Includes bibliographical references. / Table Mountain is an inherently physical and natural landscape that also holds deep cultural meaning, symbolism and value for generations of Capetonians, past and present. The first detailed accounts and artistic representations of Table Mountain come from the early European discoverers, sailors and colonists who travelled to the Cape. These visitors, prejudiced by imperial rhetoric, were polarised in their perceptions of the Mountain between those who viewed it as a heavenly paradise and others who considered it a hellish purgatory. When science and logic eventually subdued the myths and mysteries associated with the ‘Dark Continent’ of Africa the polarised conception of Table Mountain’s cultural landscape was transformed into one of savagery and opportunity. indeed, from the sixteenth to eighteenth century, Table Mountain was effectively a microcosm for European attitudes, assumptions and evaluations of Africa. In the 1990’s Table Mountain's cultural meaning is still divided between those who seek to conserve and preserve its natural and spiritual integrity and those who believe that utilising the Mountain’s landscape as a material asset is the best means for ensuring and justifying its survival. A post-modern perspective highlights the broad range of economic, spiritual, ecological and community based values the Mountain holds for Capetonians and South Africans in general. Set against this viewpoint, Table Mountain, under the structured management of South Africa National Parks, is increasingly becoming a modernist cultural landscape governed by principles of universality, order and control. The ideological clashes that arise from these contrasting interpretations of the Mountain result in the defining characteristic of Table Mountain’s cultural landscape in the 1990’s being one of conflict and reproach. Ultimately by marrying the local and nationalised concepts within the South African landscape tradition to the broader frameworks of landscape study in wider geography, this thesis formulates an eclectic approach to studying a deeply meaningful and complex cultural landscape.

This dissertation outlines the results of a study undertaken to describe the environmental history of Vankervelsvlei, a schwingmoor-type bog near Knysna on the south coast of South Africa. The study relies heavily on the use of fossil pollen as an indicator of vegetation change from which environmental conditions are inferred. Several additional lines of evidence including sedimentological and geochemical data are used to corroborate pollen findings. The narrative of environmental change at the site has been compared with findings from other palaeoecological studies undertaken in the area. Particular reference has been made to the expansion and contraction of afromontane forest vegetation over time to add to existing knowledge of forest history in Southern Africa.

The study examines sedimentation changes on the flood tide delta in the Breede River estuary since 1942, and relates these changes in sedimentation to changes in the hydrology of the river, as a consequence of damming the river and its tributaries. Sequential aerial photography is used to determine changes in the extent of the Zostera beds on the flood delta, this being indicative of changes in the substrate sediments. Four cores were taken from the flood delta, and standard grainsize analysis techniques employed to establish the composition and characteristics of the sediments. Together with survey work and other ancillary information, these twci techniques enable description of the sedimentation changes and the present sediment dynamics on the flood tide delta. Virgin catchment runoff was simulated using two models, having rainfall data as the primary input. Simulated and actual runoff, as determined from gauge plate data, were qualitatively compared in terms of mean monthly runoff and cumulative annual runoff. This, together with an examination of temporal increases in the total volume of water impounded in the catchment, enables the impact of dams on the hydrology of the river to be determined. It is found that there has been a virtually complete annihilation of the mudflat the Zostera beds, a concomitant loss of the areas, and that the sediments presently occurring on the flood delta are almost wholly of marine origin. Temporally, these changes correlate well with increased impoundment of runoff in the catchment. It is concluded that there has been an increase in marine sedimentation on the flood tide delta, and that this change in sedimentation is directly related to and consequent upon changes in the hydrology of the river as a result of impounding catchment runoff.

The purpose of this document is to set out a comparison of the environmental impacts of the two alternative access roads to the Mohale Dam, Lesotho: the Least Cost Alternative Route (LCAR) and the Western Access Route (WAR), and to recommend a preferred alternative for construction. The analysis and comparison is couched in a theoretical framework with regard to the process, nature and function of Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) and the problems associated with implementation of the IEM process. In this report I1 set out some of the limitations and problems associated with the EIA on the access road to the Mohale Dam (LHDA Contract No 1000). I then discuss the criteria on which a selection of a preferred alternative should be made, focussing on concepts of sustainability (including ecological sustainability), provision of basic human needs, equity and social justice, and cultural diversity and self-realisation. Within the context framed by the limitations of this EIA, the report then compares the LCAR and the WAR, and makes recommendations with regard to a preferred alternative, based on this comparison. The report also provides comments and discussion on a management and monitoring plan for Phase lB of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP).

Word processed copy. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 159-175). / In this thesis I draw on experiences in a particular neighbourhood within the Lagunya townships, New Crossroads, in order to examine the realities of local government housing administration at the local scale. The New Crossroads housing allocation process illustrates the insider/outsider polemic and the ways in which complex interrelationships developed between the local authorities and the community leadership structures, between the New Crossroads community and the residents of townships surrounding them, and among the residents of the New Crossroads community themselves. Such interactions speak to the ways in which both state and community actors adopted multiple and sometimes-dissimilar identities in order to access resources such as housing and to navigate the highly politicised terrain of the townships during the BLA era.

Includes abstract. / Includes bibliographical references. / This thesis explores the management of supermarket food waste in Cape Town. In doing so it highlights both its underutilisation and its potential transition from waste to resource. Through an extended micro study of a single case study store it traces the management of food waste from the supermarket into the wider systems of waste management in the city. It then explores the barriers and potentials for managing food waste further as a resource. While recycling has increased in the city over the past decade, this thesis demonstrates that at present there does not exist a comprehensive system for the recycling of supermarket food waste, particularly non-edible and animal protein wastes. As a result most of this waste is sent to landfill where it causes environmental damage and endangers human health.

Future climate change is generally believed to lead to an increase in climate variability and inthe frequency and intensity of extreme events. Mozambique is well known for its occurrenceof severe weather and extreme climate events such as floods, tropical cyclones and droughts.Such events have serious impacts on the livelihoods of most people who often rely on subsistence agriculture.This dissertation explores possible changes in extremes in temperature and precipitation over Mozambique, based on high-resolution (25 km) simulations of the regional climate model system PRECIS (HadRM3P), forced by the ECHAM4 global mode.

Includes bibliographical references. / Small-scale fisheries are increasingly seen as complex socio-ecological systems, requiring alternative management approaches. These new approaches to natural resource management advocate the inclusion of resource users in all aspects of management, including monitoring. Research suggests that involvement of local resource users in resource monitoring is beneficial as it promotes local empowerment, community stewardship and contributes to social and resource sustainability. This study aims to contribute knowledge about the nature and effectiveness of a community-based fisheries monitoring system at the Olifants River estuary in South Africa and documents lessons learned. This research reports on the revision and revitalisation of an existing community monitoring program operating at the Olifants River estuary and presents the results of data gathered from this one year monitoring program. It also compares these results with data gathered from previous years when the monitoring system was operational. Finally, the strengths and weaknesses of the community monitoring system are discussed. A participatory research approach was followed by employing members of the Olifants River community as catch monitors and working closely with the fishers and monitors to better understand their perceptions of the strengths and weaknesses of the monitoring system. Findings of this research suggest that despite weaknesses in the community monitoring system, the data gathered provided useful information about the catch effort trends for the fishery for the year under consideration and also enabled some comparisons of selected fisheries indicators with previous data to be made. These comparisons suggest that catch per unit effort for the target species, harder (Liza richardsonii) is stable and there is no indication of overexploitation of this resource. A key weakness of the monitoring is that it is ad hoc and funding is insecure. Due to poverty levels in the community, local monitors may take up short-term employment opportunities in the community and thus neglect their monitoring responsibilities. This means that the data sets are not comprehensive. Key strengths include the fact that it is simple, cost effective and can be implemented by community members. Furthermore, local involvement in resource monitoring builds capacity and skills as well as local empowerment. Finally, this research contributes to knowledge that can inform the implementation of community monitoring programs proposed by the recently published Small-scale fishing policy of South Africa. Key Words: Small-scale fisheries; natural resource management; participation, community monitoring, local empowerment.

Climate and environmental change is a phenomenon which is having a significant effect on human-ecological systems around the world. It is predicted to have a detrimental impact on certain groups and populations; among those most at risk are those who have the highest exposure and sensitivity to the climate and environmental changes and the lowest adaptive capacity. This includes coastal fishing communities and therefore necessitates action at a variety of scales in order to build the resilience of these individuals and groups to the predicted changes and their potential impacts. Vulnerability assessments (VAs) have been identified as an effective way to discover who is most vulnerable and to what threats or hazards. This is valuable as assistance can then be provided to the individuals, groups, regions or countries identified as most vulnerable. VAs can be conducted at a variety of scales and can be either quantitative or qualitative. This research project focused on vulnerability assessments conducted at the local level. These community-scale assessments are important as they are able to elicit finer-scale details, identify the greatest hazards and stressors, and conceptualize adaptation strategies that are locally-informed, context specific and targeted towards a specific community. The focus of this research project was to first assess the vulnerability of two coastal communities in South Africa, namely Doringbaai and St Helena Bay, using a suite of mixed methods which included focus group discussions, the review of secondary data, and key informant interviews. Secondly, this project aimed to assess the potential contribution of a 'rapid vulnerability assessment' (RVA) methodology, conducted in the same two coastal fishing communities, to gain information required to identify appropriate adaptation strategies in the context of climate and environmental change. The RVA is conducted as a workshop over a two-day period and may be followed by key informant interviews on the third day, if appropriate and required. This research sought to compare and contrast the information emanating from the RVA workshops with information obtained from the triangulation of mixed methods used in this study with respect to: key threats and stressors faced by the two small-scale fishing communities, identified environmental changes, impacts of these changes on fisher livelihoods, current coping strategies and potential adaptation strategies. Criteria for assessing the performance of the two different approaches were drawn from the literature and systematically documented. The outcome of the assessment showed that the RVA has value as a VA methodology and is able to identify locally relevant, potentially viable adaptation strategies. It is an effective approach for obtaining a good overview of the vulnerabilities of a community and is thus especially useful in under-resourced and data-poor regions. The conclusion was therefore that it is an exceptionally useful tool as a starting point for vulnerability assessments but can be enriched by combining it with other methods such as the review of secondary data, focus group discussions, surveys, questionnaires and key informant interviews. Furthermore, it is recommended that the RVA includes follow-up research and focuses on flexible adaptation strategies.

Includes abstract. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 113-119). / The current understanding of the temporal and spatial distribution of clouds over southern and central Africa is poor and the regional processes governing cloud occurrence is only weakly understood. This study seeks to improve the current understanding of cloud diurnal variability over this region by providing a base-line diurnal climatology of lowlevel, mid-level and high-level cloud cover. Diurnal variations of cloudiness are examined using ten years of cloud data from latest version of the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP-D1). The broad seasonal average diurnal variability is explored across the region. Thereafter a more detailed analysis of regionally specific variability is made using a Self-Organising Map. The findings of this study are in broad agreement with previous work. Cloud over the southern and central African region shows clear spatial organisation, most significantly associated with the location of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. The diurnal variation of high-level cloud is large, closely correlated to its mean and is enhanced by orographic features. Minimum high-level cloud occurs at 1100 LST and maximum extent is reached during the evening around 1800 LST, except in locations experiencing deep convection which displayed a redevelopment of cloud in the early morning (0300 LST). This redevelopment of HLCA is hypothesised to be due to the destabilization of the upper troposphere through nighttime cloud radiative cooling. Mid-level cloud exhibits smaller diurnal variations, reaching maximum coverage at approximately 0300 LST. Clouds at this level are severely obscured by higher clouds and therefore the detected diurnal variation is due to both real and artificial signals and care needs to be taken in interpreting the results. Low-level cloud shows strong diurnal variations when not obscured by higher clouds, reaching a maximum just after midday. The results of this study are interpreted in terms of the life-cycle of deep convective cloudiness. A number of mechanisms are suggested to explain the regional differences in diurnal variations with land surface heating being the primary mechanism.