Thesis (M.A.)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There is a general consensus that EIA is limited in its scope. The main concern in this regard is that EIA generally fails to handle cumulative impacts effectively, due to its focus on individual projects. Cumulative effects are changes to the environment that are caused by an action in combination with other past, present and future human actions. The evaluation of cumulative effects generally focuses on potential pervasive, regional environmental problems. Due to its strong focus on sustainable development, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), by definition, should address cumulative effects. EIAs in South Africa traditionally only considered the "footprint" or area covered by each project component. However, in recent years the cumulative nature of environmental impacts of human actions has increasingly become a visible concern to the South African public, which has led to the need to infuse cumulative effects concepts into environmental assessments. In theory, a SEA is aimed at improving the way in which cumulative effects are dealt with in environmental assessments. This raises the question of whether past and present South African SEA approaches have effectively addressed the issue of cumulative effects. This thesis provides a critical reappraisal of recent experience in SEA with particular reference to its application in South Africa. It is in this context, of the opportunities and constraints of current SEA application, that this study attempts to determine how best to infuse cumulative effects methodology and philosophy into the emerging South African SEA process. This study evaluates three SEA case studies undertaken in South African, in order to assess how effectively cumulative effects are addressed within the current South African SEA process. The analysis focuses on both innovative approaches used in each study, as well as the limitations and deficiencies of each approach. A generic framework was developed in order to provide broad guidelines for practitioners and reviewers. These guidelines focus on how best to infuse cumulative effects philosophy and methodology into the current SEA process. It is envisaged that this methodology will enhance the current SEA process, in order to ensure that environmental issues are placed on the same level as economic and social considerations in future decision making, to achieve sustainable development. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar.

Beach‐cast kelp (principally Laminaria spp.), known as macroalgal wrack, has been suggested as a feedstock for biofuel. However, to be extracted sustainably it is necessary to understand its ecological role and predict the impacts of its removal. Field‐based observations combined with food web modelling were used to predict the ecosystem effects of removing wrack from beaches of the Uists, western Scotland. Beaches with wrack were associated with enriched benthic infauna (polychaetes) on the lower shore, and wrack mounds supported abundant macroinvertebrates (mainly Diptera larvae and oligochaetes); with some of the highest biomasses reported globally for beaches. These fauna are valuable prey to shorebirds, as demonstrated by a strong positive relationship (R2 = 0.82) between wader abundances and the percentage cover of wrack on beaches. Inshore, drifting macroalgae was associated with elevated abundances of detritivorous hyperbenthic fauna (mysids, isopods and gammarid amphipods). In addition, the volume of drifting macroalgae inshore was a significant predictor (along with physical beach characteristics) for the abundance of decapods and fish. Food web models and network analysis indicated that beaches which accumulate wrack had a greater diversity of trophic links and more functional redundancy, making their food webs more resilient to perturbations. Such perturbations may include stressors induced by climate change, such as increased erosion of sediments during storms, elevated atmospheric and sea surface temperatures and elevated CO2 concentrations. Model simulations of wrack harvesting predicted an immediate decline in primary consumers in direct proportion to the quantity of wrack removed, and a slow decline in shorebirds in response to reduced prey. Primary consumers were predicted to recover to their pre‐harvest biomasses within 1 to 2 years regardless of harvesting intensity, but recovery times for shorebirds were an order of magnitude longer, and increased with harvesting intensity. Harvesting more than 50% wrack predicted a ‘collapse’ in wader populations within 25 years, and recovery times of 45‐60 years were estimated if >70% wrack was removed. The findings of this thesis suggest wrack provides essential food and shelter to coastal fauna, and its large‐scale removal would have significant negative impacts to the ecosystem functioning.

Orientador: José Arnaldo Frutuoso Roveda / Coorientador: Admilson Írio Ribeiro / Banca: Neli Regina Siqueira Ortega / Banca: Gerson Araújo de Medeiros / Resumo: O processo de Avaliação de Impacto Ambiental (AIA) surgiu na década de 1960, nos EUA e começou a ser utilizado no Brasil, a partir da década de 1970, principalmente para fins de licenciamento ambiental. É composto por um conjunto de procedimentos utilizados para prever, recuperar e/ou mitigar os danos causados ao meio ambiente. Estudos para a otimização desse processo são feitos frequentemente de forma a buscar ferramentas que auxiliem na tomada de decisão e agilização na liberação de licenças ambientais. Os principais métodos utilizados para a previsão e avaliação de impactos são: listas de verificação, matrizes e redes de interação, superposição de mapas e modelos de simulação. Esta dissertação apresenta uma metodologia que aplica a Teoria dos Conjuntos Fuzzy para ser utilizada no processo de AIA. A intenção é mostrar uma ferramenta que auxilie na análise de impacto ambiental e/ou possibilite que a mesma seja realizada de forma mais abrangente. A partir dos parâmetros Duração, Temporalidade, Reversibilidade e Magnitude, apresentados na matriz de avaliação do Estudo de Impacto Ambiental (EIA) de um empreendimento automobilístico, construiu-se dois sistemas baseados em regras para determinar a Significância e a Relevância dos impactos. Os resultados foram bastante significativos de modo que o uso da metodologia mostrou-se bastante interessante por fazer uma análise integrada dos parâmetros, o que geralmente não acontece nos EIAs que fazem análise de forma fragmentada sem esclarecer a forma de agregação das variáveis / Abstract: The process of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) emerged in the 1960s, in US and began to be used in Brazil, from the 1970s, mainly for environmental licensing. It consists of a set of procedures used to predict, recover and / or mitigate the damage caused to the environment. Studies for the optimization of this process are often made in order to seek tools that help in decision making and speeding up the release of environmental licenses. The main methods used for prediction and assessment of impacts are: checklists, interaction matrices, interaction networks, overlay maps and simulation models. This work presents a methodology that applies the Fuzzy Set Theory to be used in the EIA process. The intention is to show a tool to assist in the environmental impact assessment and / or allows it to be carried out more widely. From the parameters: duration, temporality, reversibility and Magnitude, presented in the impact assessment matrix of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) of an automobile enterprise, was built two rules-based systems to determine the significance and relevance of impacts. The results were very significant so that the use of the methodology demonstrated much interesting to make integrated analysis of the parameters, which usually not occur in EIAs because these make analysis a fragmented way without explaining the form of aggregation of variables / Mestre

M.Sc.

M.A. / The proposal to build the Gautrain rapid-rail link between Pretoria, Johannesburg and Johannesburg International Airport was approved in June 2000 by the Gauteng Provincial Government. It was noted that this particular development could have serious environmental implications for the area involved. The aim of this research is therefore to identify the most suitable terrain in order to optimise the rail route alignment with minimal environmental impact. This will be accomplished by undertaking a terrain suitability analysis. The different high-speed railway types are discussed and their impact on the environment is considered, culminating in an evaluation of the background and status of the proposed Gautrain rapid-rail link. The different approaches to terrain evaluation are discussed in order to draw conclusions relative to the methodology used in this research. Subsequently the activity approach as described by Mitchell (1991) and Hugo et al (1997) was chosen as the methodology to use for this research and the terrain within the study area was classified according to its suitability for the development of the Gautrain rapid-rail link. A Geographic Information System (GIS) was utilised to aid in the terrain suitability analysis. As a result of the analysis an optimised route is proposed and compared to the rail routes already proposed for the Gautrain rapid-rail link. It is imperative that a terrain suitability analysis should form part of the preliminary phase of any environmental management cycle as portrayed in Fuggle & Rabie (1998), in order to identify suitable terrain for the development in question; the rapid-rail link route should be no exception.

The impacts of golf courses and golf estate developments are great and definite. Proof of this can be seen in several Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), that have been submitted to the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Conservation (GDACE) in terms of the Environmental Conservation Act (ECA) (1989) and the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) (1998). The question is how to limit these impacts on the environment. Guidelines on how to manage and mitigate these impacts are of fundamental importance, to ensure the conservation of the environment. These guidelines should set principles for the management of the environment from cradle to grave, for future golf course and golf estate developments. The main objective of this study was to develop guidelines for Environmental Management Plans (EMP) specifically focused on golf course developments in the Gauteng Province. To achieve this, a comprehensive study was conducted on the factors pertaining to the environmental process by evaluating previous EIA reports and the associated EMP’s as well as the supporting documentation. The EMP’s were evaluated and several shortfalls were identified. The EIA scoping reports were then appraised and ranked accordingly. The scoping reports assess the impacts on the environment. These impacts must be mitigated in the development process. These impacts and mitigation measures must be documented in an EMP. Hence, the connection between the EIA scoping reports and the EMP’s. Several inadequacies were recognized with respect to the inclusion of all the mitigatory measures for all the impacts as identified in the EIA scoping reports. The conclusions drawn in the evaluations were used to develop the guidelines for EMP’s. The guidelines given here will assist in future compilations of EMP’s for golf courses. It is highly recommended that GDACE and environmental consultants adopt this standard in preparing and evaluating applications. / Prof. J.T. Harmse

The purpose of the current research project was to undertake a thorough quantitative and qualitative survey of the vegetation on Ngamba Island. Based on the results of this survey suggestions are made for future management of the chimpanzees on the island. It was assumed that the introduction of chimpanzees onto an island that was previously not inhabited by this species would have an (to be defined) impact on the environment in general, and the vegetation cover, in particular. The woody vegetation was sampled and analysed using the varying quadrat plot method. This method gives the following results per (a) species, (b) stem growth form and (c) height class: 1. Canopy regime at different height levels; 2. Total projected canopy cover, and 3. Density. The results of the vegetation analysis showed that at this stage the forest structure on Ngamba Island still represents a healthy secondary rain forest cover. A major impact chimpanzees have on the woody vegetation cover of Ngamba Island is that they defoliate and destroy trees of all height classes. The number of mature trees that a parent tree produces per fruiting period might often be as little as < 1. Even though chimpanzees act as seed dispensers in their natural habitat the impressive number of seeds dispersed by each individual chimpanzee is therefore put into perspective by the very low final recruitment rate. Resulting from the above it is postulated that the impact of the Ngamba Island chimpanzees as seed dispersers for selected woody vegetation species is of low importance if not negligible. It is by far outweighed by the destruction caused to the secondary rain forest cover of the Island by this newly introduced species. Using different approaches and calculations to estimate the necessary home ranges for chimpanzees in a confined habitat the areas calculated range from 5-56 hectare per chimpanzee. Even though, there is an 11.2-fold difference between these estimates they indicate nevertheless, that Ngamba Island with an area of 42.40 ha of secondary rain forest cover and 16 adult and 17 juvenile chimpanzees is already highly overstocked. In summary the impact the newly introduced species of chimpanzees on Ngamba Island will have over time on the secondary rain forest cover of their forest refuge is that of continuing destruction. Using a rate of destruction of about 0.50 ha per chimpanzee per year the secondary rain forest cover of Ngamba Island will be completely destroyed in 53 years with a stocking density of 16 adult chimpanzees. Increasing stocking density – also through maturing of the juvenile chimpanzees currently present on the Island into a adulthood – will increase the rate of destruction of the woody vegetation cover of Ngamba Island proportionally. / Dissertation (MSc(Wild Life Management))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Animal and Wildlife Sciences / unrestricted

This research is based on reflections of various practitioners and their views on how public participation processes may or may not contribute to effective EIA decisions. It is therefore grounded in what is described as practitioner-based research. To study comparative development activities effectively, one must draw on many disciplines and construct a balanced understanding of historical and contemporary development processes. No single conventional disciplinary area of research is able to integrate the issues of public participation, EIA and decision-making in the context of the current development debate. The emergence of Trans-disciplinary areas of research allows for such integration. The Africa Earth Observatory Network (AEON) institute creates the space for this study to achieve an integrated response to the question of the effectiveness of public participation in EIA and decision-making. This further creates the opportunity to contribute and expand the growing body of knowledge and literature of public participation in the earth stewardship science discipline. Making use of triangulation, this study fulfils four major tasks: firstly, an assessment is made on the historical and theoretical importance, process and outcome of both EIA and public participation internationally and in South Africa. Secondly, three prominent case studies (i) the Coega IDZ, (ii) the Pondoland N2 Toll Road, and (iii) the anticipated Hydraulic Fracturing in the Karoo each focusses on concerns of an environmental, socio-economic, and political nature to assess if the public participation process has had influence, if any, on the final decisions for these projects to go-ahead. Thirdly, a survey was conducted to establish the views and perceptions of practitioners in the EIA and public participation domain on the effectiveness of public participation in EIA processes. Lastly, face-to-face interviews were conducted with various ‘pracademics’, i.e. consultants, practitioners, government, and non-governmental officials to establish their views on how public participation may or may not influence EIA decisions. Utilising the International Association for Public Participation’s (IAP2) participation spectrum as an evaluation tool, this research explores thirteen key criteria normally attributed to effective public participation. This provides a scale (inform, involve, consult, collaborate) to assess whether public participation in EIA in South Africa is least effective (inform) or most effective (collaborate). My research confirms that in South Africa an enabling environment to address impacts on our environment is emerging. One of the main challenges remains putting in place robust, clear and effective regulations, models or approaches that provide for effective public participation and decision-making in EIAs. My research also suggests that the legislation on which EIA is based cannot by itself guarantee the effectiveness of public participation processes. In practice, EIA is an institutional process of power division between different actors, and the practitioner or ‘pracademic’ has to play a more fundamental role to ensure effectiveness and fairness in the public participation process. Academic commentators should therefore call for new approaches that emphasise collaborative interaction between decision-makers and the public as well as deliberation amongst participants.

The aim of the study was to understand whether family businesses and non-family business differ from one another regarding green business and environmental issues. Green business issues are of global importance for the continued existence of business within the world. Businesses do not exist in isolation but within the context of the environment within which they function. Business has an impact on the environment and the environment has an impact on business. Furthermore, family businesses constitute a large part of the world economy and estimates range from 60-90 percent of GDP contributed by family businesses. In the South African context family businesses also form a significant part of the business environment. A literature study was conducted. The study identified five factors and considered each of these factors in the study. The five factors are: Green Business; Values; Stewardship; Succession; and, Stakeholders. In addition to a literature, primary research was conducted and data were collected by means of a questionnaire that collected data on the factors identified as well as some biographical information, including race, age and the sectors in which the respondents operated. The study’s findings correspond with the literature study, although no clear difference was found between family business and non-family business relating to green business and environmental issues. Family businesses do however believe that they are stewards of the environment and need to care for the environment.

M.Sc. / The establishment of conservancies and collaborative nature reserves is often promoted without understanding the impact that such initiatives have on the environment, the wildlife and landowners. This tack of knowledge has resulted in the landowners' non-awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of establishing such entities and often leads to disillusionment. A conservancy is established by informal agreement between various landowners to enhance the conservation status of a specific area without affecting the owners' individual rights. A collaborative nature reserve is established as a result of a format agreement between landowners to manage and administer their collective land as a single unit. The agreement typically addresses issues such as the management systems, the methods to be utilised for income generation, the distribution of surpluses amongst landowners and the rights and privileges applicable to the landowners. The scope of this study has been limited to the establishment of conservancies and collaborative nature reserves between game ranchers and existing game ranches. A literature study was undertaken to determine the advantages and disadvantages of establishing collaborative nature reserves, including a comparative analysis of large versus small conservation areas. Practical research was done to determine the implications, advantages, disadvantages and landowners' perceptions pertaining to the establishment of collaborative nature reserves. The practical research was done by personal observation methods as well as the use of questionnaires. An existing and successful collaborative nature reserve was studied intensively to meet these objectives. This reserve includes the land of twelve individual landowners and also forms part of a greater conservancy. The establishment of collaborative nature reserves can solve the problems created by separate game ranches, especially that of the compartmentalisation of grazing areas for game. Careful pre-planning can surmount the negative aspects of establishing collaborative !lature reserves and the advantages can be maximally utilised.