M.A. / Natural phenomenon such as droughts have a definite influence on the availability of water sources, soil profiles and vegetation of an area. Man should adapt his activities, such as farming, to the current climatic elements of the area to ensure his existence. Intermittent rainfall and the occurrence of droughts caused symptoms such as desertification. Desertification has reached an alarming level in South Africa, so much so that the level of environmental degradation in the Northern Cape Province caused great distress. This caused many questions into the activities of man in this area. The problem that arose out of this is, does man cause a negative impact on the environment with his farming activities? The specific area of concern is the Southern Kalahari-dunefield, with its unique ecosystems. This area can be described as an semi-arid desert with very sensitive ecosystems. Any form of interference can cause a long term ecological disruption. This area contains several hidden resources which are optimally used by man and animals to live a decent life. The development of these resources (e.g. water) over the past decades lead to the advantage for all concerned. However, the real danger of over-utilisation and exploitation do exist. Questionnaires were used to gather data concerning stock farming activities in this area. Information was obtained regarding water resources, vegetation cover, endemic animals, type of farming, ground cover and other economic activities such as tourism. Man is an additional determinant who causes an impact on his environment in the Southern Kalahari-dunefield. Although a change can be observed over the past decades in the activities of man to enhance sustainable development, continuous strive to the implementation of new methods to preserve resources in the long term, must be encouraged.

Mrs. D.C. Schoeman

Includes bibliographies. / This study resulted from a perception held by the author that more attention is afforded to complying with the procedural elements of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in South Africa, than to ensuring the validity of its technical content. The routing of high voltage overhead transmission lines provides a relevant field of study in which to address this perception. An initial literature review to contextualise the perceived problem showed that the questionable validity of the technical content of EIA was one of six shortcomings identified. To address the problem, an inductive approach was adopted to focus on the interpretation and prediction activities of EIA and two propositions, stated as research questions for discussion, were developed. These referred to the theoretical question of whether methods are specified for high voltage overhead transmission line EIAs, and to the practical question of whether the environmental impacts that are known to result from transmission line projects are effectively addressed in such EIAs in South Africa. Investigating these questions provides insights into whether the technical content of transmission line EIA is sufficiently rigorous in South Africa. The method of study takes the form of a sequentially more focused examination of the literature on EIA, from the strategic level, to the sectoral level and culminating at the project level. EIA methods specified for linear developments were identified at the sectoral level, while at the project level the known environmental impacts that result from high voltage overhead transmission lines were determined. A theoretical background was compiled in this way, which allowed for comparison with the practice as determined from benchmark and case study Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs).

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2001. / Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology / MSc / Unrestricted

For this report, four municipal services provided by the City of Lakeland were studied. The environmental impact of these services was discussed. Recommendations were made for solutions to problems found. It was found that the water supply services has on deleterious impact on the environment. Hydrogen sulfide occasionally found in the water supply gives the latter objectionable odor and taste. Installation of a centralized water treatment plant with aeration facilities for hydrogen sulfide removal was recommended for resolution of the problem. The waste water treatment plant removes 91% of the BOD5 and the suspended solids in the plant influent. The plant effluent and dried sludge are used for irrigation and fertilization in local agricultural enterprises. It was concluded that this service has a beneficial impact on the environment. It was determined that the electric power supply service has one deleterious impact on the environment. Sulfur dioxide emitted from five power generating units results in higher than allowable ground level concentrations. Several recommendations were made for resolution of the problem. Taller stacks were recommended for all five units. Burning lower sulfur content fuel oil was recommended for three of the units. Installation of an ammonia scrubbing system for sulfur dioxide removal was recommended for the other two units. Sanitary landfill disposal of solid waste collected by the city has two potentially deleterious impacts on the environment. Available land area may be quickly exhausted. Water runoff may leach undesirable materials out of buried refuse and contaminate ground water supplies. Incinerations of Lakeland's solid waste in one of the city's power generating unites was recommended as the solution to the problem. As follow-up to this report, a discussion has been held with city officials concerning the potential sulfur dioxide problem.

Shi, Xiaoxin. / "August 2010." / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 153-169). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract (English) --- p.iv / Abstract (Chinese) --- p.iiiv / Acknowledements --- p.iv / List of Tables --- p.ix / List of Figures --- p.x / Abbreviations --- p.xii / "Terms in English, Chinese, and Chinese pinyin" --- p.xi / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- SEA and its practice in China --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Research objectives --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- Research questions --- p.3 / Chapter 1.4 --- Significance of this research --- p.5 / Chapter 1.5 --- Structure of the thesis --- p.6 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- SEA and Its Chinese Context --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2 --- The definition of SEA --- p.9 / Chapter 2.3 --- The two schools of SEA theory --- p.12 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- EIA-based SEA --- p.12 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Policy-oriented SEA --- p.112 / Chapter 2.4 --- SEA in the Chinese context --- p.15 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Institutional context: administrative structure and governmental organs --- p.15 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- "Planning system context: urban SEPs, basic classification, and attributes" --- p.21 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Historical context: from EIA to SEA --- p.25 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- "Regulatory context: a ""grey area"" for urban SEPs" --- p.28 / Chapter 2.5 --- Summary --- p.30 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Research Methodology and Design --- p.31 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.31 / Chapter 3.2 --- Inquiry process as a social practice --- p.31 / Chapter 3.3 --- Framing the research --- p.33 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- "Starting from the tangible top of an ""iceberg""" --- p.33 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Establishing criteria for evaluation --- p.35 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Research Framework --- p.36 / Chapter 3.4 --- Literature review: summarizing key elements of good SEAs of urban SEPs --- p.37 / Chapter 3.5 --- Research instruments --- p.39 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Literature review --- p.39 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Questionnaire Survey --- p.39 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Case studies --- p.40 / Chapter 3.5.4 --- Interviews --- p.42 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Review of Chinese SEA of Urban SEPs --- p.44 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.44 / Chapter 4.2 --- Key elements of SEA of urban SEPs --- p.45 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Integrated approach --- p.45 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Integrated content --- p.47 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Integrated process --- p.48 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Communicative and participative process --- p.51 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Consideration of alternatives --- p.52 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Tiering and follow-up --- p.54 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- "Applying the six ""key elements of SEAs of urban SEPs"" to the evaluation of Chinese practices" --- p.56 / Chapter 4.3 --- General issues of Chinese SEA practices: a Chinese literature review --- p.58 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- SEA approach --- p.58 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- SEA content --- p.60 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Integration with the planning process --- p.622 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Stakeholder involvement --- p.63 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Consideration of alternatives --- p.64 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- Establishment of continuous SEA process --- p.64 / Chapter 4.4 --- Questionnaire feedbacks from SEA practitioners --- p.65 / Chapter 4.5 --- "Case studies from three cities: Dalian, Wuhan, and Shanghai" --- p.69 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- SEA of the Urban Development Plan of Dalian City (2003-2020) --- p.72 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- SEA of the 11th Five-Year Economic and Social Development Plan (FYP) of Wuhan City (2006-1010) --- p.75 / Chapter 4.5.3 --- SEA of the 11th Five-Year Economic and Social Development Plan of Pudong New District in Shanghai (2006-2010) --- p.77 / Chapter 4.5.4 --- Findings from case studies --- p.81 / Chapter 4.6 --- Interviews with SEA practitioners and urban planners --- p.82 / Chapter 4.6.1 --- Applying EIA-based approach along with data deficiencies --- p.83 / Chapter 4.6.2 --- "SEA contents: narrow in scope, technical in presentation" --- p.84 / Chapter 4.6.3 --- Linkages with the planning process --- p.85 / Chapter 4.6.4 --- Insufficient non-government stakeholder involvement --- p.87 / Chapter 4.6.5 --- Inadequate consideration for alternatives at strategic levels --- p.88 / Chapter 4.6.6 --- One-time-only assessment exercises --- p.89 / Chapter 4.7 --- Conclusion --- p.90 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Discussion and Recommendations --- p.93 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.93 / Chapter 5.2 --- Recommendations for SEA approach --- p.93 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Moving beyond the rational decision-making mindset --- p.94 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Moving beyond the end-of-pipe control mindset --- p.98 / Chapter 5.3 --- Recommendations for SEA content --- p.102 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Reporting: making sense for non-environmental experts --- p.102 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Building up SEA team --- p.104 / Chapter 5.4 --- Recommendations for SEA process --- p.107 / Chapter 5.5 --- Recommendations for stakeholder involvement: engaging non-government stakeholders --- p.110 / Chapter 5.6 --- Recommendations for considering alternatives at strategic levels --- p.114 / Chapter 5.7 --- Applying SEA more strategically --- p.116 / Chapter 5.8 --- Summary --- p.120 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Conclusions --- p.122 / Chapter 6.1 --- Research findings --- p.122 / Chapter 6.1.1 --- Deficiencies in content and process of recent Chinese SEA of urban SEPs --- p.122 / Chapter 6.1.2 --- Views and recommendations from stakeholders on the deficiencies of Chinese SEA of urban SEPs --- p.124 / Chapter 6.1.3 --- Recommendations to improve SEAs of urban SEPs in China --- p.126 / Chapter 6.2 --- Limitations and future research --- p.128 / Chapter 6.3 --- Concluding remarks --- p.129 / Appendix I Questionnaire Survey --- p.131 / Appendix II A full list of the interviewees in this research --- p.134 / Appendix III Guiding questions for semi-structured interviews --- p.136 / Appendix IV Main contents of Five-Year Plans and UMPs --- p.141 / Appendix V Main topics in SEAs of urban SEPs --- p.144 / Appendix VI Recommendations to improve Chinese SEA of urban SEPs by interviewees --- p.15147 / Appendix VII Recommendations and challenges to address the six issues of Chinese SEA of urban SEPs --- p.151 / References --- p.153

This study represents a review of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system in South Africa based on case studies. It takes the form of two separate but interrelated components. Component A sets out the rationale for the research, the approach and objectives, a conceptual framework and a statement of methodology. These aspects are supported by a detailed literature review. It is stated as the broad rationale of the research to determine whether the current EIA system can be improved. This is approached through an update on EIA reviews. It is not only the intention of the review to fill an existing gap in literature on the subject, but also to provide findings and recommendations on procedure that may positively contribute to the system and by implication, the process of EIA in South Africa. Certain objectives are realised in the literature review. An understanding of the review process in the context of EIA in South Africa is provided in sections on relevant terminology, the history and status quo of environmental assessment in South Africa as well as local and international experiences. Finally a framework is proposed for purposes of review. In order to ensure international relevance this framework uses as its basis the international best practice review criteria of Glasson, Therivel and Chadwick (1999) and Fuller (1999). This basis is amalgamated and extended with local review criteria contained in the White Paper on Environmental Management Policy, July 1997, the Guideline Document on EIA RegUlations, April 1998 and the Integrated Environmental Management Information Series (20022004). The following review categories are used: Description of the environment; screening, scoping, consultation and impact identification; prediction and evaluation of impacts; mitigation and monitoring; non-technical summary; organisation and interpretation of information and the appropriateness of institutional controls. Ratings are allocated according to five different responses (non-compliance, low compliance, moderate compliance, high compliance and full compliance). 3 Ratings of non-compliance and low compliance also serve as an indication of key improvement areas. The review framework that is proposed in Component A is used in Component B to conduct an in-depth analysis of two cases studies representing different environmental authorisation applications in the South African medical incineration sector. The case studies are reviewed by allocating numeric values to respective criteria and comparing ratings allocated to the respective case studies. All review categories, with the exception of the category dealing with institutional controls, are allocated ratings of low compliance. Both case studies are allocated similar ratings with regard to all review categories.These results suggest low overall quality and ample room for improvement on most aspects of EIA in South Africa. The results are discussed by relating it to possible explanations and corresponding recommendations found in relevant literature. It is suggested that the realisation of these recommendations may lead to the improvement of quality in EIA in South Africa. It is the purpose of the study to review environmental impact assessment, thus the broad scope for review criteria. Due to practical constraints two case studies were used. The number of case studies does not allow for provincial comparisons as was initially envisaged. The significance of this study is found in the introduction and piloting of a comprehensive review framework. The application of the review framework on a provincially representative selection of case studies could, therefore, become the focus of subsequent research. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is the systematic identification and evaluation of the potential impacts (effects) of proposed projects, plans, programmes, or legislative actions relative to the biophysical, cultural, and socioeconomic components ofthe natural environment (Canter 1996). The overall purpose ofEIA is to assist in shaping the development process, not to prevent development from taking place and to ensure that the environmental consequences of development proposals are systematically assessed and taken into account . Since the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, there has been a substantial increase in the adoption ofEIA worldwide (Sheate 1996). The main aim of this report is to investigate the role of Ezemvelo Kwazulu-Natal Wildlife (EKZN-Wildlife) with respect to EIAs inside and outside the protected areas in KwaZulu-Natal. It has four objectives. • To establish the role EKZN-Wildlife should play in the EIA process inside and outside protected areas • • • To establish which institutions should manage the EIA process for EKZNWildlife developments To ascertain ifEKZN-Wildlife can be designated as a relevant authority To establish if EKZN-Wildlife should consult professionally in IEM for income generation The research method used to achieve these objectives were qualitative, with respondents purposefully chosen from EKZN-Wildlife, DAEA and environmental consultants. A selfadministered questionnaire method was used to collect data, and both open-ended and closed questions were asked. Techniques such as Likert scale and semantic differential were used to allow respondents to express feelings by ratings with respect to opposing concepts. The data analysis was mainly through reduction and displays in the form of tables and graphs. This report, amongst its fmdings, found that apart from being an lAP, the role ofEKZNWildlife in EIA should be that of providing specialist input in particular to biodiversity related issues during the EIA process. It was also found that appointing EKZN-Wildlife as a relevant authority would be inappropriate and could .have negative consequences. Concerning the scheduled activities that EKZN-Wildlife undertakes, the report found that self-assessments could be considered for small projects but not for big projects. This report also found that an environmental consulting role for EKZN-Wildlife may not be a viable option to generate income. This report recognizes that EIAs incorporate much more than mere consideration of green issues and recommends that EKZN-Wildlife should adopt an interdisciplinary team approach when dealing with EIAs. EKZN-Wildlife should also engage the relevant authority in a constructive dialogue so that its role during the EIA process can be defined explicitly. This report also recommends that EKZN-Wildlife should investigate the nature and the possibility ofproviding the necessary specialist review during the EIA process. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-66).

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-66) Also available in print.