The 2.1 Ga Kedougou-Kenieba Inlier in West Africa hosts outstanding mineral wealth, with ~45 Moz of gold and 630 Mt of iron ore hosted along the Senegal-Mali Shear Zone (SMSZ). To the west of the SMSZ the Faléme’ Volcanic Belt (FVB). Detailed petrography and analysis of igneous rocks by solution lCP-MS and AES show that the FVB is comprised of calc-alkaline volcaniclastic sediments, lavas and plutonic rocks, hosts iron ore in a series of magnetite skam deposits. To the east of the SMSZ, the Kofi series is comprised of clastic sedimentary rocks and peraluminous granite plutons. Orogenic Au hosted in the Loulo-Bambadj i district of the Kofi Series (including the Gara, Yalea and Gounkoto mines) is spatially associated with epigenetic tourmaline alteration, while widespread albite alteration is associated with early stages of mineralisation in both the FVB and the Kofi Series. A >400 ppm boron soil anomaly along >100 km strike length of the SMSZ is related to widespread tourrnalinisation of sedimentary rocks in the Kofi Series. The Au deposits of the Kofi Series are characterised by a Fe-As-Cu-Au-Ag i REES-W-Ni-Te metal association. Ore assemblages are pyrite and arsenian pyrite dominated with accessory chalcopyrite, Ni-sulphides, scheelite and REE phosphates. Two distinct hydrothermal fluids were involved in Au mineralisation in the Kofi Series: 1) a moderate temperature (315-340 °C), low salinity (<10 wt. % NaCl equiv.), low density (31 gcm -3), HzO-COZ-NaCl-HZSiNz-CH4 fluid; and 2) a high temperature (up to 445 oC), hypersaline (~40 wt. % NaCl equiv.), high density (~1.3 gcm -3), H2O-CO2-NaCl+-FeCl2-B fluid. This hypersaline fluid has been interpreted as being sourced from crystallising magmatic bodies, new data presented here suggests otherwise. Stable isotope data (0, C and S from silicate, carbonate and sulphide minerals) indicate that volatiles involved in ore formation were generated through metamorphic devolatilisation reactions within the Kofi Series; this is interpreted to be the source of the low salinity fluid. Isotopically heavy delta 34 values (+25 %o) from diagenetic pyrite together with 11 B-enriched isotopic ratios in hydrothermal tourmaline (-4.6 to +19.8 %), measured by SIMS, suggest that the hypersaline fluid formed through dissolution of evaporite units formerly present in the Kofi Series. Furtheirnore, dating of magmatic zircons from nearby plutons by LA-ICP-MS shows a considerable time gap between magmatism at ~2100 Ma and mineralisation at ~2030 Ma. Fluid inclusion data from the Gounkoto deposit indicates that phase separation in the metamorphic sourced fluid was an important mechanism for ore deposition. In addition, discrete sections of the deposit exhibit evidence that partial mixing of the high salinity and low salinity end member fluids enhanced phase separation through retrograde boiling. The hypersaline fluid is widely distributed along the SMSZ, with increasing abundance toward the FVB in the west. Hypersaline inclusions at the Karakaene Ndi magnetite skam deposit in the FVB imply that the hypersaline fluid played a significant role in the development of the magnetite skarn deposit. The NaCl content allowed efficient transport of Fe to sites of ore formation in F6C120 complexes.

The 'Golden Quadrilateral' of W. Romania is a rich mineralised magmatic province hosting major porphyry-Cu and epithermal Au-Ag deposits. The mineralisation is associated with extensive magmatism emplaced along a series of NW-SE trending pull-part basins (e.g. Brad-Sacaramb, Rosia Montana). These basins developed during the Miocene, owing to the opposite sense rotation of the ALCAPA and Tisza-Dacia micro-continents, which facilitated extension-related melting of the subduction modified sub-continental lithospheric mantle. The largest of these basins, the Brad-Sacaramb basin contains extensive calc-alkaline, amphibole-rich, porphyritic andesite and dacite volcanics and sub-volcanic intrusions. LA-ICP-MS U-Pb analysis of zircons indicate that these magmatic rocks were emplaced during the Mid-Miocene 9.7 - 13.1 Ma. The rocks display a temporal geochemical evolution from early "normal" island arc magmatism (13.0 - 11.3 Ma) to adakite-like, characterised by high Sr/Y and La/Yb ratios, emplaced after 11.4 Ma. This shift in the geochemistry resulted from the cessation of plagioclase fractional crystalisation in the adakite-like magmas, coupled with the onset of amphibole crystalisation in the lower crustal MASH zone, which depleted the melts in MREEE-HREE. This change in the crystalising assemblage may have related to an increase in the dissolved water content of the melts. High zircon Ce/CE[sup]* (Ce[sup]4+/Ce[sup]3+) and less negative Eu/Eu[sup]* indicate that the high water content of these melts was accompanies by highly oxidising conditions. These conditions may have been important in preventing early sulfide saturation, a process considered to be unfavourable for the formation of economic Au and Cu deposits. K-Ar analysis from hydrothermal illites indicate that lo low to intermediate sulfidation epithermal and porphyry-Cu mineralisation in the Brad-Sacaramb basin occurred between 9.7 and 12.3 Ma. The epithermal deposits typcially developed < 0.5 Myrs after the cessation of magmatism in the immediate vicinity. One of the most prospective deposits in the basin is the Coranda-Hondol deposit (~4.8 Moz at 1.4 g/t Au). Coranda-Hondol is a telluride-rice, intermediate sulfidication Au-Ag deposit, hosted by a series of andesitic stocks (emplaced ~12.6 Ma) and siliciclastic sedimentary formation. The deposit displays a variety of mineralisation styles with pervasive pyrite dissemenations and base-metal sulfide and sulfosalt-telluride -rich veinlets. Microthermonetry of fluid inclusions indicate that the mineralisation was facilitated by a dilute (<10 wt% NaCl) low temperature (~250[degrees]C) fluid. Stable isotopes ([delta][sup]18O[sub]fluid: 6.1 - 9.4 [parts per thousand], [delta]D[sub]fluid: -39.8 - -74.3) support a magmatic source for the fluid which mixed with meteoric waters during the waning stages of the hydrothermal system ([delta][sup]18O[sub]fluid: -0.3 - 1.6). Boiling of the ore fluid during brecciation events triggered the precious metal mineralisation. The Au is predominately hosted within the crystal lattice of textual complex and isotopicalle light ([delta][sup]34S: -19/4 - -6.5 [parts per thousand]) colloform pyrite grains (up to ~450 ppm) developed within these boiling zones.

Societies in the world have been struggling to redefine ways to general prosperity, although a general interest in a more human world order is constant. At the same time, cooperatives operate as privately owned for-profit enterprises having social purpose as their primary objective. The aim of this research is to investigate the potential of achieving sustainable development in enterprises operating under the cooperative principles to bring about human development and environmental improvement. The paradigm suggests interactions among environmental performance, economic results, social benefits and the ethical cooperative principles. Information on more than 1,500 coops was gathered in the EU countries of Croatia and Slovenia, and in one non-EU country Bosnia-Herzegovina and a survey was carried out among coops that were commercially active over a 12-year period from 2002-2013. After deploying the survey via email and through structured telephone interviews, statistical analysis was completed on randomly chosen 100 coops. The results support the main research hypotheses. First, the union of environmental performance and cooperative principles (EP&CP) confirm the existence of a relationship with the economic results. Secondly, the combination of environmental performance and cooperative principles (EP&CP) also indicate a relationship with social benefits. Above all, it is concluded that better results in economic and social benefits are gained in the group having positive Environmental Performance and Cooperative Principles (positive EP&CP) compared to the group where positive only EP was observed. This generally indicates the important contribution of Cooperative Principles to Sustainable Development. Using the survey data an innovative Cooperative Sustainability Index (CSI) has been produced as composite indicator measuring the success in applying ethical elements within two dimensions: the cooperative principles dimension and the environmental. Slovenia has the highest ranking score; Croatia shows less success at the second position; Bosnia Herzegovina has the weakest results. Sustainable development conditions across the Eastern Adriatic region demonstrate an interesting diversity in the environmental sustainability results among the states, but to a certain extent there are similarities as far as social and economic conditions are concerned. Paradoxically, socialism damaged social enterprises like coops in the post-WWII period in the Eastern Adriatic. This occurred not only because the socialist governments misinterpreted cooperative principles, but above all because democratic organisations like coops in a non-democratic society challenge the ethical orthodoxy. In the last few decades, the recovery of coops has varied according to their geographical location. As demonstrated, coops mostly positively prevent contemporary environmental degradation of the world’s resources but also positively contribute to economic and social issues; this puts them in an important position to reduce the inequalities produced by contemporary authoritarian capitalism across the world. In this sense, the first Cooperative Sustainability Index will find its future application and usefulness.

The study attempts to investigate the availability, accessibility and utilization of health care services in a rural area. The study has been conducted in one of the rural areas (Ndwedwe) in the Province of KwaZulu Natal (Durban) near the town called Verulam. The Ndwedwe area consists of a population of about 170 000 and the number of households is hard even to estimate because of the geographical setting of the area. The study has been conducted at the centre of the entire area called Ndwedwe central w!:lere the Ndwedwe municipality is located. Most of the people spend most of the time in this area because it has most of the services that are needed by the community. The questionnaires administered and the interviews conducted were systematic because in all the sixteen areas, interviews were conducted (at least two ihterview encounters in one area consisting of the entire Ndwedwe area) and questionnaires were administered the same way. The findings show that the majority of people in the Ndwedwe area do not have enough health care service institutions and the very services are not equally and evenly distributed amongst areas that constitute the entire Ndwedwe area. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Durban-Westville, 2002

Thesis (DPhil (Geography and Environmental Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The rapid growth of tourism, particularly heritage tourism, in South Africa is leading to a detrimental impact on heritage resources. Part of the problem lies in the lack of knowledge visitors have of the significance and vulnerability of the resources they are engaging with. Another part of the problem is the inherent conflict between the heritage tourism sector and the heritage management sector. Whilst sharing the same resource base, each sector has very different aims. Tourism seeks to exploit heritage resources, whilst heritage management seeks to conserve them. These problems are not necessarily restricted to South Africa and the study of its nature and extent is here limited to the Little Karoo. The Little Karoo is defined in this dissertation as the area in the Western Cape bounded by the Langeberg and Outeniqua Mountains in the south, and the Swartberg in the north. It includes the towns of Montagu, Barrydale, Ladismith, Amalienstein, Zoar, Calitzdorp, Van Wyksdorp, Oudtshoorn, Dysselsdorp, De Rust and Herold. Of importance to this research is the fact that the Little Karoo can be accessed by a variety of passes, poorts and kloofs. This study has been undertaken in order to explore a non-empirical solution to the problem of the human impact on heritage resources through their thematic interpretation and presentation. This research also aims to improve the relationship between the tourism and heritage industries by introducing a shared terminology in the form of a model or framework. This framework is a way of organising and presenting the heritage story in such a way that both heritage tourism and heritage managers (and other stakeholders) can understand. The aim of the study is to devise a mechanism with which to identify, organise, interpret and present heritage resources in a thematic manner. The resulting thematic framework will hopefully enrich the heritage experience of visitors to heritage sites while providing guidance as to the vulnerability of heritage resources. A secondary objective is to develop common terminology for the heritage tourism and heritage management communities. The intent is to improve the relationship between these two sectors and thereby mitigate further damage to heritage resources. Data for this study was collected from several empirical sources. Extant and primary data was accessed. Extant data came from the pertinent published sources, while primary data was collected via a combination of personal and group face-to-face semi-structured interviews and personal observation of heritage sites in the Little Karoo during 2003 and 2004. The main outcome of this research was the development of a South African Heritage Tourism Thematic Framework (SAHTTF). The SAHTTF is, in part, based on and inspired by frameworks from the United States, Australia, Canada and South Africa. There are three tiers within the framework: theme groups, themes and sub-themes. The framework is intended to be flexible and the three tiers can be mixed and matched in whatever way best serves the story of the heritage resource in question. The five theme groups are: Development of the environment; Peopling our land; Way of life; Governing South Africa and Developing South Africa. The whole story of South Africa can be organised and presented using this framework. However, in order to keep this study within reasonable limits, the focus of the story was limited to the heritage story of the Little Karoo. The case studies of the Cango Caves, Cogmans Kloof, Swartberg Pass and Seweweeks Poort tested the effectiveness of the SAHTTF. It is recommended that the SAHTTF be presented to the heritage tourism and heritage management sectors for further evaluation and testing. This research has proved that the SAHTTF can be an effective tool in the identification, organization, interpretation and presentation of heritage resources. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die snelle groei van toerisme, veral erfnistoerisme, in Suid-Afrika het tot gevolg dat erfnisbronne onder groot druk geplaas word. Die probleem is deels dat besoekers geen of weinig kennis dra van die kwesbaarheid en belangrikheid van die bronne waarmee hulle handel. Verder is die probleem die belangebotsing tussen erfnistoerisme en erfnisbestuur sektore. Toerisme verbruik erfnisbronne, terwyl erfnisbestuur poog om dit te bewaar. Hierdie probleem is egter nie noodwendig eie aan Suid-Afrika nie en vir die doeleindes van dié studie word die omvang en aard daarvan slegs in die Klein Karoo ondersoek. Die Klein Karoo word beskou as die gebied in die Westelike Provinsie wat in die suide deur die Langeberge en Outenikwaberge en in die noorde deur die Swartberge begrens word. Dit omsluit die dorpe Montagu, Barrydale, Ladismith, Amalienstein, Zoar, Calitzdorp, Vanwyksdorp, Oudtshoorn, Dysselsdorp, De Rust en Herold. Die Klein Karoo kan deur talle passe, poorte en klowe bereik word – die belangrike feit wat in hierdie studie ontgin word. Die navorsing is onderneem ten einde 'n nie-empiriese oplossing vir die impak van die mens op erfnisbronne deur tematiese interpretasie en voorstelling te vind. Dit beoog om die verhouding tussen die bedryf van erfnistoerisme en erfnisbestuur te bestendig deur gedeelde terminologie in die vorm van 'n model of raamwerk. Hierdie raamwerk bied 'n metode om die verhale van erfnis so aan te bied dat beide die bedrywers van erfnistoerisme en -bestuur begrip daarvoor kan ontwikkel. Die doel van die navorsing is om 'n meganisme te vind waardeur die erfnisbronne op 'n tematiese wyse geïdentifiseer, georganiseer, vertolk en aangebied kan word. Hierdie tematiese raamwerk sal hopelik besoekers se ervaring van erfnisbronne verryk en leiding gee rakende die kwesbaarheid van terreine. Data vir die navorsing is uit verskeie empiriese bronne versamel. Bestaande en primêre data is gebruik. Bestaande data was afkomstig van toepaslike publikasies en primêre data is versamel en ingewin via 'n kombinasie van individuele en groepsonderhoude deur middel van semigestruktureerde onderhoude, asook persoonlike waarneming van verskillende erfnisterrreine in die Klein Karoo tussen 2003 en 2004. Die belangrikste opbrengs uit die navorsing is die ontwikkeling van 'n Suid-Afrikanse Erfnistoerisme Tematiese Raamwerk (South Afican Heritage Tourism Thematic Framework – SAHTTF). Die SAHTTF is deels gebaseer op, en geïnspireer deur, soortgelyke raamwerke in die VSA, Australië, Kanada en Suid-Afrika. Daar is drie vlakke in die raamwerk: tematiese groepe, temas en sub-temas. Die raamwerk is aanpasbaar en die drie vlakke kan in enige kombinasie gebruik word om die verhaal of geskiedenis van die betrokke bron ten beste voor te stel. Die vyf tematiese groepe is: Onwikkeling van die omgewing; Bevolking van ons land; Lewenswyses; Regering van Suid-Afrika; en Ontwikkeling van Suid-Afrika. Die hele erfnisverhaal van Suid-Afrika kan georganiseer en voorgestel word deur dié raamwerk. Ten einde hierdie navorsing hanteerbaar te hou, is op die erfnisverhaal van die Klein Karoo gekonsentreer. As gevallestudies het die Kangogrotte, Kogmanskloof, Swartbergpas en Seweweekspoort as toets vir die doeltreffendheid van die raamwerk gedien. Die navorsing beveel aan dat die SAHTTF aan die beheerstrukture van erfnistoerisme en erfnisbestuur voorgelê word vir verdere evaluering en toetsing. Die navorsing het bevind dat die SAHTTF 'n doeltreffende instrument kan wees in die identifisering, organisering, vertolking en voorstelling van ons erfnis bronne.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Floods have been identified as one of the major natural hazards occurring in South Africa. A disaster risk assessment forms the first phase in planning for effective disaster risk management through identifying and assessing all hazards that occur within a geographical area, as required by the Disaster Management Act (Act No. 57 of 2002). The National Water Act (Act No. 36 of 1998) requires that flood lines be determined for areas where high risk dams exist and where new town developments occur. However, very few flood hazard maps exist in South Africa for rural areas. The data required for flood modelling analysis is very limited, particularly in rural areas. This study investigated whether flood hazard maps can be created using the existing data sources. A literature review of flood modelling methodologies, data requirements and flood hazard mapping was carried out and an assessment of all available flood-related data sources in South Africa was made. The most appropriate data sources were identified and used to assess an evaluation site. Through combining GIS and hydraulic modelling, results were obtained that indicate the likely extent, frequency and depth of predicted flood events. The results indicate that hydraulic modelling can be performed using the existing data sources but that not enough data is available for calibrating and validating the model. The limitations of the available data are discussed and recommendations for the collection of better data are provided. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vloede is van die vernaamste natuurlike gevare wat in Suid-Afrika voorkom. 'n Ramprisiko-analise is die eerste stap in die proses van suksesvolle ramprisiko-beplanning deur middel van die identifisering en analise van alle gevare wat voorkom in 'n geografiese gebied, soos vereis deur die Rampbestuurwet (Wet 57 van 2002). Die Nasionale Waterwet (Wet 36 van 1998) bepaal dat vloedlyne slegs vir gebiede waar hoë-risiko damme voorkom en vir nuwe uitbreidingsplanne in dorpe vasgestel moet word. Egter is die data wat vir vloedmodelleringsanalises benodig word baie skaars in Suid-Afrikaanse landelike gebiede. Hierdie studie het ondersoek of vloedgevaar-kartering met die beskikbare data moontlik is. 'n Literatuurstudie oor vloedmodelleringsmetodologieë, data-vereistes en vloedgevaarkartering is voltooi en alle beskikbare vloed-verwante data in Suid-Afrika is geëvalueer. Geskikte data-bronne is gekies en gebruik om 'n toetsgebied te assesseer. Deur GIS en hidrouliese modellering te kombineer, is die omvang, waarskynlikheid en diepte van die voorspelde vloedgebeurtenisse gemodelleer. Die studie het bevind dat, alhoewel vloedgevaarkartering met die beskikbare data moontlik is, daar nie genoeg data beskikbaar is om die model te kalibreer en te valideer nie. Tekortkominge van die bestaande data word bespreek en aanbevelings oor die verbetering van die bestaande data vir toepassings in vloedgevaarkartering word gemaak.

Thesis (MA (Geography and Environmental Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / Agricultural production has become vital to the Sandveld, of which Verlorenvlei is a part, in terms of both economic growth and food security. It is well documented as an area under threat of severe natural resource depletion if it is not well managed with sustainability in mind. Agricultural production, other human-driven development and the survival of the local ecosystems compete for the limited water resources. This study uses the SWAT hydrological model to simulate the transport of water through the catchment area. ArcSWAT, a third-party software extension to ArcGIS, is used as an interface between ArcGIS and the SWAT model. Spatial data (DEM, soil and landuse) is used in the preprocessing phase and fed into the SWAT model through the interface. Daily climate data were sourced and prepared according to the SWAT model’s input requirements. Considerable effort was required to fill temporal and spatial gaps in available climate data, and to infer certain unmeasured climate variables from other measurements (e.g. infer solar radiation from daylight hours, time of the year and latitude). The SWAT hydrological model was then run. The model results compared favourably to measured flow data. The study recommends building on from this first step using the SWAT hydrological model to simulate future land use scenarios for the catchment area.

Thesis (MSc (Geography and Environmental Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / Botswana, a developing country in southern Africa, has not been spared the proliferating scourge of traffic accidents that is sweeping across the world. After HIV/AIDS, traffic accidents are the second largest cause of unnatural deaths in Botswana. The country is losing two per cent of its GDP every year to traffic accident costs. Furthermore, road safety is one of the major challenges the country will have to overcome in order to achieve its Vision 2016. This study investigates traffic accidents in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana, for the years 2000 and 2005. The study analyses the characteristics of traffic accidents, examines their causes, maps the spatial distribution of traffic accidents for 2000 and 2005, and outlines the countermeasures government is instituting to curb accidents. The main data on traffic accidents used was extracted from the microcomputer accidents analysis package V5.0 (MAAP 5) obtained from the Traffic Police Division. Semi-structured interviews with transport and safety officers, traffic police and other stakeholders were conducted. The interviews were mainly about what government is doing to reduce the carnage caused by traffic accidents. Existing reports were also used as data sources. Microsoft Excel and ArcGIS 9.1 packages were used to do the analyses. The road casualties of drivers/riders are concentrated in the economically active age category of 15-64 years (95% for all casualties). In particular, the casualties are very high in the 20-39 age cohort with one third and three quarters of all casualties for 2000 and 2005 respectively. In addition, driver casualties by gender for the 20-39 age cohort show a high representation of males, namely 57% and 64% for 2000 and 2005 respectively.

Thesis (MSc (Geography and Environmental Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / The morphological form of South African cities is deemed inefficient and fragmented. Much of the current structure has been shaped by i) the political history of the country, with major influences from the colonial and apartheid eras; and ii) suburban sprawl influenced by the use of private vehicles. This presents obstacles to the sustainable and equitable development of our cities. Since the 1990s, efforts have been made to change the development of the country in order to accommodate previously disenfranchised communities through processes of reconstruction and development. Among these efforts are policies and frameworks aimed at guiding the development and growth of cities. Among the many approaches that have been identified are land use strategies, with the central focus of promoting densification and intensification of urban development. Emphasis on densification in certain public transport corridors and decentralised nodes are in general regarded as urban restructuring elements necessary to transform South African cities into efficient and sustainable areas. However, analytical tools that can explore the possibilities and limits of public transport-orientated development are scarce at present. The University of Utrecht in the Netherlands has developed an analytical model referred to as the node-place model, which can be used to profile nodes and to determine their (re)development potential. This study makes a contribution towards efforts to support the densification concept in general and nodal intensification in particular by applying the node-place model to a selection of railway stations in the Cape Town metropolitan area in order to identify appropriate land use developments to enhance their potential. The model was found to be a useful mechanism for comparing nodes within a transport system for purposes of informing decisions regarding how the nodes should be developed. However, the model requires more accurate and disaggregated data than is generally available for the Cape Town area.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study traces some of the causes and effects of land degradation in Mutale since it is an environmentally challenging issue associated with depletion of resources. The degradation conditions identified by the Provincial Department of Agriculture in the Northern Province support the aims of this study. Based on information obtained from the physical survey of the area and through questionnaires and interviews with the local people, it is evident that the environmental conditions of Mutale district have worsened due to the influence of land usage. From the survey made, the physical conditions are shown to be in a state of decline and to impact negatively on the soil and vegetation. The perceptions of the local community regarding physical change revealed that a variety of activities such as gathering fuel wood, fencing, stocking, and cultivating fields, influence each other and exacerbate the encroachment of degradation conditions. Stock worsens the conditions through uncontrolled grazing associated with lack of grazing camps, trampling, and overgrazing. Extension of fields, residential areas, and inescapable massive harvesting of bush for different purposes are seen as further causes of the worsening state of the environment. In the past attempts were made to curb the environmental decline, but such conservation measures were not fruitful enough as they changed from time to time and land users were alienated from land on which they depended. The present study recommends the implementation of LandCare, a programme that the Department of Agriculture has adopted in other parts of the country, as a possible solution to some of the environmental problems, and as a conservation measure. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie ondersoek sommige van die oorsake en gevolge van omgewingsdegradasie by Mutale, omdat dit 'n omgewings-uitdagende kwessie is wat met die uitputting van hulpbronne in verband staan. Die degradasietoestande wat deur die Provinsiale Landboudepartmente in die Noordelike Provinsie geïdentifiseer is, bied ondersteuning aan die doelstellings van hierdie studie. Vanuit die inligting wat deur middel van 'n empiriese ondersoek in die gebied en deur vraelyste en onderhoude met die plaaslike mense verkry is, is dit duidelik dat omgewingstoestande in die Mutale distrik vanweë die manier van grondgebruik verswak het. Vanuit die ondersoek wat gedoen is, word aangetoon dat fisiese toestande agteruitgaan en 'n negatiewe impak op die grond en plantegroei het. Waarneming deur die plaaslike gemeenskap met betrekking tot fisiese verandering dui aan dat 'n verskeidenheid aktiwiteite, soos die versameling van brandhout, bou van heinings, aanhou van vee en bewerking van landerye mekaar affekteer en die toename van die degradasietoestande veroorsaak. Vee vererger verder die toestande deur onbeheerde weiding wat verband hou met die gebrek aan weidingskampe. Die onafwendbare en grootskaalse afkap van die bos vir 'n verskeidenheid doeleindes word beskou as verdere oorsake van die toestand waarin die omweging verkeer. Pogings is in die verlede aangewend om die agteruitgang van die omgewing te keer, maar die bewaringsmaatreëls het nie genoeg vrug afgewerp nie, daar hulle van tyd tot tyd gewysig IS en die grondeienaars vervreemd geraak het van die grond waarvan hulle afhanklik was. Hierdie ondersoek beveel aan dat "LandCare", 'n program wat deur die Departement van Landbou vir ander dele van die land goedgekeur is, as ' n moontlike oplossing vir sommige van die omgewingsprobleme en as bewaringsmaatreël toegepas word.