Includes bibliographies. / West Coast Renosterveld, once prevalent on the south-western Cape lowlands of the floristically rich Cape Floral Kingdom, is now South Africa's scarcest vegetation type. Delimitation and measurement of the 55 "island-remnants", scattered amongst agricultural lands indicated that only 3% of the original vegetation remains. Measured soil quality, gradient and rainfall (critical agricultural criteria) were used to derive agricultural 'threat' indices (probability of agricultural clearance) for each remnant. The indices agreed well with observed trends in the recent clearance of remnants not deliberately conserved by landowners. This new approach has potential for determining which remaining natural sites most urgently need preservation. It was demonstrated that agro-technical innovation poses a long-term threat to even the low agricultural 'threat' rated renosterveld. Pasturage, invariably practised in renosterveld, was assessed by comparing "grazed" with "ungrazed" plant species covers. Within the test site, heavy grazing increased Asteraceae and Iridaceae, decreased Poaceae and Rutaceae, and eradicated Proteaceae. These changes may reflect local trends associated with modern grazing regimes. Total plant diversity and cover were not found to be affected. Therefore, controlled pasturage reflects a relatively minor threat to the extinction of floristic elements. Private landowners are found to control the destiny of 80% of West Coast Renosterveld. The conservation attitudes and behaviour of a random sample of these critical decision-makers were analysed. A new approach was devised to assess 32 subjective, bias-prone "intangible" variables. This required additional assessors to provide independent, non-parametric ratings of the author's tape-recorded interviews with the landowners. Results were pooled and "inter-assessor" measurement error was estimated. Altogether 52 variables, including a further 20 "tangible" variables, were rated under categories: 'Demographic', 'Psycho-Social, 'Land Use' and 'Conservation Strategy'. A correlation matrix portrays inter-relationships between variables and their correlations with landowner "Conservation Behaviour". Landowners' knowledge of biota, rapport with interviewer, education, affluence, bilingualism, and parents' education all correlated positively with conservation. Linear equation models were derived (using Best Subsets Statistical Programme) to predict 'Conservation Behaviour'. Although most conservation related variables are "fixed" (e.g. it is not possible to change parents' education), the understanding of these background factors (not previously applied to conservation of natural ecosystems) enables choice of the most appropriate strategy to persuade landowners to conserve. Different groupings of landowners having similar ratings of key variables have similar needs and constraints to be considered vis a vis improving their "Conservation Behaviour".

Since the second half of the 20th century, public participation in local governance has been widely recognized and promoted by planning theorists and practitioners. Nevertheless, in practice, public participation has faced multiple criticisms, such as a disconnect between process and outcome, low levels of substantive representation for participating community groups, and rigidity in participatory methods. These three criticisms raise the question as to how effective public participatory programs are for multicultural cities, such as New York City, with their increasing numbers of ethnic residents. The goal of this three-article dissertation is to evaluate the current official participatory process in New York City while focusing on effectiveness, representativeness, and inclusiveness, that is, the three aspects of the process receiving the most criticism. Using path analysis, the first article compares and contrasts the effects of Community Board recommendations with those of the recommendations and reviews of other key representatives during the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure and neighborhood characteristics. The results indicate that, although Community Board recommendations have greater direct and indirect effects than those of the borough president, the second model, which incorporates neighborhood variables, reveals that increases in the socio-economic factor and decreases in the immigrant concentration factor are positively associated with changes in decisions within the procedure. Moreover, the second article observed the level of substantive representation in terms of Community Boards using the annual Statement of Needs and survey of residents. The research finds that, Community Board opinions exhibit a high correspondence with the opinions of residents on the need of affordable housing but that the opinions of residents and Community Boards diverged in other topics. Comparatively, Community Boards tend to choose topics that are related to developmental policies as the most pressing issues, while residents find topics relevant to redistributive policies as problematic. The research also reveals that the opinions of ethnic residents are represented less well than those of their non-ethnic neighbors. Lastly, the third article searches for the equity necessary to bring forth inclusive planning processes using interviews with leaders of Community Boards and community-based organizations. The research observes the choices that planners make and finds practical limitations, including legitimacy challenges, linguistic barriers, and definitions of culture. In conclusion, the article proposes that equity comes in multiple forms, including structured collaboration and communication among relevant participants and stakeholders, diverse participation methods for multiple cultures and publics, support from the City, and assistance from planning scholars. Although all three articles point out existing ethnic disparities, the dissertation concludes that an effective, representative, and inclusive participatory process is required for both ethnic and non-ethnic residents in multiethnic, multicultural New York City.

Thesis. 1978. M.Arch.A.S..--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Includes bibliographical references. / M.C.P. / M.Arch.A.S..

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning; and, (M. Arch. in Advanced Studies)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1978. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Nicolas John Messervy. / M.C.P. / M.Arch.in Advanced Studies

The study focuses and explores citizen participation in the policy and planning process in local government in Lesotho. The study argues that citizen participation in the policy and planning process is important. This is because it is through citizen participation that the government is rendered accountable and responsive to the needs of the local community. Secondly, citizen participation is important in that it helps in the deepening of democracy. In Lesotho, citizen participation has been encouraged by the different governments since the era of Moshoeshoe to the present regime. Lesotho held the first democratic local government elections in 2005. One of the objectives of introducing local government is to foster citizen participation in policy and planning processes. The interviews conducted reveal that citizen participation is taking place even though at a minute degree. Several challenges exist in local government that hinder active and effective citizen participation in local government in Lesotho. One of the major challenges impeding citizen participation is the statutory framework regulating citizens’ participation in local government. This study has found that there is no direct legal or policy framework regulating or enforcing citizen participation in local government. Coupled with this challenge is another crucial challenge relating to the structure and mechanisms that are used for citizen participation. The study reveals that the structures and mechanisms are not adequate to enhance and encourage citizen participation. Pursuant to this, the study proposes some reforms with a view to improving citizen participation in Lesotho. Firstly, the study proposes that the policy and legislative frameworks be improved so as to provide enough scope and space for citizen participation. These frameworks should provide for adequate structures, mechanisms as well as processes and areas that can improve citizen participation in local government. Secondly, crucial instruments for community participation in planning such as the IDP, budget process and the performance management in South African context can be designed with specific cognisance of the structures established. Thirdly, the government must encourage, educate and sensitize citizens to actively take part in local government, through capacity building programmes. It can take the advantage of the NGOs already working with the communities and citizens as a strategy to enhance citizen participation. / Public Administration & Management / M. Admin. (Public Administration)

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

published_or_final_version / abstract / Architecture / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

<p>Enacted in 1998, the New South African Water Act has introduced a new approach to water resource management, founded on the principle of decentralization of the management of water resources to regional and local levels and the public participation. The approach has been captured in the new National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998), which allows the establishment of Catchment Management Agencies. The overall purpose of this study was to understand the trends of public participation in the establishment of Catchment Management Agencies in South Africa, by presenting the case of the Berg Catchment Management Agency.</p>

<p>Enacted in 1998, the New South African Water Act has introduced a new approach to water resource management, founded on the principle of decentralization of the management of water resources to regional and local levels and the public participation. The approach has been captured in the new National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998), which allows the establishment of Catchment Management Agencies. The overall purpose of this study was to understand the trends of public participation in the establishment of Catchment Management Agencies in South Africa, by presenting the case of the Berg Catchment Management Agency.</p>