Yes / Corporations in the 21st play a decisive role in the future of society. Their power and influence in world affairs often seems devoid of ethics and seems to exceed the reach and the means of many nations. As a result, the strategic positions they take towards value creation and ethics affects every individual on the planet. This paper explores strategic routes that organisations could apply to facilitate economic growth while ensuring their ecological integrity and ensuring social enhancement generating benefits to a wider scope of organisational stakeholders. By conducting a critical analysis and clarifying common misconceptions between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Creating Shared Value (CSV) and Sustainability, it is possible to determine how these interrelated strategic approaches have evolved. This article argues the importance of transforming the purpose of organisations to encapsulate stakeholder value creation as the main reason for their existence.

Text in Afrikaans / During the last few decades the need existed for a new framework to give direction to development and ecological thought in respect of the sustaining of nature in order to place development and ecological thought within the limits of nature. However, development thought and the debate relating to nature are to some extent still treated in theory and practice as two separate entities. One of the current challenges for sustainable development is to reconcile the development and ecological branches of this debate. The thesis firstly explains the origin and characteristics of sustainable development. Secondly, the crisis in nature is discussed, followed by a discussion of the most important ecological views relating to sustainable development. Then issues in development thought that relates to sustainable development is discussed, as well as the changing emphasis in development thought that stimulated the growth of sustainable development. The mainstream development view, as the other main branch of sustainable development thinking, is then discussed. In conclusion, some issues relating to the operationalisation of sustainable development is discussed. / Development Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Ontwikkelingstudies)

Text in Afrikaans / During the last few decades the need existed for a new framework to give direction to development and ecological thought in respect of the sustaining of nature in order to place development and ecological thought within the limits of nature. However, development thought and the debate relating to nature are to some extent still treated in theory and practice as two separate entities. One of the current challenges for sustainable development is to reconcile the development and ecological branches of this debate. The thesis firstly explains the origin and characteristics of sustainable development. Secondly, the crisis in nature is discussed, followed by a discussion of the most important ecological views relating to sustainable development. Then issues in development thought that relates to sustainable development is discussed, as well as the changing emphasis in development thought that stimulated the growth of sustainable development. The mainstream development view, as the other main branch of sustainable development thinking, is then discussed. In conclusion, some issues relating to the operationalisation of sustainable development is discussed. / Development Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Ontwikkelingstudies)

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The primary aim of this study was to assess and compare the ecological integrity of the Lourens, Palmiet and Hout Bay Rivers (South Western Cape, South Africa) by examining the macroinvertebrate community structure at a series of representative sampling sites along the course of each river, using the South African Scoring System - Version 5 (SASS-5) rapid bioassessment method. Secondary aims included an examination of the effects of seasonal variability, biotope availability and site-specific environmental variables on the macroinvertebrate community structure at sampling sites, as well as the preliminary testing of the Integrated Habitat Assessment System (IHAS) for aquatic macroinvertebrates. According to results obtained, the ecological integrity of sampling sites in the Mountain Stream Zone of the three rivers was consistently good. The Hout Bay River in the upper portions of the Orange Kloof Reserve was particularly near-pristine, with this area having been identified in this study as a potential biodiversity ‘hot-spot’ for aquatic macroinvertebrates. Downstream of the Mountain Stream Zone, there was a significant deterioration in the ecological integrity of all three rivers due to a number of probable causes. Results based on recorded SASS Scores and Average Score per Taxon (ASPT) values, using ‘biological bands’ generated from reference sites in the South Western Cape, were generally similar to and supported by the corresponding multivariate analyses undertaken. From the results of the various analyses undertaken in this investigation and some of the problems encountered in interpreting the data, a number of recommendations are made regarding future bioassessment studies based on the SASS within the national River Health Programme (RHP). To test the IHAS, secondary data were obtained from reference sites in the Mpumalanga and Western Cape Provinces of South Africa. Assuming that SASS Scores at reference sites are the highest scores attainable, one would expect to find a positive relationship between SASS Scores and IHAS scores at reference sites. The assumption in this investigation was that this relationship should be linear. Non-parametric correlation analyses were undertaken between SASS-4/5 Scores and IHAS scores, using Kendall’s Rank-correlation Coefficient (τ), with separate analyses undertaken for different geomorphological zones and biotope groups. Correlations between SASS Scores and IHAS scores were generally weak (τ-values mostly < 0.3) and unsatisfactory, with no significant correlations (p < 0.05) for two-thirds of the data sets analysed and a wide degree of scatter generally observed amongst data points in respective scatter plots. The performance of the IHAS varied between geomorphological zones and biotope groups, with the Foothill: Gravel-bed Zone in Mpumalanga showing the best results, particularly when the stones-in-current biotope group was analysed separately. Further testing of the IHAS is required to confirm its relative performance in different bioregions/ecoregions, geomorphological zones and biotope groups, which should be undertaken as a priority research area within the RHP. Unsuccessful attempts to test the IHAS by means of multiple regression analyses were undertaken, suggesting that such techniques should be avoided in further testing of the IHAS. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoofdoel van hierdie studie was om die ekologiese toestand van die Lourens-, Palmiet- en Houtbaairiviere (Suidwes Kaap, Suid Afrika) te bepaal en te vergelyk deur die bestudering van die makroinvertebraatgemeenskapstruktuur by verteenwoordigende monsterpunte langs die riviere, met gebruik van die “South African Scoring System” – Weergawe 5 (SASS-5) snelle biologiese bepalingsmetode. Sekondêre doelwitte het die bepaling van die gevolge van seisoenele veranderlikheid, biotoop beskikbaarheid en ligging-bepaalde omgewingsveranderlikes op die makroinvertebraatgemeenskapstruktuur by monsterpunte ingesluit, asook die inleidende toetsing van die “Integrated Habitat Assessment System” (IHAS) vir watermakroinvertebrate. Volgens die resultate verkry, was die ekologiese toestand van monsterpunte in die Bergstroomsone van die drie riviere konsekwent goed. Die Houtbaairivier in die boonste gedeelte van die Oranjekloofreservaat was veral feitlik onversteurd en hierdie streek is in die studie as ‘n potensiaal biodiversiteit “hot-spot” vir watermakroinvertebrate geidentifiseer. Stroomafwaarts van die Bergstroomsone was daar ‘n beduidende verswakking in die ekologiese toestand van al drie riviere, as gevolg van ‘n aantal moontlike oorsake. Resultate gebaseer op bepaalde “SASS Scores” en ‘Gemiddelde Waarde per Takson’ (“Average Score per Taxon” - ASPT) waardes, met gebruik van ‘biologiese bande’ wat van verwysingsmonsterpunte in die Suidwes Kaap afgelei is, was oor die algemeen soortgelyk aan en gestaaf deur die ooreenstemmende multiveranderlikke (“multivariate”) statistiese analises wat gedoen is. Uit die resultate van die verskeie analises wat in hierdie ondersoek gedoen is en sommige van die probleme wat in die dataverklaring gevind is, is ‘n aantal aanbevelings gemaak met betrekking tot toekomende biologiese bepalingstudies vir die nasionale Riviergesondheidsprogram (“River Health Programme” - RHP) wat op die SASS gebaseer is. Om die IHAS te toets is sekondêre data van verwysingsmonsterpunte in die Mpumalanga en Wes Kaap Provinsies van Suid Afrika verkry. As aangeneem word dat die “SASS Scores” by verwysingsmonsterpunte die hoogste moontlike tellings is wat bereik kan word, sou ‘n positiewe verwantskap tussen “SASS Scores” en IHAS tellings by verwysingsmonsterpunte verwag word. Die veronderstelling in hierdie studie was dat dié verwantskap lineêr moet wees. Nie-parametriese korrelasieanalise tussen “SASS-4/5 Scores” en IHAS tellings is gemaak, deur gebruik van Kendall se Rangkorrelasiekoëffisiënt (τ), met afsonderlike analises vir verskillende geomorfologiese sones en biotoopgroepe verrig. Korrelasies tussen “SASS Scores” en IHAS tellings was algemeen swak (τ-waardes < 0.3) en onbevredigend, met geen beduidende korrelasies (“p” < 0.05) vir twee-derdes van die datastelle wat geanaliseer is nie en ‘n wye verspreiding tussen datapunte in die onderskeie “scatter plots” wat waargeneem is. Die funksionering van die IHAS was verskillend tussen geomorfologiese sones en biotoopgroepe. Die beste resultate is vir die Voorheuwel: Gruisbeddingsone in Mpumalanga verkry, veral indien die klippe-in-stroom biotoopgroep afsonderlik geanaliseer is. Verdere toetsing van die IHAS is nodig om die relatiewe funksionering in verskillende biostreke/”ecoregions”, geomorfologiese sones en biotoopgroepe te bevestig en dit behoort voorangs te geniet binne die RHP. Pogings om die IHAS deur middel van veelvoudige regressie analise te toets het misluk, wat aandui dat sulke tegnieke vermy moet word in verder toetsing van die IHAS.

É conveniente que as políticas ambientais municipais contem não apenas com os instrumentos previstos na legislação federal, mas também com instrumentos urbanístico-ambientais a serem inseridos na legislação de parcelamento, uso e ocupação do solo. Assim, objetivou-se neste trabalho desenvolver um tal instrumento. Para tanto, estabeleceu-se: a) requisitos do instrumento: simplicidade, flexibilidade e embasamento teórico; b) objetivos ambientais considerados: promoção da qualidade ecossistêmica, melhoria do microclima e promoção do controle de drenagem na fonte; c) desenvolvimento de métricas: para os dois primeiros objetivos ambientais, demonstrou-se teoricamente ser satisfatório como indicador único uma simplificação do conceito de ecoexergia devido a Jørgensen e, para o último objetivo ambiental, o pico da vazão de saída do lote; d) estabelecimento de padrões: para os dois primeiros objetivos, definição de valores mínimos da ecoexergia simplificada para lotes em diferentes locais e com diferentes usos e taxas de ocupação, enquanto para o último objetivo, impacto zero. Coincidentemente, enquanto esse instrumento era desenvolvido a Prefeitura do Município de São Paulo (Brasil) procedia a uma revisão da lei de parcelamento, uso e ocupação do solo, tendo sido aceito que o instrumento teórico acima servisse como base para o desenvolvimento de um novo instrumento denominado Quota Ambiental (QA). A transformação do instrumento teórico acima na Quota Ambiental, que terminou por ser inserida no projeto de lei encaminhado à Câmara Municipal e depois aprovado por ela, foi objeto de um estudo sui generis, visto que o autor participou ativamente do desenvolvimento da QA como servidor público. Tal demandaria um método a meio caminho entre o estudo de caso e a observação participante, tendo-se optado por um método análogo ao fenomenológico. Para o desenvolvimento da QA foi formado um pequeno grupo de trabalho do qual o autor participou. O instrumento teórico recebeu diversas modificações não só para conformação a diretrizes e decisões políticas, como para amadurecimento de conceitos e cálculos, mostrando-se viável como base para o desenvolvimento da QA. Diversos grupos de interesse influenciaram o desenvolvimento da QA em diferentes fases e em diferentes níveis, chegando a ocorrer de eles se manifestarem diretamente junto ao grupo de trabalho. A Superior Administração prestigiou o processo, mas mostrou-se às vezes dividida em relação ao conflito entre aspectos ambientais e sociais. O grupo teve sucesso em potencializar os ganhos decorrentes da complementaridade de expertises decorrentes da heterogeneidade em termos de formação e experiência dos membros do grupo. Ele procurou harmonizar as diferentes pressões, muitas vezes até se antecipando a elas. Para tanto, o grupo de trabalho desenvolveu uma dinâmica para chegar a consensos internos e para prever, internalizar e posicionar-se frente a pressões, frequentemente conflitantes. As pressões mais severas provieram da própria burocracia municipal. Em todos esses processos a simplicidade, como requisito, foi perdendo-se. A Quota Ambiental mostrou-se um instrumento inovador, aparentando dar satisfação aos reclamos de diversos grupos de interesse e, principalmente, representando uma cunha ambiental inserida na legislação de parcelamento, uso e ocupação do solo. / It is appropriate that municipal environmental policies incorporate not only the instruments provided for in federal legislation, but also the urban-environmental instruments to be inserted in the urban legislation. Thus, it was aimed in this work to develop such an instrument. To do so, it was established the following: a) requirements of the instrument: simplicity, flexibility and theoretical background; b) environmental objectives considered: promotion of ecosystem quality, improvement of microclimate and promotion of drainage control at source; c) development of metrics: a simplification of the concept of eco-exergy due to Jørgensen has been theoretically proven to be satisfactory as a single indicator of the first two environmental objectives; for the last environmental objective, the lot peak output flow; d) establishment of legal standards: for the first two objectives, definition of minimum values of simplified eco-exergy for lots in different locations and with different uses and occupation rates, whereas for the last objective, zero impact. Coincidentally, while this instrument was being developed, the City of São Paulo (Brazil) proceeded to a review of the zoning law, thus being accepted that the above theoretical instrument should serve as the basis for the development of a new instrument called Environmental Quota (Quota Ambiental, QA, in Portuguese). The transformation of the above theoretical instrument into the QA, which ended up being inserted in the bill forwarded to the City Council and later approved by it, was the subject of a sui generis study, as the author participated actively in the development of QA as a public servant. This would require a method halfway between the case study and the participant observation. A method analogous to the phenomenological one was chosen. A small working group in which the author participated was formed for the development of QA. The theoretical instrument received several modifications not only to conform to political guidelines and decisions, but to maturation of concepts and calculations as well, proving feasible as a basis for the development of QA. Several special interest groups influenced the development of QA in different phases and at different levels; it even occurred to interest groups to directly sue the working group. The High Administration supported the process, but it became sometimes divided in relation to the conflict between environmental and social aspects. The group succeeded in enhancing the gains derived from the complementarity of skills resulting from the heterogeneity in terms of training and experience of the working group members. It sought to harmonize the different pressures, often even foreseeing them. To this end, the working group has developed a dynamic to reach internal consensus and to anticipate, internalize and position itself in the face of frequently conflicting pressures. The most severe pressures came from the municipal bureaucracy itself. In all these processes simplicity, as a requirement, was lost. The Environmental Quota proved to be an innovative instrument, appearing to satisfy the demands of various interest groups and, mainly, representing an environmental wedge inserted in the zoning law.

É conveniente que as políticas ambientais municipais contem não apenas com os instrumentos previstos na legislação federal, mas também com instrumentos urbanístico-ambientais a serem inseridos na legislação de parcelamento, uso e ocupação do solo. Assim, objetivou-se neste trabalho desenvolver um tal instrumento. Para tanto, estabeleceu-se: a) requisitos do instrumento: simplicidade, flexibilidade e embasamento teórico; b) objetivos ambientais considerados: promoção da qualidade ecossistêmica, melhoria do microclima e promoção do controle de drenagem na fonte; c) desenvolvimento de métricas: para os dois primeiros objetivos ambientais, demonstrou-se teoricamente ser satisfatório como indicador único uma simplificação do conceito de ecoexergia devido a Jørgensen e, para o último objetivo ambiental, o pico da vazão de saída do lote; d) estabelecimento de padrões: para os dois primeiros objetivos, definição de valores mínimos da ecoexergia simplificada para lotes em diferentes locais e com diferentes usos e taxas de ocupação, enquanto para o último objetivo, impacto zero. Coincidentemente, enquanto esse instrumento era desenvolvido a Prefeitura do Município de São Paulo (Brasil) procedia a uma revisão da lei de parcelamento, uso e ocupação do solo, tendo sido aceito que o instrumento teórico acima servisse como base para o desenvolvimento de um novo instrumento denominado Quota Ambiental (QA). A transformação do instrumento teórico acima na Quota Ambiental, que terminou por ser inserida no projeto de lei encaminhado à Câmara Municipal e depois aprovado por ela, foi objeto de um estudo sui generis, visto que o autor participou ativamente do desenvolvimento da QA como servidor público. Tal demandaria um método a meio caminho entre o estudo de caso e a observação participante, tendo-se optado por um método análogo ao fenomenológico. Para o desenvolvimento da QA foi formado um pequeno grupo de trabalho do qual o autor participou. O instrumento teórico recebeu diversas modificações não só para conformação a diretrizes e decisões políticas, como para amadurecimento de conceitos e cálculos, mostrando-se viável como base para o desenvolvimento da QA. Diversos grupos de interesse influenciaram o desenvolvimento da QA em diferentes fases e em diferentes níveis, chegando a ocorrer de eles se manifestarem diretamente junto ao grupo de trabalho. A Superior Administração prestigiou o processo, mas mostrou-se às vezes dividida em relação ao conflito entre aspectos ambientais e sociais. O grupo teve sucesso em potencializar os ganhos decorrentes da complementaridade de expertises decorrentes da heterogeneidade em termos de formação e experiência dos membros do grupo. Ele procurou harmonizar as diferentes pressões, muitas vezes até se antecipando a elas. Para tanto, o grupo de trabalho desenvolveu uma dinâmica para chegar a consensos internos e para prever, internalizar e posicionar-se frente a pressões, frequentemente conflitantes. As pressões mais severas provieram da própria burocracia municipal. Em todos esses processos a simplicidade, como requisito, foi perdendo-se. A Quota Ambiental mostrou-se um instrumento inovador, aparentando dar satisfação aos reclamos de diversos grupos de interesse e, principalmente, representando uma cunha ambiental inserida na legislação de parcelamento, uso e ocupação do solo. / It is appropriate that municipal environmental policies incorporate not only the instruments provided for in federal legislation, but also the urban-environmental instruments to be inserted in the urban legislation. Thus, it was aimed in this work to develop such an instrument. To do so, it was established the following: a) requirements of the instrument: simplicity, flexibility and theoretical background; b) environmental objectives considered: promotion of ecosystem quality, improvement of microclimate and promotion of drainage control at source; c) development of metrics: a simplification of the concept of eco-exergy due to Jørgensen has been theoretically proven to be satisfactory as a single indicator of the first two environmental objectives; for the last environmental objective, the lot peak output flow; d) establishment of legal standards: for the first two objectives, definition of minimum values of simplified eco-exergy for lots in different locations and with different uses and occupation rates, whereas for the last objective, zero impact. Coincidentally, while this instrument was being developed, the City of São Paulo (Brazil) proceeded to a review of the zoning law, thus being accepted that the above theoretical instrument should serve as the basis for the development of a new instrument called Environmental Quota (Quota Ambiental, QA, in Portuguese). The transformation of the above theoretical instrument into the QA, which ended up being inserted in the bill forwarded to the City Council and later approved by it, was the subject of a sui generis study, as the author participated actively in the development of QA as a public servant. This would require a method halfway between the case study and the participant observation. A method analogous to the phenomenological one was chosen. A small working group in which the author participated was formed for the development of QA. The theoretical instrument received several modifications not only to conform to political guidelines and decisions, but to maturation of concepts and calculations as well, proving feasible as a basis for the development of QA. Several special interest groups influenced the development of QA in different phases and at different levels; it even occurred to interest groups to directly sue the working group. The High Administration supported the process, but it became sometimes divided in relation to the conflict between environmental and social aspects. The group succeeded in enhancing the gains derived from the complementarity of skills resulting from the heterogeneity in terms of training and experience of the working group members. It sought to harmonize the different pressures, often even foreseeing them. To this end, the working group has developed a dynamic to reach internal consensus and to anticipate, internalize and position itself in the face of frequently conflicting pressures. The most severe pressures came from the municipal bureaucracy itself. In all these processes simplicity, as a requirement, was lost. The Environmental Quota proved to be an innovative instrument, appearing to satisfy the demands of various interest groups and, mainly, representing an environmental wedge inserted in the zoning law.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The River Health Programme (RHP) is an assessment tool for monitoring the ecological state of rivers to ensure that they remain fit for use by present and future generations. This study, forming part of a RHP assessment conducted on the south-western Cape Hout Bay, Lourens and Palmiet Rivers, has the aim to (1) zone the rivers for representative site selection, (2) assess their habitat integrity (HI), (3) determine the influence of land use on riverine HI and (4) assess the river water quality at the time of the RHP assessments. (1) The desktop geomorphological zonation method used in RHP assessments has not been sufficiently previously tested on short rivers draining the Western Cape Mountains. The Lowland River Zone of the rivers studied, as well as the Hout Bay River’s Upper Foothill Zone, were found to have steeper gradients than expected, probably due to these rivers being shorter and consequently steeper than any on which the method was previously tested. The notion of one gradient river classification system being applicable throughout South Africa, with its diverse geology and climate, is unlikely. Rather a classification system modified for various physiographic features regions or by a factor based on river length is more realistic. (2) Although there is a general longitudinal decrease in HI downstream along the Hout Bay and Lourens Rivers, coinciding with increased anthropogenic activities, HI improves in the Palmiet River’s lower reaches through the Kogelberg Nature Reserve. Surrounding land use thus seems to be a major determinant of HI. Although the Index of Habitat Integrity (IHI) used appears to achieve its aim, it was found to be subjective. Categorisation of the IHI scoring is suggested. (3) The amount of natural versus disturbed land use occurring upstream of a site at a regional and local scale, is a good predictor of riverine HI. Regional alien forestry and local urbanisation have significantly strong negative effects on instream (r2 = -0.80, r2 = 0.80, p<0.05) and riparian (r2 = -0.81, r2 = -0.83, p<0.05) HI. Different land use types therefore appear to affect riverine HI at differing scales and thus managers must not only think on a local but also a catchment scale. (4) In the Hout Bay River, a filtering system (e.g. wetland) appears to improve the water quality between the middle and lower reaches. Along the Lourens River, high total dissolved salts, conductivity and inorganic nitrogen concentrations in the middle reaches are cause for concern. Along the Palmiet River there appeared to be insufficient oxygen to support most aquatic life forms at Grabouw. Impoundments in the middle reaches act as sinks for nutrients and salts, but the Huis and Krom tributaries downstream then appear to degrade the water quality of the Palmiet River’s lower reaches within the Kogelberg Nature Reserve. Together with the results of simultaneous biotic assessments, these results should be used to develop management actions to improve the ecological health of these rivers. The results have been used in a State-of-Rivers Report for the south-western Cape. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Riviergesondheidsprogram (RGP) is 'n asseseringsinstrument wat die ekologiese stand van riviere monitor om te verseker dat hulle steeds bruikbaar bly vir huidige en toekomstige geslagte. Hierdie studie maak deel uit van 'n RGP-assessering van die Lourens-, Houtbaai- en Palmietrivier in die Suidwes-Kaap en het ten doel om (1) die riviere te soneer vir verteenwoordigende terreinseleksie, (2) die habitat-integriteit (HI) te assesseer, (3) die invloed van grondgebruik op rivier-HI te bepaal en (4) die kwaliteit van rivierwater tydens die RGP-assesserings te bepaal. (1) Die geomorfologiese-soneringsmetode wat in RGP-assesserings gebruik word, is nog nie voorheen genoegsaam vir die kort riviere wat die Wes-Kaapse berge dreineer, getoets nie. Daar is bevind dat die studiegebied riviere in die laagland-sones skerper gradiënte het as verwag, gehad het. Dit kan moontlik toegeskryf word aan die riviere wat korter en dus steiler is as enige van dié wat voorheen met die metode getoets is. Die moontlikheid dat een gradiëntklassifikasiestelsel vir riviere regdeur Suid-Afrika met sy diverse geologie en klimaat toegepas kan word, is onwaarskynlik. 'n Klassifikasiestelsel aangepas vir verskillende fisiografiese streke of met 'n faktor gebaseer op rivierlengte, is meer realisties. (2) Alhoewel HI stroomaf langs die Lourens- en Houtbaairivier in die algemeen longitudinaal saam met die toename in antropogeniese aktiwiteite afneem, verbeter die Palmietrivier se HI waar dit laer af deur die Kogelbergnatuurreservaat vloei. Die gebruike van aanliggende grond blyk dus 'n belangrike bepaler van HI te wees. Die Indeks van Habitatintegriteit (IHI) bereik klaarblyklik die vereiste doel, maar is te subjektief. Kategorisering van die IHI-waardes word voorgestel. (3) 'n Goeie voorspeller van rivier-HI is die hoeveelheid natuurlike teenoor versteurde grondgebruik stroomop van 'n terrein op 'n streeks- en lokale skaal. Die sterk negatiewe effek van uitheemse plantegroei in die omgewing en lokale verstedeliking op stroom- (r² = -0.80, r² = 0.80, p<0.05 ) en oewer-HI (r² = -0.81, r² = -0.83, p<0.05) is beduidend. Verskille in tipe grondgebruik beïnvloed rivier-HI op verskillende vlakke; bestuurders moet dus plaaslik en aan die opvanggebied dink. (4) In die Houtbaairivier lyk dit asof 'n filtreringstelsel (bv. vleigrond) die waterkwaliteit tussen die middel- en lae gedeeltes verbeter. In die loop van die Lourensrivier is hoë totale opgeloste soute, geleidingsvermoë en anorganiese stikstofkonsentrasies in die middelgedeelte 'n rede tot kommer. In die Palmietrivier by Grabouw was die suurstof te min om die meeste akwatiese lewensvorme te onderhou. Opgedamde water in die middel gedeeltes dien as 'n sink vir voedingstowwe en soute, maar dit lyk asof die Huis- en Kromrivier die waterkwaliteit van die Palmietrivier stroomaf in die Kogelbergnatuurreservaat degradeer. Saam met die resultate van gelyktydige biotiese assesserings, kan hierdie resultate gebruik word vir die ontwikkeling van bestuursaksies om die ekologiese toestand van hierdie riviere te verbeter. Die resultate is gebruik in 'n toestand-van-riviere-verslag vir die Suidwes-Kaap.

<p>Land use change constitutes a primary driving force in shaping social-ecological systems world wide, and its effects reach far beyond the directly impacted areas. Graph based landscape ecological tools have become established as a promising way to efficiently explore and analyze the complex, spatial systems dynamics of ecological networks in physical landscapes. However, little attention has been paid to making these approaches operational within ecological assessments, physical planning, and design. This thesis presents a network based, landscape-ecological tool that can be implemented for effective use by practitioners within physical planning and design, and ecological assessments related to these activities. The tool is based on an ecological profile system, a common generalized network model of the ecological infrastructure, graph theoretic metrics, and a spatially explicit, geographically defined representation, deployable in a GIS. Graph theoretic metrics and analysis techniques are able to capture the spatio-temporal dynamics of complex systems, and the generalized network model places the graph theoretic toolbox in a geographically defined landscape. This provides completely new insights for physical planning, and environmental assessment activities. The design of the model is based on the experience gained through seven real-world cases, commissioned by different governmental organizations within Stockholm County. A participatory approach was used in these case studies, involving stakeholders of different backgrounds, in which the tool proved to be flexible and effective in the communication and negotiation of indicators, targets, and impacts. In addition to successful impact predictions for alternative planning scenarios, the tool was able to highlight critical ecological structures within the landscape, both from a system-centric, and a site-centric perspective. In already being deployed and used in planning, assessments, inventories, and monitoring by several of the involved organizations, the tool has proved to effectively meet some of the challenges of application in a multidisciplinary landscape.</p>

Land use change constitutes a primary driving force in shaping social-ecological systems world wide, and its effects reach far beyond the directly impacted areas. Graph based landscape ecological tools have become established as a promising way to efficiently explore and analyze the complex, spatial systems dynamics of ecological networks in physical landscapes. However, little attention has been paid to making these approaches operational within ecological assessments, physical planning, and design. This thesis presents a network based, landscape-ecological tool that can be implemented for effective use by practitioners within physical planning and design, and ecological assessments related to these activities. The tool is based on an ecological profile system, a common generalized network model of the ecological infrastructure, graph theoretic metrics, and a spatially explicit, geographically defined representation, deployable in a GIS. Graph theoretic metrics and analysis techniques are able to capture the spatio-temporal dynamics of complex systems, and the generalized network model places the graph theoretic toolbox in a geographically defined landscape. This provides completely new insights for physical planning, and environmental assessment activities. The design of the model is based on the experience gained through seven real-world cases, commissioned by different governmental organizations within Stockholm County. A participatory approach was used in these case studies, involving stakeholders of different backgrounds, in which the tool proved to be flexible and effective in the communication and negotiation of indicators, targets, and impacts. In addition to successful impact predictions for alternative planning scenarios, the tool was able to highlight critical ecological structures within the landscape, both from a system-centric, and a site-centric perspective. In already being deployed and used in planning, assessments, inventories, and monitoring by several of the involved organizations, the tool has proved to effectively meet some of the challenges of application in a multidisciplinary landscape.

Adopté par l’article 2 de la loi n°2016-1087 de reconquête de la biodiversité, de la nature et des paysages du 8 aout 2016, le principe de solidarité écologique appelle « à prendre en compte, dans toute prise de décision publique ayant une incidence notable sur l’environnement des territoires concernés, les interactions des écosystèmes, des êtres vivants et des milieux naturels ou aménagés ». Ce principe général du droit de l’environnement inscrit à l’article L110-1 du code de l’environnement est destiné à conserver les interactions écosystémiques et les processus écologiques ainsi qu’à améliorer la gestion environnementale des territoires. La dualité de son objet en fait un principe d’une grande richesse, qui devrait concerner de nombreuses décisions. Divers fondements supranationaux, au sein de la jurisprudence et dans les textes internationaux et européens peuvent ainsi lui être attribués. Dans un contexte d’interdépendance écologique, l’évolution de la dimension internationale et européenne du principe reste essentielle pour juger de ses effets au regard de la conservation de la biodiversité. Au niveau du droit interne, son ancrage au cœur de l’équilibre de l’environnement lui apporte un rayonnement particulier. Il conforte le droit à un environnement équilibré et prolonge les principes constitutionnels de prévention et de développement durable. Face à la crise d’extinction mondiale de la biodiversité menaçant notre survie, le principe de solidarité écologique se présente comme cette ultime chance de la conserver. Deux grands ensembles de dispositifs permettent de mesurer la dynamique du principe de solidarité écologique : la trame verte et bleue et la gestion intégrée de la mer et du littoral. Ils constituent une base pour concevoir la solidarité écologique et représentent ainsi le commencement d’un droit nouveau. Le principe de solidarité écologique appelle à les renforcer et, de manière plus générale, à faire évoluer l’ensemble des décisions concernées par le principe. / Adopted by article 2 from act nr 2016-1087 concerning the reconquest of biodiversity, nature and landscape of August 8th 2016, the principle of ecological solidarity calls “for taking into consideration the interactions of ecosystems, living creatures and natural or developed environments in all public decisions having a notable impact on the environment of the territories concerned”.This general principle of environmental law inscribed in article L110 1 of the environmental code is designed to preserve the interactions of ecosystems and ecological processes as well as to improve the environmental management of the territories. The duality of its objective renders it a highly valuable principle which should be applied to numerous decisions. Various supranational foundations, within jurisprudence and in international and European laws, can thus be assigned to it. In the context of ecological interdependence the evolution of the international and European dimension of the principle remains essential in order to see the benefits concerning the safeguarding of biodiversity. It is greatly enhanced, as regards internal law, by the fact that it is at the very center of the environment's equilibrium. It justifies the right to a balanced environment and extends the constitutional principles of prevention and sustainable development. Confronted with the crisis of world-wide biodiversity extinction that threatens our survival, the principle of ecological solidarity emerges as the last chance to preserve it. Two major groups of systems allow us to measure the dynamics of the principle of ecological solidarity: the green and the blue line belt network and the Ocean and coastline Governance Framework. They constitute a basis on which to develop ecological solidarity and represent the beginnings of new legislation. The principle of ecological solidarity requires them to be reinforced and more generally to advance all decisions concerned by the principle.