Bibliography: p.124-137. / The present study was designed to provide information on lead absorption amongst school children in Cape Town. The primary aim of the study was to determine the degree of lead absorption in part of the community. Further secondary and tertiary aims were to briefly investigate possible sources of lead exposure in children identified with increased lead levels and to determine whether an evidence of behaviour disorder was apparent. The evidence presented in the study suggests that a significant proportion of the population, primarily children living in urban-industrial areas, may have increased lead levels and may be suffering certain metabolic and behavioural impairments due to lead. It is suggested that prudent precautions be taken to limit exposure to lead in the environment.

This report includes a summary account of the operation of the LANDSAT 2 satellite and describes some of the procedures for extracting information, relating to vegetation, from digital imagery. The effect of topographic shadow on the imagery is explained and a short discussion of mountain fynbos, the natural vegetation of the mountains of the Western Cape Province of South Africa, is included. The report explains the methods used to estimate the amount of shadow on the imagery of the study area and to investigate the potential of various spectral band ratios for giving useful management information. It was found that approximately seventeen percent of the image of the Hottentots Holland Mountain Catchment Area is affected by topographic shadow. No meaningful information could be extracted from the shadowed areas, by digital image processing. Band ratioing did however, result in strong correlations between spectral values and vegetation height, percentage cover and biomass, as well as leaf surface area, veld condition and aspect, for sun illuminated areas.

Includes bibliography. / This study documents a unique system of informal land tenure practised internally at the Moravian mission settlement of Wupperthal. The study analyses the system of tenure in terms of formal recognized systems, that exist or have existed in the past, and also in terms of the settlement's physical and social environment. Suggestions are made as to changes which could be introduced to ensure a constructive life-style for the inhabitants of Wupperthal, as well as the presentation of both the cultural and physical environment, so that future generations will be able to appreciate the beauty and tranquility of the village.

Bibliography: p.121-126. / A study of the administrative mechanisms for planning and controlling False Bay, a complex marine and coastal system, provides insight into the problems that beset South African resource management in general and coastal zone management in particular. Problems of management result from the uncoordinated approach to the planning of development and the diffused control of resource utilization. The situation is unlikely to be improved through the imposition of various ad hoc restrictions on developments and exploitation rates alone. As with the whole of the South African coastal zone, a comprehensive co-ordinated management effort is needed, with boundaries, exploitation rates and development limitations based strictly on recognised ecological principles. This paper examines the options that exist for the formulation of an administrative structure for the management of False Bay and suggests that a co-ordinated management effort will contribute greatly towards the attainment of the maximum sustainable utilization of all its natural resources, to the best advantage of the greater society.

The problem investigated in this study is the environmental effect of outdoor recreation on a valuable conservation area, the Cape of Good Hope nature reserve. The approach adopted views the reserve as a business concern that produces service commodities from the resources of the natural environment. Supply of these commodities was estimated from a visitor activity profile obtained by combining traffic count data with timed observations on visitor behaviour. Demand was assessed from the results of a visitor survey and from information obtained from a literature review. The results of these investigations provided a data base for formulating a business management policy for the reserve. The findings of the study were that the shortage of open space in Cape Town and the Western Cape is a human ecological problem and that a business management policy which reinforces human behavioural links with the environment would be both an economic solution and an eco- logical solution to the current controversy surrounding matters related to conservation in the Cape of Good Hope nature reserve.

Bibliography: leaves 134-143. / The study was initiated as a result of a growing concern of the researcher at the apathy prevalent amongst his students at Fish Hoek Senior High School towards environmental activities which took place out of'school hours. Linked to this was a perceived lack of understanding of environmental issues and very little commitment towards positive environmental actions such as recycling. These were students in the final phase of their secondary education at a school situated in a valley bounded by mountains and two oceans and serving a community which is continually involved in disputes over environmental issues. It was therefore disturbing that the environmental experiences both inside and outside the school had largely failed to produce environmentally-committed students. The purpose of the study was to gauge student perceptions and feelings concerning a wide range of environmental concepts and issues both globally and locally. In addition, it was an attempt to establish the level of personal commitment of the students towards a variety of positive environmental actions.

Bibliographic references. / The primary aim of this research is to test whether fynbos vegetation has a high reflection coefficient, and the secondary aim is to consider the vegetation at the sites where the radiation measurements were carried out in order to determine whether similar vegetation structural types have similar radiation regimes. In order to do this, six sites were selected in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. At each site the radiation fluxes were measured for three days during the late summer, giving a total of eighteen days of observation. In addition to the radiation measurements structural data was collected for the vegetation at each site so that comparisons between the radiation fluxes and vegetation could be made. Floristic data was also collected, to typify the vegetation at each site. It has been found that fynbos vegetation, as represented by this study, has an unusually low reflection coefficient which varies from 0,08 - 0,13. These values are below those recorded in the literature for other heathland vegetation. On the basis of a numerical classification of the vegetation structural data, it has been found that there is no clear relationship between the vegetation and the various components of the radiation balance.

Bibliographical references. / This study was undertaken to provide information on interest groups or voluntary organisations which involve themselves in environmental conservation. The primary aim was to identify and list all those groups which together make up the environmental lobby in South Africa. Further aims were to determine the environmental orientation and characteristics of the groups, and to determine the degree of involvement they offer to the general public. The groups which were identified as comprising the environmental lobby are listed in a detailed form in part 2 of this study. They appear to concentrate largely on the conservation of the natural environment. The results of the study suggest that the environmental lobby contains a relatively small number of groups which register limited support. This support is drawn largely from the white section of the population. The groups themselves are well organised, but in general display a low financial base. A greater reliance appears to be made on the development of specialist skill than on the promotion of group cohesion and the generation of public support. It is believed that this may have led to the restriction of opportunities for general public involvement in group activities. It is suggested that groups in the lobby need to expand their interests to include conservation of the built environment, and so increase their appeal to the public. The opportunities for public involvement in group activities at all levels also need to be increased.

Bibliography: pages 85-89. / The Klein River Estuary is situated at Hermanus in the Western Cape, South Africa. The estuary mouth is normally closed by a sand berm during the summer and open to the sea during the wetter winter months. The estuary forms a shallow lagoon which is becoming increasingly popular for recreational activities. Several management problems have arisen which are now becoming important with the increase in recreational pressure. The main problems are: uncertainty about appropriateness of water levels, marine sand influx and accumulation, flooding of low lying developments, flooding of agricultural lands, decrease in fish catches and indecision about the ideal position of the estuary mouth in the sand berm. This study concentrates mainly on the effects of different possible water levels. The conclusion is that the estuary water level should be permitted to rise at least as high as the highest level investigated. The estuary should be allowed to breach the sand berm. Developments on low lying land, prone to flooding, should be prohibited and only those structures which would not be damaged by flooding should be allowed in such areas.

Bibliography: pages 65-68. / Oil spill contingency planning for the South African Coast undertaken by the Sea Fisheries Research Institute of the Department of Environment Affairs, has revealed that alternative disposal methods for oily waste need to be investigated in order to cope effectively and timeously with a major oil spill. Current techniques dealing with oily waste disposal are reviewed. These include recovery for re-use, stabilisation of oily waste, biodegradative techniques such as landfarming, co-disposal with municipal waste, stimulated biodegradation in ponds and direct burial, as well as burning and incineration. The suitability of these techniques, taking into account legal constraints, availability of facilities, financial considerations and environmental implications are appraised for South African conditions. Recovery for re-use is the optimum disposal option, but the location of refineries in South Africa, the limited facilities available for oil recycling and the inability of the industries to cope with large quantities or contaminated oily waste limit the recovery application. Stabilisation of oily waste for disposal as landfill or for use in civil engineering works requires further investigation with the South African construction industry. Landfarming techniques are suitable for the disposal of large quantities of oily sand or sandy sludge, but careful site selection is required to limit environmental contamination. Co-disposal of oily waste with municipal refuse is only suitable for limited quantities of oily waste and will reduce the life of the landfill site. Direct burial or burning of oily waste are shown to be environmentally unsuitable options, but under certain conditions they may provide the only practical solutions. Facilities for incineration of oily waste are limited in South Africa. The study shows that there is no easy solution to the disposal of large quantities of oily sludge. A combination of disposal methods will need to be used. Treatment of the oily sludge, for example emulsion breaking or separation will reduce the volumes, but costs could be prohibitive. A strategy is developed to provide the decision maker with a framework within which the decision process towards finding the correct solution for the disposal of oily waste following an oil spill off the South African Coast can be undertaken.