward trajectory modeling is used to determine the source of air masses possibly related to ozone episodes. Correspondence with high potential vorticity and low water vapour content are used as stratospheric tracers and are indicative of stratospheric-tropospheric injection. Marked seasonal and latitudinal differences in the frequency and nature of ozone episodes are noted between the northern and southern latitudes. The seasonal variation of ozone episodes is more prominent in the extratropics than in the tropics. The highest frequencies are observed in the Northern Hemisphere to the north of 200N in spring and summer, and in the Southern Hemisphere to the south of 30°8 in winter and spring . Between these latitudes the distribution of peaks is sparse. An exception is observed during the austral spring when a relatively high number of peaks south of the equator is evident. The spring frequency peak is common to both hemispheres and is likely to result from a biomass burning influence, and stratospheric ozone injection into the troposphere during this season. Ozone peaks north of 15°N are greater in magnitude (up to 350 ppbv) than those in the tropics and in the Southern Hemisphere, where peaks do not exceed 200 ppbv. The horizontal extent of the ozone events ranged from a few tens of kilometers to over 1000 km in the boreal spring, although they seldom exceeded 100 km in the tropics. Two case studies were examined in detail. In the first case study, ozone peaks up to 180 ppbv were observed at approximately 12° S in the summer. They ranged between 3.5 and 21 km in horizontal extent and were accompanied by increased relative humidity and evidence of uplift. They were attributed to localized biomass burning and subsequent convective uplift to the upper troposphere. The possibility of enhancement due to convective uplift and lightning production was discussed. The second case study, in which an ozone peak of 287 ppbv was observed at approximately 31°S in springtime, had a horizontal extent of 840 km and was accompanied by low relative humidity values and high potential vorticity, indicative of air of stratospheric origin.
An analysis of municipal solid waste management in South Africa using the Msunduzi Municipality as a case study.
(2009) Naidoo, Kaminee.; Beckedahl, Heinrich Reinhard.
Municipal Solid Waste generation has become an inevitable consequence of lifestyles and daily living. However, the nature (quantity and quality) of this waste stream can vary and is largely dependent upon the manner in which waste production is managed, by both government and the public. The increasing practices of littering, dumping and burning of solid waste by households (and industries though not extensively dealt with in this study) in South Africa has led to the finding that municipal solid waste is being irresponsibly managed. In this regard, it becomes necessary to investigate the attitudes and behaviour of individuals and households toward solid waste practices, which further include mitigating measures such as reduction, reuse and recycling for the generation of solid waste. The role of the South African government in providing a refuse removal and safe disposal service to all citizens is suggestive of the responsible role of government to ensure that solid waste is being effectively managed by all sectors of society. The aims of this study in light of the above were to review the municipal solid waste policies and strategies of local government authorities in South Africa, highlighting the shortcomings and discrepancies that exist between legislative policies and actual management practices; which is also reflective of the attitudes and approaches to solid waste management by households. This was achieved by focusing on the case study of the Msunduzi Municipality and included investigations into socio-economic and cultural influences on solid waste disposal practices. The objectives of the study were achieved by means of a questionnaire survey that elicited specific responses from 650 sampled households in five suburbs of differing socio-economic status. A further analysis to identify the nature of household municipal solid waste for landfilling from three suburbs of differing socio-economic status was conducted by categorizing 25 tons of garbage at the New England Road Landfill Site, leading to inferences about consumer purchasing power and disposal practices. Further, key personnel in the Msunduzi Municipality’s waste management division were interviewed to ascertain the solid waste challenges faced at local municipal and national levels of government. The study revealed several significant findings of which the most important is that the implementation of South Africa’s national municipal solid waste legislation policies and strategies are inconsistent with local government practices and procedures; thus compromising equity, efficiency, effectiveness and the sustainability of municipal solid waste disposal. Factors contributing to this are shown to be inadequate management and service delivery. The research has shown that monitoring and control systems which purported to ensure environmental sustainability are lacking and inadequately address issues where the implementation of municipal solid waste regulations are in contravention with national solid waste policies. The outcomes of the questionnaire survey and the assessment of household municipal solid waste for landfilling reveal that socio-economic status and culture do in fact influence the nature of solid waste and the disposal methods used by residents. The receptiveness of households towards adopting suggested municipal solid waste disposal practices was also investigated. The non-compliance of residents with municipal solid waste legislation and policies points towards a lack of monitoring and control measures, thereby not providing for a sustained and adequate service delivery which is environmentally sound. The research further suggests that all sectors of the South African public and the government are inadequately informed in terms of aspects of municipal solid waste. This has led the researcher to recommend that further education and awareness campaigns and its role in environmental sustainability are needed so that a sharing of responsibility between government and the public can be effected to aid municipal solid waste management in the country. It is argued that the insight into the roles of socio-economic status and cultural influences over solid waste practices provide a platform from which municipal authorities can work to specifically address the problems associated with municipal solid waste at a community level. It is the task of the national government to ensure that South Africa’s municipal solid waste is being responsibly managed at the local municipal levels so that the health and safety of the environment and its citizens are suitably addressed, hence the focusing on solid waste legislation and national policies (which have been recognized internationally as being environmentally sound and sustainable) must be translated in terms that local municipalities can adopt, assuming that they have been sufficiently empowered in terms of both knowledge and adequate budgeting.
Analysis of surface ozone measurements at Cape Point, SANAE and City of Cape Town.
(2013) Mkololo, Thumeka.; Ramsay, Lisa Frost.
This study presents an investigation of surface ozone (O₃) at SANAE (2002 to 2009), Cape Point (1997 to 2009), Molteno (1997 to 2007) and Goodwood (2000 to 2006). The Cape Point data was statistically separated to background and non-background (anthropogenic) contributions. The main aim of the study was to investigate diurnal cycles, seasonal cycles, the weekend effect, and any long term trends in surface O₃, as well as assess meteorological controls on surface O₃ at these stations. The observed O₃ concentrations were higher during the day than at night at all stations, with urban stations (Molteno and Goodwood) showing more pronounced peak-to-peak variations relative to the marine stations (SANAE and Cape Point). The ‘weekend effect’ was evident at Molteno and Goodwood with higher O₃ and lower NOₓ concentrations on 'weekends relative to weekdays. The weekend effect on O₃ was more pronounced in winter at Goodwood and Molteno. Maximum monthly average concentrations were observed in spring at Goodwood and Molteno, with minimum in winter. The SANAE and Cape Point background O₃ maxima were observed in winter (June to August) with minima in summer (January to February). The Cape Point non-background O₃ maximum was observed in September with a minimum in summer (January). The seasonal cycles at marine sites appear to be driven by O₃ photolysis. Wind speeds played a critical role in O₃ concentrations, particularly in the continental environment. At Goodwood, high NOₓ levels are associated with low wind speeds. At SANAE, no significant O₃ differences were observed between low wind speeds and high wind speeds while at Cape Point, differences were more evident during the winter months. A decreasing O₃ trend in monthly averages was observed from 1997 to 2006 at Molteno while Goodwood demonstrated an increase of O₃ monthly averages with decreasing NOₓ monthly averages from 2000 to 2006.
An analysis of terracettes in a region of Giant's Castle Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg, South Africa.
(1998) Sinclair, Richard Roy.; Ahmed, Fethi B.
Terracettes are a widely occurring form of micro-relief found throughout regions displaying various climatic and environmental conditions. Much speculation surrounds the processes responsible for their formation and development. An investigation of these micro-forms, their associated soil physical properties, sustaining mechanisms, and their relationship to slope stability was undertaken in Giant's Castle Game Reserve, KwaZulu - Natal Drakensberg, South Africa. The study showed that relationships between terracette morphology and soil physical properties within the Reserve are few, and that current soil conditions cannot be used to infer process related to terracette formation. However dry bulk density data indicated that soil creep is the dominant formative mechanism within the Reserve. Throughflow at riser surfaces was the dominant sustaining mechanism, with needle ice growth, wind, surfacewash and animal disturbance contributing minor retreat at both treads and risers. Aspect played an important role in determining soil physical characteristics. It was inferred that terracettes imparted stability to the slopes on which they are found, and with continued retreat at both treads and risers the slope was again placed under conditions of instability.
An analysis of the potential erosional changes in the KwaZulu-Natal coastline due to the effects of sea level rise and associated storm surges.
(2015) Riddlle, Lyndon Paul.; Beckedahl, Heinrich Reinhard.
The coastlines around the world are currently in the process of being eroded by naturally occurring oceanic conditions. The vast majority of people living near or on these coastlines have no idea what they may be in store for them, with a notable exception being the coastline of the Netherlands. The aim of this research is to understand which areas on the KwaZulu-Natal coastline may be affected by the occurrence of sea level rise including the effects of future storm surges at various time intervals. The coastline is eroded continuously due to the cyclic movement of tides, waves and winds, however the most significant erosion events are likely to occur due to the combination of sea level rise and storm surges, as these both extend further inland and reach higher altitudes than the day-to-day processes of coastal erosion. The storm surge that occurred on the East Coast of South Africa in March 2007 was therefore used as a reference for storm surge as a means of comparing and modelling future storm surge events. While there is some controversy, literature suggests that the mean annual sea level rise occurs at a rate of some 15.5mm per year, although some researchers argue in favour of a rate of almost twice that. The year 2100 was used as the target date to replicate the worst case scenario storm event, but without accounting for a potential increase in the storm intensity driven by global warming.. Coastal protection infrastructures have been installed in some areas, but have been found not to work effectively, occasionally even exacerbating the effects of erosion. Results suggested that by 2100, the sea level rise alone would not have had much of an effect as it is projected to rise by an average of 2m. When this is, however, coupled with a storm surge threshold of 3.5m, most of the study sites along the KZN coastline would experience significant flooding and associated destruction. The research is of a hypothetical origin and the predictions may or may not occur. If the hypothesis would have to be correct, then the planning for prevention methods may be too late. Thus this research must be considered as new information to assist with coastal management. If the projection into the future is taken to include replication of an event with the intensity equivalent to that of the March 2007 event, flooding may reach as high as 10m with catastrophic social and economic consequences. Only time and judicious forward planning with a re-think of the Coastal Zone Management Act will alleviate problems in the future.
Analysis of the rural development experience in the former Transkei : the case of Xalanga District.
(1997) Kodua-Agyekum, Collins.; Willis, Geoffrey A.; Oelofse, Catherine.; Brooks, Shirley.
The period after World War II has witnessed an upsurge in the interest in the plight of the people entrapped in desperate poverty and deprivation in the Third World countries. However, even with the focus on underdeveloped countries, the number of rural poor in the Third World continues to increase and their living conditions degrade. The crux of the problem is that the rural poor cannot contribute significantly to their own development owing to the nherent inequalities in the distribution of production factors and the benefits economic development and technological advancements under the umbrella of capitalism. In response t.o this, rural development is a deliberate intervention programme designed to augment the coping strategies of the rural poor by drawing them gradually into the mainstream of development action in an attempt to alleviate rural poverty and misery, and empower them to realise their potential and human dignity. This thesis is a critical evaluation of the rural development process and its impact on the living conditions of the rural poor in the former Transkei with special reference to Xalanga District. Transkei and Xalanga District have been chosen for the study because the former is the poorest and most populous ex-homeland and the latter is the poorest district in the former Transkei. The roles of rural development functionaries, in terms of their policies, programmes, practices and achievements, and the living conditions, needs, aspirations and perceptions of the beneficiaries came under the spotlight. Rural development is a multi-faceted concept therefore the approach of the study was eclectic, rooted in the realist and structurationist philosophies; and the data solicited was analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The quantitative techniques employed were factor and discriminant analyses The study revealed that the rural development process in the sub-region is fraught with administrative, political and social, fmancial and technical constraints. Consequently, the process has not had any significant impact on the living conditions of the rural poor with regard to the alleviation of rural poverty, unemployment and inequalities in the distribution of incomes and assets. Besides, it has not created sound economic bases in the rural areas and has thus failed to empower the rural people to take effective charge of their lives. The development efforts continue to be concentrated in the urban and peri-urban areas, causing considerable imbalances in the spatial development of the territory. On the basis of the outcome of the research, some suggestions have been offered for a meaningful rural development programme for the former Transkei.
Application of intertidal salt-marsh foraminifera to reconstruct late Holocene sea-level change at Kariega Estuary, South Africa.
(2013) Strachan, Kate Leigh.; Hill, Trevor Raymond.; Finch, Jemma M.
Unclear predictions surrounding climate change, associated sea-level rise and potential impacts upon coastal environments have placed an emphasis on the importance of sea-level change. Past sea-level fluctuations have been measured using biological and geomorphological forms of evidence. One such biological proxy is salt-marsh foraminifera, which have been used as a high-resolution indicator of past sea-level change, based on the assumption that surface foraminiferal assemblages are similar in composition to buried fossil foraminifera. In South Africa, there is ongoing research seeking to produce high-resolution records of sealevel change, however foraminifera remain an underutilized source of proxy evidence. This research applies salt-marsh foraminifera as precise indicators of relative sea-level change at Kariega Estuary on the Eastern Cape coastline of South Africa. Distributions of modern foraminiferal assemblages were investigated, revealing vertical zonation across the intertidal zone. The foraminiferal and marsh vegetation zones were in part similar and overlapped to a certain extent, identifying three zones; high, low and tidal flats. This suggested foraminiferal distribution is a direct function of elevation relative to tidal fluctuation. A 94 cm core consisting of peat, sand and clay sediments was extracted from the salt marsh. A chronological framework for the core was based on five AMS radiocarbon age determinations of both bulk sediment and shell fragment samples placing the record within the last 1500 years Before Present (BP). The basal shell age was a clear outlier to all bulk sediment ages, possibly as a result of shell recrystallisation. The bulk sediment age determinations suggested two possible age reversals, potentially linked to sedimentary hiatus or contamination. These inconsistencies in the chronology were best viewed as separate age models. The core was analysed at a high resolution, whereby fossil foraminifera were extracted every 2 cm’s down the core. A transfer function was applied to calculate the former elevation at which each core sample once existed, to produce a relative sea-level reconstruction. The reconstruction was related to the age models to produce two possible sea-level curve scenarios. Reconstructed curves from both scenarios depict a 0.5 m (±0.16 m) sealevel highstand at 1500 cal years BP followed by a lowstand of -0.6 m (±0.03 m). Scenario One reached its lowest recorded sea-level between 600 cal years BP and 500 cal years BP and then fluctuated below present day levels. Scenario Two reached its lowest recorded sea-level around 1200 cal years BP, followed by low amplitude fluctuations and a relatively stable period from 100 cal years BP till the present day. The 1500 cal years BP highstand recorded for both scenarios correlates well with existing palaeoenvironmental literature from the southern African coastline. Chronological limitations associated with the remainder of the record hinder inter-comparison with previous studies. The outcomes of this research suggest that intertidal saltmarsh foraminifera demonstrate enormous potential for the high-resolution reconstruction of relative sealevel change in the South African context.
The application of remote sensing in drought monitoring : a case study of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2017) Lang, Simon Duncan.; Mutanga, Onisimo.
Drought is a severe natural disaster which occurs across wide spatial boundaries and inconsistent temporal patterns. The slow onset and gradual formation of drought highlights the importance of early detection, allowing for appropriate time in implementing relief and mitigation procedures. The vague extensiveness of drought raises concern on the ability for site specific ground based weather stations to assess the full extent of a drought occurrence. This problem is further compounded in developing nations, such as South Africa, where weather stations suffer from missing historical records and are poorly distributed across harsh inaccessible rural areas. Remote sensing seeks to resolve this problem through the high resolution, near real-time and multitemporal spatial coverage it possesses. Based on that premise, this study sought to evaluate the evolution of remote sensing on drought monitoring and subsequently conduct a remote sensing drought assessment, to determine the accuracy and potential for future drought occurrences. The scope of this study was to firstly to evaluate the evolution and progress of remoting sensing approaches in drought monitoring, which was completed as a systematic literature review. Secondly, a drought assessment was conducted in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Focusing on the ability of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to observe any trends of vegetation drought over the past 16 years, confirmed through rainfall data. Findings from this study concluded the following. Firstly, there has been substantial growth in research papers pertaining to remote sensing on drought; particularly over the past decade. Secondly, developing nations have limited resources available and should consider the advantages possessed by remote sensing. Thirdly, remote sensing results complimented climate conditions recorded over the past 16 years. Fourthly, future studies should look to include additional indices to strengthen the broadband NDVI, which was affected by the saturation of vegetation biomass.
The application of saltmarsh foraminifera in the reconstruction of sea level along the southern African coastline.
(2022) Pillay, Tristan Reece.; Hill, Jemma May.; Pretorius, Lauren.
Accelerations in global sea-level rise are a major concern for coastal areas, but the geographical expression of sea-level variability is poorly constrained, especially in data-scarce far-field locations. Southern Africa is a case in point, where the tide gauge record is limited, and longterm sea level data points are spatially and temporally discontinuous. One technique which has shown promise for producing continuous sea-level records, is the application of intertidal saltmarsh foraminifera, which are widely used as a robust, high precision sea-level proxy in temperate regions. This research uses saltmarsh foraminifera from the Kromme Estuary, to investigate late Holocene sea level on the southern coastline of South Africa. The first paper presents a review of recent sea-level research from southern Africa, with a focus on the Common Era (past 2000 years), to contextualize the second, data-based paper from the Kromme Estuary. Modern saltmarsh foraminifera were sampled across intertidal zone, to establish vertical zonation of foraminiferal assemblages relative to the tidal frame, and ultimately used to develop a transfer function for quantitative sea-level reconstruction. Subsurface marsh sediment was surveyed and used to inform coring locations. The master sediment core was processed for sedimentological and foraminiferal analysis. Six samples of picked plant macrofossils were sent for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry radiocarbon dating, and used to produce a Bayesian age-depth model. The Kromme record extends ~1 000 cal yrs with a hiatus observed from ~400 - 600 cal yrs BP. Calcareous species dominate the basal part of the record, preventing quantitative sea-level reconstruction, however, species assemblages and sedimentology data consisting of low organic content and medium to coarse sand occurring from ~340 cal yrs BP to present, suggest lower than present sea level. Agglutinated species from the upper portion of the core with associated high organic matter and medium sand from ~180 cal yrs BP were used to reconstruct sea level. The quantitative reconstructions spans ~200 years, with the lowest sea-level estimated at 180 cal yrs BP which broadly coincides with the Little Ice Age (~650 - 100 cal yrs BP) and Maunder Minimum (~305 - 235 cal yrs BP), followed by rising sea level till present day level. The sea-level reconstruction from the Kromme Estaury is supported by previously published sea-level studies in southern Africa and provides a detailed reconstruction of sea level that can inform regional sea-level trends, contributing to coastal planning, and provides an opportunity to explore the possible anthropogenic effect on sea-level variability.
Applications of remote sensing in sugarcane agriculture at Umfolozi, South Africa.
(2004) Gers, Craig Jonathan.; Hill, Trevor Raymond.
The aim of this study was to evaluate potential applications of remote sensing technology in sugarcane agriculture, using the Umfolozi Mill Supply Area as a case study. Several objectives included the evaluation of remotely sensed satellite information for the following applications: mapping of sugarcane areas, identifying sugarcane characteristics including phenology, cultivar and yield, monitoring the sugarcane inventory throughout the milling season and yield prediction. Four Landsat 7 ETM+ (Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus) images were obtained for the 2001-2002 season. Mapping of sugarcane areas was conducted by .means of unsupervised hierarchical classifications, on three relatively cloud free, Tasseled Cap transformed images. The Brightness, Greenness and Wetness bands for each Tasseled Cap transformed image were combined into a single image for this classification. The investigation into relationships between satellite spectral reflectances and phenology, cultivar and yield involved the cosine of the solar zenith angle (COST) method for atmospheric correction of all four Landsat 7 ETM+ images. Detailed agronomic records and field boundary information, for a selection of sugarcane fields, were used to extract the at-satellite reflectances on a pixel basis . These values were stored in a relational database for analysis. Monitoring of the sugarcane inventory throughout the milling season was conducted by means of unsupervised classifications on the Brightness, Greenness and Wetness bands for each of the four time-step Tasseled Cap transformed images. Accurate field boundary information for all sugarcane fields was used to mask out non-sugarcane areas. The remaining sugarcane areas in each time-step image were then classified by means of unsupervised classification techniques to ascertain the relative proportions of the different land covers, namely: harvested immature and mature sugarcane by visual interpretation of the classification results. The yield forecasting approach utilized a time-step approach in which Vegetation Indices (VIs) were accumulated over different periods or time frames and compared with annual production. VIs were derived from both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Landsat 7 ETM+ sensors. Different periods or times were used for each sensor. The results for the mapping of sugarcane areas showed that the mapping accuracies for the large scale grower fields was higher than for the small-scale growers. In both instances, the level of accuracy was below that of the recommended sugar industry mapping standard, namely 1% of the true area. Despite the low mapping accuracies, much benefit could be realized from the map product in terms of identifying new areas of sugarcane expansion. These would require detailed accurate mapping. The results for monitoring of the sugarcane inventory throughout showed that remote sensing, in conjunction with detailed field information, was able to accurately measure the areas harvested in each time-step image. These results may have highly beneficial applications in sugarcane supply management and monitoring. The results for time-step approach to yield forecasting yielded poor results in general. The Landsat derived VIs showed limited potential; however, the data were only available for one season, making it difficult to quantify the impact of climatic conditions on these results. All results for the time-step approach using NOAA data yielded negative results. The results for the investigation into relationships between satellite spectral reflectances and phenology, cultivar and yield showed that that different phenological stages of sugarcane growth were identifiable from Landsat 7 ETM+ at-satellite reflectances. The sugarcane yields and cultivar types were not correlated with the at-satellite reflectances. These results combined with the sugarcane area monitoring may provide valuable information in the management and monitoring of sugarcane supply.
Are non-governmental organisations effective in increasing access to agricultural markets within rural communities? A comparative study of female smallholder farmers within the eMazabekweni, KwaNokweja, Hopewell and Carisbrooke communities, Ubuhlebezwe Local Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2019) Hansrod, Laila.; Desai, Sumaiya Amod.; Nkomo, Sphumelele Lucky.
Background: Poverty within rural areas encourages females to practice smallholder farming as a poverty alleviation strategy. Whereby female smallholder farmers provide for themselves and are able to sell their produce to sustain their livelihoods. Female smallholder farmers often do not have the capability to participate in agricultural markets due to their lack of access to these markets, resources, inputs and extension services. These limitations decrease the ability of a rural female smallholder farmers to be able to maintain their livelihoods, whilst ensuring food security within their households. Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) claim to provide farming assistance to minority groups, such as women. The objective of this thesis was to determine whether NGOs are actually making a difference among rural communities. Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of NGOs in increasing access to agricultural markets as a poverty alleviation strategy amongst female smallholder farmers. Methods: Comparative research was undertaken among female-headed households from two smallholder farming communities that received agricultural assistance from NGOs and two smallholder farming communities who were unable to access any assistance from NGOs. These communities fell within the Ubuhlebezwe Local Municipality, and are the eMazabekweni, KwaNokweja, Hopewell and Carisbrooke communities. A purposive sampling strategy was utilised. The study employed triangulation, utilising both quantitative and qualitative data collection strategies. Quantitative methods included a structured questionnaire which was followed by statistical analysis using Statistical Package for Social Science version 25. Qualitative methods included participatory exercises and focus group discussions. Results: While NGOs are present within the eMazabekweni and KwaNokweja communities, their presence has not majorly assisted women to overcome institutionalised barriers such as access to agricultural markets. It was found that the Hopewell and Carisbrooke communities, who do not receive any assistance, lie in a state of disrepair as compared to those communities who do receive assistance. Therefore it must be noted that while assistance from NGOs within the eMazabekweni and KwaNokweja communities have had a minimal trickledown effect among female smallholder farmers, they were still able to make a minuscule difference. However, the implementation of these programmes are not sustainable for the future and only provide a short-term band-aid solution. Conclusion and recommendations: Programmes for the provision of extension support need to be designed to specifically target women within rural communities while taking institutionalised barriers to agricultural market access into consideration. Additionally, communities need to be involved in the development of programmes that are going to be initiated within their communities.
Assessing multi-temporal remote sensing imagery for discriminating savannah tree species.
(2014) Madonsela, Sabelo.; Mutanga, Onisimo.; Mathieu, Renaud.; Cho, Moses Azong.
The advent of new multispectral sensors such as Worldview-2 with very high spatial resolution (VHR) has presented new opportunities for mapping vegetation at species-level. However the use of VHR data for tree species mapping is often confronted with issues of within-canopy spectral variability. The prevailing intraspecies variability in southern African savannah limits our ability to accurately map the distribution of tree species. These challenges necessitate the development of new methods for tree species mapping. This study investigated i) the utility of object-based image analysis (OBIA) for tree species mapping in the savannah environment using Worldview-2 image, ii) the spectral capability of WV-2 for species mapping and iii) the ability of multi-temporal data to enhance spectral separability between tree species in southern African savannah. Using Random Forest (RF), the study could not establish any statistically significant difference between OBIA and pixel-based approach towards savannah tree species classification (zobt < zcrit). However OBIA successfully improved classification accuracy of Sclerocharya birrea and Acacia nigrescens which makes it an appropriate alternative for classifying big trees in the savannah environment using WV-2 image. Moreover, the spectral configuration of WV-2 with the inclusion of yellow and red-edge bands enhanced the discriminatory power of WV-2 sensor. The WV-2 image achieved higher classification accuracy (74.5% with object-based and 76.4% with pixel-based) than simulated IKONOS image (58.6% with object-based and 67.9% with pixel-based). The difference was statistically significant (zobt > zcrit). The use of multi-temporal data enhanced spectral variability between species and achieved the highest classification accuracy (80.4%) than March and April dates (72.9% and 76.4%, respectively). Multi-temporal data mitigated the spectral confusion between Sclerocharya birrea and Dichrostachys cinerea and achieved producer’s and user’s accuracy of above 60% for these tree species. The results highlight the opportunities available to biodiversity managers due to advances in remote sensing technology. The ability to accurately map tree species is the key element in the management of savannah biodiversity.
Assessing the drivers and impact of illegal hunting for bushmeat and trade on serval (Leptailurus serval, Schreber 1776) and oribi (Ourebia ourebi, Zimmermann 1783) in South Africa.
(2017) Manqele, Nomthandazo Samantha.; Hill, Trevor Raymond.
Bushmeat contributes significantly to food security of rural people in developing countries. In regions where animal husbandry is not viable and access to domestic sources of protein is limited, bushmeat represents a primary source of animal protein. In rural marginalised communities where income opportunities are inadequate and livelihoods are prone to stresses and shocks, bushmeat is the cheapest food source, a primary source of direct income and plays a vital role as a safety net. However, in most regions where bushmeat is consumed, this is undertaken illegally. The results have been the decline in many of the world‘s large sized fauna. This effect is cascading down to medium and small sized bushmeat species. This represents one of the biggest challenges to conservation worldwide. This study assesses the drivers and impact of the illegal use of wildlife resources in South Africa, with specific reference to serval (Leptailurus serval) and oribi (Ourebia ourebi). Questionnaire surveys were conducted between October 2015 and March 2016 in the Midlands, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. In addition, two population viability analyses were performed. It was found that illegal hunting is prevalent in the Midlands, with hunters comprising 27% of the respondents. Most of the illegal hunting was concentrated around farmlands as compared to protected areas. Illegal hunters reported hunting primarily to obtain meat for household consumption, because of their preference for bushmeat. Little commercial use of hunted animals was reported. Most illegal hunters had encountered serval (27%) and oribi (68%) during their hunting expeditions. The population viability analyses revealed that oribi populations are highly vulnerable to illegal hunting while the serval are relatively resilient. In conclusion, illegal hunting in the region was not a result of limited access to alternative sources of protein, and bushmeat did not represent a significant source of livelihood security. Hunting for recreation was important to young males who claimed they had no alternative activities. Conservation initiatives aimed at curbing the illegal utilisation of wildlife resources should thus encompass inclusive education while promoting the sustainable utilisation of resilient species for bushmeat and traditional purposes.
Assessing the effectiveness of a role playing game as a stakeholder engagement tool for integrated natural resource management.
(2015) Oosthuizen, Sian.; Foggin, Timothy.; Ducot, Raephele.
The European Union funded project Afromaison (Africa at meso-scale: adaptive and integrated tools and strategies for natural resources management) aimed to address current challenges facing South Africa’s environmental policies in a holistic manner though the concept of integrated natural resource management (INRM). The approach of INRM is receiving growing acceptance internationally although its implementation lacks momentum due to the lack of ‘buy-in’ from those on the ground. Therefore, one of the primary objectives of the project was to effectively engage stakeholders by adopting a participatory simulation model. There is growing international concern and dissatisfaction that on-the-ground stakeholders are not adequately engaged in the actions and management decisions which affect their social, economic, biophysical and cultural environment. In response, various stakeholder engagement tools have been developed to fulfil this objective. Participatory simulation models have been highlighted as tools for assisting INRM, due to their ability to replicate complex systems and effectively encompass the perceptions and visions of stakeholders as a means of developing and testing integrated management plans. The Afromaison project adopted a Role Playing Game (RPG) as such a tool to integrate the various facets of the project. This research involved the development of the AmanziGame RPG, which was used to interact with a range of diverse stakeholders as a means of creating and testing a combined strategy for the region. To assess the effectiveness of AmanziGame, a three-fold critique was applied. Firstly, an assessment of the tools ability to meet the objectives of the Afromaison project, in particularly, effective stakeholder engagement. Second, its ability to meet the objectives and address the challenges typically experience within INRM, and lastly its success in meeting the requirements as a participatory tool and mitigating the limitations commonly experienced. International and local case study examples of the Afromaison INRM approaches, other approaches to INRM, and Role Playing Game tools are used to tests the success and limitations of AmanziGame.
Assessing the level of habitat fragmentation of the KwaZulu-Natal sandstone sourveld.
(2015) Naicker, Rowan.; Rouget, Mathieu.; Mutanga, Onisimo.
Numerous processes, including habitat loss and fragmentation, contribute to ecosystem degradation, resulting in the loss of ecosystem functioning and diversity. The KwaZulu-Natal Sandstone Sourveld (KZN SS) is a grassland ecosystem type that is currently classified as endangered due to extensive habitat loss. A large percentage of this ecosystem has been converted through agriculture and development. This is due to the fact that this vegetation type occurs in a prime agricultural area for timber and sugar cane plantations. This has led to the physical fragmentation of the KZN SS, the exacerbated effects of which could diminish the biological persistence of this ecosystem. Apart from a few conserved areas (only several hundred hectares), most remnant patches of KZN SS are exposed to frequent fire and stressful levels of grazing. Very little is known about this vegetation type and thus the current level of habitat fragmentation and connectivity of the landscape is presently unknown. Furthermore, there is currently no standard method used to quantify habitat fragmentation. The overall aim of this study was to quantify habitat fragmentation of the KZN SS using measures of structural and functional connectivity. Through the use of various measures of habitat fragmentation and connectivity, this study identified priority areas of KZN SS, and designed landscape corridors to improve landscape connectivity. There are numerous measures that can be implemented to assess landscape and habitat connectivity, including graph theory. The Conefor Sensinode software, which employs graph theory, was chosen to aid in assessing the level of habitat fragmentation. The integral index was chosen as the best connectivity index to use in determining landscape connectivity. Once the data had been processed within Conefor, it was then imported into a Geographical information system (GIS) where the data was finally represented. A least-cost analysis was then run in ArcGIS to determine the best route for a landscape corridor to undertake within the eThekwini Metropolitan area. This analysis took into account the priority areas of KZN SS identified, the protected areas network, and the DMOSS (Durban Metropolitan Open Space System). The study ascertained that the KZN SS is a highly fragmented landscape, which has resulted in very low levels of connectivity between fragments in the eThekwini Metro. Priority areas have been identified and landscape corridors have been suggested. This situation needs to be addressed if species within the KZN SS are to persist. This study recommends that the eThekwini Municipality can safeguard the biodiversity of this endangered ecosystem by focusing on managing the patches of KZN SS that have been identified as having a high level of importance within the landscape.

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