The "throwaway society" and the resulting effect on the environment combined with the exploitation of natural resources have resulted in a global environmental crisis. As a response to this crisis a concept developed that is known as sustainable development (SD). The concept of SD that is accepted world-wide is guided by a set of principles (Agenda 21) that had been officially launched at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. After the 1994 political transition in South Africa the government implemented widespread environmental policy and law reforms as a response to the global environmental crisis and the global trend towards SD. This study was undertaken to assess the existing environmental management (EM) principles within environmental policy and law in South Africa. EM in South Africa operates within the framework of Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) but it was discovered during the study that there are not only one set of EM principles but a few within South African environmental policy and law. This study attempted to identify and sort these different sets of principles and then to measure it against the international standard of Agenda 21. It was concluded that EM in South Africa within the framework of IEM is an adequate response to the world-wide trend towards SD. Unfortunately the outcome that was hoped for in South Africa was slower than anticipated. It didn't seem as if the environmental law and policy reforms had an impact at grassroots level. Two possible scenarios were presented (1) it's failure to be effectively implemented at grassroots level or (2) that the principles of SD in itself are unsound and therefore ineffective. It was concluded that some of the normative assumptions of SD are unsound and contribute to the environmental crisis. The approach of Christian stewardship was presented as a possible alternative. / Thesis (M. Environmental Science)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

Social lmpact Assessment is a relatively new field of study in South Africa and abroad. It is dynamic and constantly changes as it develops. Current literature indicates that there is a need for SIA to be done through all phases of the project life cycle. The assumption made in this study is that this is not happening in practice. This study investigated the current practices in South Africa. Six case studies were analysed. The results confirmed the assumptions. The case studies were measured against the principles of Social lrnpact Assessment, lntegrated Environmental Management and Social Development. The main recommendations are that Social lmpact Assessments should be conducted throughout the Project Life Cycle and be initiated as early in the planning phase as possible. It is recommended that Social lmpact Practitioners should be exposed to the Social Development approach as these two philosophies could enhance each other. Social Impact Assessment forms part of the Integrated Environmental Management tools, and shouldn't be treated as a snapshot assessment, but as a process. Only when treated as a process, it can truly contribute to sustainable development. / Thesis (M. Environmental Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

An Environmental Management Plan (EMP) details mitigation measures and monitoring thereof as well management of the whole project implementation. As a management tool, the concept of an EMP was developed to ensure proper environmental management throughout the life-cycle of a development project. Despite EMPs having been in existence for quite some considerable period, environmental damage still persists. Furthermore, the environmental legislation of different countries and in particular South Africa does not use/make development of an EMP a specific requirement. This has implications on a number of issues such as EMP purpose, EMP implementation and the whole rationale behind an EMP. The motivation to investigate EMPs stemmed from a discussion I had with Dr Quinn, my supervisor, about my research proposal. He mentioned EMPs and encouraged me to investigate further. A review of literature about EMPs revealed the importance of EMPs in Integrated Environmental Management (IEM). A lot of questions arose as I was reading: • Are the provincial departments actually doing what is said in the literature? • Does the current use of EMPs achieve its purpose? • What is the whole rationale behind EMPs? • How are they implemented internationally and nationally? • What are the problems affecting EMP implementation? • How can the current situation be improved? As these questions came into my mind I thought the best way of discovering problems and solutions with respect to EMP implementation is to actually work with people whom I thought are knowledgeable about the subject. I then chose environmental authorities as the professionals who review EMPs and environmental consultants as the professionals who prepare EMPs as respondents. I hope some of the strategies suggested here will be implemented by the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs (DAEA) as the relevant authority in terms of section 22 of Environment Conservation Act (ECA) No. 73 of 1989. DAEA requests EMPs to be submitted as part of the conditions of approval when authorizing projects in terms of the ECA of 1989. If submitted, DAEA is also responsible for assessing and authorizing EMPs. I also hope that in the future there will be a study to investigate any improvements in the EMP implementation. This dissertation is presented in two parts, Component A and Component B. Component A includes the theoretical underpinnings for the results and Component B includes the analysis. Component A consists of the three chapters which are; the introduction, the literature review and the methods and conceptual framework used for the study. The referencing system used in this component complies with the Harvard System. Component B is written in preparation for submission to the Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal Journal but the format is in keeping with Component A. However, the referencing system used in this component complies with the journal requirements. The abstract has been placed at the beginning of component B as per the requirements of the journal. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004

With the increasing demands that human beings place on the environment, a concerted effort needs to be made to ensure that the environment is conserved and utilised in a sustainable manner. Therefore, it is imperative that all development actions be carefully scrutinised. The Integrated Environmental Management process may be just the process to address such development problems. The IEM process aims not only to identify those activities that would have excessively negative impacts on the environment it also looks at proposing alternative development strategies that may reduce the environmental impact of development. A tool which is being well received as being able to assist in such decision making is a Geographic Information System (GIS). The most suitable location for road networks that would have least environmental impact within the Eastern Shores State Forest, KwaZuluNatal, were determined by implementing the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) along with Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) process within real-time GIS. The location of road networks is a fundamental aspect of development due to the many negative impacts they may have on the environment. The AHP not only aided in identifying all the elements required to make a decision more accurately. It also allowed one to recognise the interrelationship between the various elements. The biggest advantage however, of using this model is that it allowed for the establishment of relative mathematically-based weights for the criteria. This effectively aided in identifying which of the vegetation types (ie. wetlands, swamp forest, grasslands, wetlands and coastal forest and thicket) in view of environmental consultants and ecologists would be most conducive to development. In so doing minimising the impact of the development. iii The MCE provided the ideal tool to incorporate these relative weights in order to combine them to arrive at an image that contained all the relative weights of all the various factors. A spatial database was constructed and a number of relevant images developed, using various GIS techniques. From these images it was possible to determine the most suitable locations for road networks within the Eastern Shores State Forest. Particular attention was focused on how GIS may be integrated within the IEM process. It was found that GIS could not only accurately determine where development should take place, but also established that it is an effective tool for aiding in the decision making process by providing accurate detailed maps of the area proposed for development. The success and overall simplicity of the procedure in this study suggests that GIS would be valuable to the IEM process. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.

The "throwaway society" and the resulting effect on the environment combined with the exploitation of natural resources have resulted in a global environmental crisis. As a response to this crisis a concept developed that is known as sustainable development (SD). The concept of SD that is accepted world-wide is guided by a set of principles (Agenda 21) that had been officially launched at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. After the 1994 political transition in South Africa the government implemented widespread environmental policy and law reforms as a response to the global environmental crisis and the global trend towards SD. This study was undertaken to assess the existing environmental management (EM) principles within environmental policy and law in South Africa. EM in South Africa operates within the framework of Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) but it was discovered during the study that there are not only one set of EM principles but a few within South African environmental policy and law. This study attempted to identify and sort these different sets of principles and then to measure it against the international standard of Agenda 21. It was concluded that EM in South Africa within the framework of IEM is an adequate response to the world-wide trend towards SD. Unfortunately the outcome that was hoped for in South Africa was slower than anticipated. It didn't seem as if the environmental law and policy reforms had an impact at grassroots level. Two possible scenarios were presented (1) it's failure to be effectively implemented at grassroots level or (2) that the principles of SD in itself are unsound and therefore ineffective. It was concluded that some of the normative assumptions of SD are unsound and contribute to the environmental crisis. The approach of Christian stewardship was presented as a possible alternative. / Thesis (M. Environmental Science)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

Social lmpact Assessment is a relatively new field of study in South Africa and abroad. It is dynamic and constantly changes as it develops. Current literature indicates that there is a need for SIA to be done through all phases of the project life cycle. The assumption made in this study is that this is not happening in practice. This study investigated the current practices in South Africa. Six case studies were analysed. The results confirmed the assumptions. The case studies were measured against the principles of Social lrnpact Assessment, lntegrated Environmental Management and Social Development. The main recommendations are that Social lmpact Assessments should be conducted throughout the Project Life Cycle and be initiated as early in the planning phase as possible. It is recommended that Social lmpact Practitioners should be exposed to the Social Development approach as these two philosophies could enhance each other. Social Impact Assessment forms part of the Integrated Environmental Management tools, and shouldn't be treated as a snapshot assessment, but as a process. Only when treated as a process, it can truly contribute to sustainable development. / Thesis (M. Environmental Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

Within the Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) process, Environmental Assessment Practitioners are expected to gather information or evidence in order to formulate decisions on the suitability of development projects as it relates to the environment which takes the form of an Environmental Impact Assessment. The EIA decision-making framework relies mainly on a technocratic-, rationalist or technical-rational approach, which is based largely on cognitive or scientific knowledge. This over-reliance on scientific evidence (evidence-based knowledge) limits the level to which non-scientific evidence (value-based knowledge) is incorporated into the EIA decision-making framework. There is a concern that an over-reliance on evidence-based decision-making will lead to valuable information being overlooked or ignored, resulting in a skewed and fragmented process which could fail in ensuring environmental justice for the citizens of South Africa. The overall methodological approach that was used to achieve the aim and objectives of this study was of a qualitative nature, relying on three main methods, including document analysis, expert interviews and focus group meetings. The literature review provided six thematic areas of interest which was further elaborated during the thematic analysis of the data. One of the key findings of this research was that although the South African legislative framework makes provision for value-based decision-making processes, the EIA decision-making framework in particular is too rigid to incorporate non-scientific knowledge or value-based evidence. The need to shorten the EIA decision-making timeframes to allow for social and economic development in addition other challenges facing the IEM field can also attributed to an over-reliance on a formulaic tick-box approach which limits the incorporation of value-based decision-making in the EIA decision-making process. / Mini Dissertation (MA) University of Pretoria, 2018. / Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology / MA / Unrestricted

Summaries in English and Afrikaans / Titles in English and Afrikaans / Text in Afrikaans / Die Suid-Afrikaanse omgewingsreg kry sy grondslag in velerlei statute, waarvan die Wet op Omgewingsbewaring van 1989 die belangrikste is. Die staat is tans besig om hierdie wet en die Geintegreerde Omgewingsbestuursbeleid in lyn te bring met die - Grondwet van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika van 1996. Dit word onder meer gedoen deur regulasies wat ingevolge die Wet op Omgewingsbewaring afgekondig is, die Witskrif op 'n Omgewingsbeleid vir Suid-Afrika, die Witskrif oor Bewaring en Volhoubare Gebruik van Suid-Afrika se Biologiese Diversiteit, ensovoorts. Hierdie beleidsaanpassing beoog om ontwikkeling op 'n volhoubare wyse te laat geskied, wat ook rekening hou met die ekonomiese werklikhede van Suid-Afrika, soos verwoord in die Heropbou en Ontwikkelingsprogram. Voordeel kan daaruit getrek word deur te kyk na die pad wat volhoubare ontwikkeling in lndie, as 'n ontwikkelende land, gevolg het / South African environmental law derives its foundation from various statutes, of which the Environment Conservation Act of 1989 is the most important. The state is currently in the process of bringing this Act and the Integrated Environmental Management Policy in line with the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996. This is done by, inter a/ia, the regulations which have been promulgated in terms of the Environment Conservation Act, the White Paper on an Environmental Policy for South Africa, the White Paper on Conservation and Sustainable Use of the Biological Diversity of South Africa, et cetera. This adaptation in policy is directed towards sustainable development, which will also take into account the economic realities of South Africa as set out in the Reconstruction and Development Programme. Benefit may be derived from observing the path of sustainable development in India as a developing country. / Law / LL.M.

Summaries in English and Afrikaans / Titles in English and Afrikaans / Text in Afrikaans / Die Suid-Afrikaanse omgewingsreg kry sy grondslag in velerlei statute, waarvan die Wet op Omgewingsbewaring van 1989 die belangrikste is. Die staat is tans besig om hierdie wet en die Geintegreerde Omgewingsbestuursbeleid in lyn te bring met die - Grondwet van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika van 1996. Dit word onder meer gedoen deur regulasies wat ingevolge die Wet op Omgewingsbewaring afgekondig is, die Witskrif op 'n Omgewingsbeleid vir Suid-Afrika, die Witskrif oor Bewaring en Volhoubare Gebruik van Suid-Afrika se Biologiese Diversiteit, ensovoorts. Hierdie beleidsaanpassing beoog om ontwikkeling op 'n volhoubare wyse te laat geskied, wat ook rekening hou met die ekonomiese werklikhede van Suid-Afrika, soos verwoord in die Heropbou en Ontwikkelingsprogram. Voordeel kan daaruit getrek word deur te kyk na die pad wat volhoubare ontwikkeling in lndie, as 'n ontwikkelende land, gevolg het / South African environmental law derives its foundation from various statutes, of which the Environment Conservation Act of 1989 is the most important. The state is currently in the process of bringing this Act and the Integrated Environmental Management Policy in line with the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996. This is done by, inter a/ia, the regulations which have been promulgated in terms of the Environment Conservation Act, the White Paper on an Environmental Policy for South Africa, the White Paper on Conservation and Sustainable Use of the Biological Diversity of South Africa, et cetera. This adaptation in policy is directed towards sustainable development, which will also take into account the economic realities of South Africa as set out in the Reconstruction and Development Programme. Benefit may be derived from observing the path of sustainable development in India as a developing country. / Law / LL.M.

This dissertation addresses the problem of how to manage environmental resources to improve the prospects that resource allocation activities will make the greatest possible contribution to social well-being. The study had two major aims. One aim was to provide a rational philosophical framework for guiding resource evaluation and decisionmaking processes. The second - and principal - aim was to develop a reliable and practical method for evaluating those resource allocation proposals which are particularly controversial. As part of the philosophical framework, a modification of the social welfare function is specified which explicitly addresses the well-being of future generations. This form of the social welfare function is based on certain a priori premises, which are used to define the goal and objectives of resource allocation, and to identify appropriate evaluation criteria. These evaluation criteria are then used to devise a resource management strategy and to develop an environmental evaluation methodology to serve that strategy. The methodology consists of both formal and informal methods of evaluation, but special attention is given to developing a formal method of evaluation that is simple and inexpensive to apply, and therefore particularly suited for Third World conditions. The principal research objective was to develop a useful method for evaluating those resource allocation proposals which are especially controversial. The method that has been developed - the Panel Evaluation Method - utilizes a cost-benefit framework and employs procedures modeled on the Delphi Method. The Panel Evaluation Method features three techniques for accomplishing a formal evaluation of competing proposals: the Impact Identification Technique is used to identify and define all the impacts of concern; the Significance Measurement Technique is used to judge the relative significance of the impacts; and the Criteria Trade-off Technique is used to determine which proposal best satisfies specified evaluation criteria. The Panel Evaluation Method was applied to several case studies with positive results. For example, the central feature of the method - the Significance Measurement Technique - was found to be capable of producing reasonably replicable results, and so is considered to provide an acceptable way to determine whether the costs of a proposal would exceed its benefits. The method thus serves to extend the capabilities of both Environmental Impact Assessment and Cost-benefit Analysis, and to link these two widely-used tools for guiding resource allocation decisions into a more powerful and versatile decisionmaking tool.