Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) advocates that well-functioning ecosystems are critical for building resilience and supporting society's adaptation to the adverse impacts of climate change. The National Department of Environmental Affairs, Fisheries and Forestry in South Africa has decided to mainstream EbA into its climate response actions, developing a strategy and set of guidelines to steer implementation. However, little work has been done to grasp different actors' perspectives and understandings of EbA, its implementation and how to link EbA to existing related projects and programmes that focus on natural resource management and ecological restoration. This research presents findings from a qualitative study in the Western Cape that sought to investigate what EbA means ‘on the ground' and how it can be actioned. The objectives for this research were to 1) unpack how government actors in the Western Cape relate to, understand and give meaning to EbA in their specific and existing work contexts and how they relate EbA to other concepts such as green infrastructure, restoration and various forms of natural resource management (NRM); 2) explore the concerns and challenges encountered and what support is needed to implement EbA within each actor's sector; and 3) interpret what the findings mean for future conceptualization, and promotion of EbA mainstreaming in the Western Cape. Semi-structured interviews with 19 government officials and participant observation at EbA related events in South Africa were the main methods used in the research. Findings suggest that despite some conceptual confusion related to EbA, EbA can be ‘grounded based on the three spheres EbA explicitly builds on; namely biodiversity and ecosystem conservation, climate change adaptation and socio-economic benefits. That said, the study also found that practitioners might struggle to successfully address climate change as one of the critical areas of EbA, due to the difficulties of integrating climate change science and projections into projects. In addition, three challenges were identified that relate to funding availability, silo mentality and the mismatch between short-term objectives and decision making in government, and the need for long-term thinking and planning. Increased climate change understanding together with effective demonstration and the use of applicable language that relates to what the different actors are already doing can help improve EbA uptake and mainstreaming, as well as address the challenges related to conceptual confusion, funding, silo mentality and short-term thinking.

Bibliography: leaves 139-146. / The present study has focused on exploring the extent to which metal ion activation occurs and influences flotation and how this can be managed so as to increase the separation of pentlandite from pyroxene and feldspar. The aim was to minimise the percentage pyroxene and feldspar reporting to the concentrate and simultaneously maximise the pentlandite recovery. The possible chemical reactions taking place on surfaces of synthetic pentlandite, natural pyroxene and feldspar were investigated at pH 4, 6 and 9 in di-sodium tetra borate solution and in synthetic process water in the case of zeta potential determinations, microflotation and ToF-SIMS (time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry) analyses and in synthetic process water in the case of batch flotation tests.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 170-181). / The Platreef is located in the northern limb of the Bushveld Complex of South Africa. This reef consists of a complex assemblage of rock types, with pyroxenites, serpentinites and calcsilicates being the most abundant. The predominant PGMs are the tellurides, arsenides, alloys and sulphides. The Pt and Pd tellurides contribute between 20-45% of the PGMs present in the Platreef ore followed by the alloys (26%), arsenides (21%) and sulphides (19%). Flotation is used in the processing of the Platreef ore to separate the siliceous gangue from the platinum group minerals (PGM) and base metal sulphides. The PGE arsenide and telluride minerals are considered to be slow floating when compared to other PGMs as there is evidence of them reporting to the tailings.This thesis aimed to investigate the flotation behaviour of these minerals and presents results which characterise the surface properties of synthetic cooperite (PtS), vysotskite (PdS), sperrylite (PtAS2), palladoarsenide (Pd2As), moncheite (PtPd(BiTe)2 and PtTe2) and merenskyite (PdPt(BiTe)2 and PdTe2) and attempts to relate the flotation behaviour of the various minerals to these characteristics.

Includes bibliographical references. / This study examines the first identification and assignment of heritage values and significance undertaken by the “establishment”, the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) and the City of Cape Town (CCT) in the Township of Langa in the Cape Province a decade ago. In brief, this is the story of Langa migrant labour hostels reviewed for its meaning as heritage to the diverse communities within Langa, compared with an earlier 2001/2 official evaluation by the state-led heritage management institutions. It is within a broader socio-political, cultural and heritage discourse context that this research project explores what the residents of Langa find significant. This is done with particular reference to the migrant labour hostel schemes since the intention was to establish to what extent conservation and heritage management is an appropriate response in an environment of material, economic and social difficulties; and, if so, to what degree the inhabitants of the hostels’ sense of value correspond to that articulated in the “official statement of significance” of 2004. This study questions the validity of nominating migrant labour hostels as “Grade I” national heritage resources.

Heritage sites, inclusive of cultural landscapes, are understood to derive their significance from perceptions of beauty, sense of place and, when it has been impacted by humans, its genius loci and tangible qualities and the overlay of their intangible associations. In order for a site to be recognized concurrence of an Authorised Heritage Discourse whose content is constructed by academics and professionally trained heritage experts and an Autochthonous Discourse defined and expressed by laypersons, occupying or having an association with the site or sites. When Ida's Valley Cultural Landscape underwent processes of identification and declaration (formal process) as a National Heritage Site in 2008 the assumption was that there was consensus between the two views, the Authorized Heritage Discourse and the Autochthonous Discourse. The hypothesis, then, in the case of Ida's Valley Cultural Landscape which lies just beyond the limits of the town, Stellenbosch, was that there was agreement between the AHD and the AD. The question that arose was whether the two readings of heritage value aligned and whether there really was agreement in terms of the significance of the site and the values it represented. This is found not to be the case. Concerns were raised regarding the manner in which the public participation process was handled, the content of the statement of significance around issues of identification, identity and, consequently, its impact on the idea of value. In addition, the issues of land for development, the locus of land ownership and the subsequent value and universal acceptance were placed under scrutiny and severely criticized by the local public and community groups. The conclusion was that there was no agreement between the two positions. The dissertation describes the exploration of these tensions.

Includes bibliographical references. / The primary purpose of this study is to determine the degree to which the historic built environment plays a role in the establishment of a Sense of Place in the South African context with its diverse population and complex political history. The underlying rationale for this focus is that a strong connection between a Sense of Place and the historic built environment has the potential to translate to a strong motivation for its preservation. The focus in this research is on a single case, a historic diamond mining town in the Free State Province of South Africa, dating to 1869, with a rich and diverse history. The research was conducted employing a multi-paradigmatic approach grounded in Phenomenology and Psychometrics.

The vibrant suburb of Fordsburg has a rich history of diverse working class communities. It has long been associated with the Indian community and more recently a new immigrant population from the Indian subcontinent. Transitory communities have left their mark on the suburb and have resulted in changing significances and heritage resources. The study's main aim was to identify what constants have gained significance to become anchors for memory and identity in Fordsburg's landscape of rapid urban and social change. An exploration of Fordsburg's history and evolution was undertaken so as to reflect on multiple interpretations and insights into unacknowledged histories of the area. Themes of identity, urban memory, hybridity and the everyday landscape were examined within the context of Fordsburg. It concluded that there are constants of cultural significance which anchor memory and identity. These constants are located in the ordinary urban landscape of public spaces created in Fordsburg's main roads, public amenities and Fordsburg Square.

Bibliography: leaves 123-127.

This study is intended to investigate the artificial environment conditions that would favor the most effective propagation of the African night crawler.

Building on the work of Martha Nussbaum and Amartya Sen, this research aims to enhance integration of human development and well-being in environmental assessment through developing a capabilities approach to the practice. The research emphasises the effectiveness and equity imperatives of public participation and highlights the inclusion of appropriate social considerations in environmental decision making. The participatory focus emphasises the potential for decision shaping by stakeholders and decision support for stakeholders to participate meaningfully in environmental assessment. The research develops an evaluative framework for public participation that better considers the capabilities of stakeholders. It explores the potential consilience of the capabilities approach and that of environmental assessment, with emphasis on the principles of justice in participatory decision making. A mixed methods approach explores, tests and evaluates a selection of five South African environmental assessment case studies using an applied capabilities framework. Four main methods are employed, a discourse analysis of environmental assessment reports, a conventional Q methodology, an adapted ranking Q methodology, and a survey using Likert scales. The research findings highlight the relationship between the stakeholder's capability considerations that relate to aspects of their 'ability', 'opportunity' and 'constraints' to participation. The research ranks an array of capabilities and provides insight into the types of capabilities stakeholders value highly when reflecting on their participation experience in environmental decision making. Reflecting on the emergent findings from the cases, the research contributes to the praxis of environmental assessment through theoretical development. The theoretical framework focuses on an individual's participation capabilities as well as a broader consideration of capabilities for practice to increase the realizable opportunities, or freedoms, to choose the kinds of environmental futures that can reasonably be considered as valuable and sustainable. Capability concepts of 'ceilings', 'thresholds' and 'capability sufficiency' are commended as supplementary to existing practice specifications of 'meaningful' participation. The research commends that the capabilities approach has potential to be included as a core part of the training for assessment practitioners. It also concludes that the field of environmental assessment provides a rich empirical context for the development of a more robust sustainability-orientated capabilities approach.