South Africa and Kwazulu are essentially becoming a society attempting to reinvent itself. Attempts are underway to create the inner workings of this diverse, multi-cultural and multiracial society. The mechanism depends on strategic planning, the crafting of new legislation and regulatory processes and new methods of participatory and representative governments. Societies create and enforce land use controls or landuse guidelines to achieve several objectives. According to Schwenke(1997), while fundamental concepts of land ownership, tenure and basic property are rights enshrined in the law, the practical aspects of how one makes use of the land and all human activities that take place on the land are beyond the scope of rigid declarations. Deciding on responsible and just land use is a planning function and must reflect complexity, interactions between land users, land owners, the land itself and the environment. Planning must take due cognizance of the aspirations, needs and capacities of the people on the land (Schwenke; 1997).At the end of this process there must be a set of land use controls or guidelines to enable final decisions to be omplemented. Previous studies have largely ignored the perceptions of people on the grpund who are forced to live daily with the harsh, restrictive decisions of higher authorities without being consulted.This dissertation hopes to eliminate this particular problem by conducting research with community groups. The intention ofthis dissertation is to set in place policy guidelines for an appropriate land use management system that is appropriate for residential areas, in previously disadvantaged Townships using Inanda as an example. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1998.

This dissertation provides an exploratory study of the environmental history of the Keate' s Drift area, Umvoti Magisterial District, KwaZulu-Natal. The broad objectives are to explore the past and present modes of resource use of people living in the area, human reproduction, human consciousness and ecology from the Stone Age to the present day. Thereby we can deduce how, through the application of the techniques and methodology of environmental history, these findings can help establish baselines for understanding the problems facing environmentalists and policy makers in South Africa today. Such understanding can inform the formulation of more effective policies for the future. The study provides a history of how significant change at all levels of production, reproduction, consciousness and ecology initiated the first complete ecological revolution in KwaZulu-Natal between the Stone and Iron Age societies. Using the same methodological parameters, the dissertation then proposes that an incomplete ecological revolution has occurred in Keate's Drift since colonial times. It has found that the pre-colonial mode of resource use still exists in some form, but relies heavily upon migrant remittance money obtained from the modem industrial mode of resource use. The two modes of resource use operating together underlie the conflict between modernity and traditionalism in the Keate's Drift area. Interpretation of the historical evidence proposes that planners in charge of land redistribution in the Keate's Drift area must realise the role of the legacy of the past in development proposals. Planners must realise that the traditional mode of resource use exists alongside elements of the industrial mode. This is a situation resulting from the area's history, and any long term development plan that is going to work, needs to understand the historical legacy of the problems if they are to be resolved. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.

Land transformation in the Karkloof Catchment (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) between 1944 and 1999 was examined. No research had previously been undertaken to quantify and obtain an understanding of these changes and their effect on the landscape. The study provides a valuable spatial and descriptive database, which could assist in future planning and in an improved management of the catchment. Land category maps and associated databases for 1944 and 1999 were produced by interpreting 1944 and 1996 aerial photographs and using a Geographical Information System (GIS). Land management changes were established primarily by interviews with land-owners. Property ownership and extent were ascertained and mapped in GIS by utilising and adapting existing GIS databases, by interviews with land-owners, and by undertaking title deed searches and by analysis of property Grant outlines and diagrams. Natural grasslands have decreased significantly, being lost mostly to exotic afforestation and marginally to commercial cultivation. Forest and woodland have increased marginally, as has exotic vegetation. Subsistence cultivation has been reduced significantly with very little being undertaken in 1999. Farm dams have increased in number and size. Extraction of indigenous timber from the Karkloof Forest has ceased. Soil erosion, which was determined by summing the surface area of soil erosion gullies (bare soil area), has decreased. Property numbers have increased, whilst property sizes have decreased. Ownership has moved away from the predominantly 'Private Individual' ownership category towards 'Private Companies and Trusts' and towards large corporate companies. Reduction in farm size has contributed to maximisation of land use, which has often impacted negatively on natural resources. Land-owners are however becoming more environmentally conscious. More sustainable farming methods are being practised. Catchment management bodies have been established. Traditional land use types such as agriculture are slowly declining, whilst recreational, residential and tourism ventures are on the increase. Demand for land and its products will continue to increase and more pressure will be exerted on natural resources. Ways to live with nature, sensitively balancing development against the environment will need to be found. Recommendations have been made regarding the further application of the study, particularly the GIS database, catchment management bodies and integrated catchment management, property size and land use types. Various conservation recommendations are also given. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.

In March 1999 the former Durban Metropolitan Council embarked on several pilot studies to test the applicability of some early thinking around a new Land Use Management System with the aim of casting a single and uniform approach to managing and controlling the development of land and buildings within the municipal area. The studies were necessary as post 1994 the municipality and many other municipalities across the Province had inherited fragmented, unequal and incoherent planning systems, which were developed under apartheid. One of such pilot areas is Cliffdale where new land use management approaches were applied to a semi-rural area through the adoption of a new Land Use Scheme. The aim of this dissertation is to evaluate these approaches that were applied to the Cliffdale Land Use Scheme, given that it is 5 years old and new frameworks, ideas and practices have been developed over this period. At the time of compiling the pilot scheme, there were also limited datasets and information available to inform the developing of the new approaches. Subsequent to this pilot study, a similar Provincial wide initiative was launched which resulted in the preparation of a Land Use Management System Manual in 2001. The aim of the manual is to guide municipalities towards applying a uniform approach to land use management and the preparation of municipal Land Use Schemes. The Manual was further reviewed in 2004. This dissertation also looks at the success of the Cliffdale Land Use Scheme in comparison to the existing Town Planning Scheme model and the new Provincial Land Use Management System. In order to achieve this, interviews were conducted with key people who have experience in the new land use management system. Theoretical research was undertaken on other case studies, precedents and new data sets and information. Findings indicated that the new land use management approaches are an improvement to the current Town Planning Scheme model. The approaches however can be further improved through the availability of new datasets, information and concepts that have emerged from other case studies and precedents. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2005.

The Albert Falls Area had witnessed severe competition over land use between agriculture, recreation, conservation and other land uses. The area also has been the scene for inefficient land management that led to degradation of land resources. For proper land use planning and environmental management, information on land use/cover change is vital. This study has developed a spatial and descriptive historical land use/cover databases for the years 1944, 1967, 1989, and 2000 to provide an understanding of land use/cover patterns in Albert Falls Area. The databases were created by interpreting historical aerial photographs and using Geographic Information Systems. The data was subsequently analyzed to detect relevant trends in land use/cover patterns in the study area. Generally land use/cover pattern of Albert Falls Area during the period 1944 to 2000 may be described as being mainly agricultural. The results showed a marginal increase of indigenous forests attributed to the continuous efforts by different governmental departments and policies that focused on the protection of the remaining patches of indigenous forests. Grassland not only decreased by more than half but it also deteriorated in quality during 1944 to 2000. Commercial Forestry predominates the study area and showed an increasing trend from 1944 to 1967. Cultivated Land was observed to decrease at the expense of Commercial Forestry plantations and Waterbodies. Although sugarcane plantations increased after 1967, total Cultivated Land showed a decreasing trend. The construction of Albert Falls Dam and other small Farm Ponds within the agricultural farms increased the land areas covered by Waterbodies. Residential Area coverage generally decreased irrespective of the encroachment of informal settlements, while that outside Non-Residential Area and Transportation Routes generally increased with the development of commercial agriculture in the area. Barren Land decreased continuously due to higher land demand in the study area. The study showed that land use/cover changes in Albert Falls Area. have resulted in habitat fragmentation, development of monoculture land use, flourishing of Farm Ponds in agricultural farms, and expansion of agricultural activities on marginal lands. Creation of corridors/linkages between the fragmented forest patches; commencement and implementation of the already well drafted land and land resource policies and regulations; commencement of the holistic management plans in the area were recommended for a sustainable land use. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

The application of a transfer of development rights (TDR) programme is a concept which has been used, both formally and informally, by regulators of development, as a mechanism to protect areas of historical, cultural, ecological, agricultural and environmental importance. The application of a TDR programme requires definition of a TDR boundary and the identification of sites within such area which are capable of sustaining development (receiving sites) and sites that are not suited to development (sending sites). A TDR programme serves to protect the natural environment; preserve historical and cultural diversity; and, strives to achieve an equitable spread bf development opportunities amongst property owners in a given area. There are those involved with current development planning policy within KwaZulu-Natal who propose that the planning legislation should formally incorporate TDR regulations into the KwaZulu-Natal Planning and Development Act (Act 5 of 1988). TDR programmes in KwaZulu-Natal have been applied in a limited sense and in an informal manner. To date, no area in KwaZulu-Natal has been formally designated as a TDR area and the formal implementation and the feasibility of instituting a TDR programme has not been tested. It is suggested that within an area where environmental, agricultural, historical or cultural significance has been identified an opportunity for the application of a TDR programme exists. The planning and implementation of a TDR programme within a designated area provides an opportunity for integrated and sustainable development to occur. Within a defined TDR area the parameters for development capacities are agreed to upfront through negotiation between property owners, approving authorities and interested and affected parties. Consequently the possibilities of over or inappropriate development levels within the defined special area are significantly reduced. It must be noted that TDR programmes are area specific and therefore should only be applicable in areas which are of significant agricultural, environmental, historical, cultural and ecological value. This thesis identifies a possible areawhere a TOR programme could be applied. It was thought appropriate that the pilot area should be one which is environmentally sensitive and where only limited development has been permitted. The Midmar Area of Controlled Subdivision, situated north of Pietermaritzburg in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands provides an ideal opportunity where a TDR model could be examined and developed. In essence, this thesis defines TDR programmes and includes a brief investigation into international application of TDR programmes. In particular, it examines the application of a TDR programme at Lake Tahoe in the United States to illustrate the possible levels of sophistication that such a programme may achieve. It outlines the legislative framework in terms of which a TDR programme may be implemented for the study area. An overview of the current situation of the Midmar Area of Controlled Subdivision is presented which includes a summary of the attributes of the area; the current development pressures it faces; and, planning initiatives impacting on the Midmar Dam and its surrounds, all of which inform the study. The thesis also examines how and whether the implementation of a TOR programme could be successfully achieved. The study concludes that the Midmar Area of Controlled Subdivison would form an ideal foil on which to test the application of TOR programmes in KwaZulu-Natal. A set of recommendations which would form the basis for the implementation of a TOR programme in the Midmar Area of Controlled Subdivision is provided. The thesis does not attempt to identify each individual parcel of land which should be ascribed receiving or sending site status as this would require further in-depth study by various specialists. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.

In order to manage the often highly dynamic urban landscapes, it is important to map different themes from time to time. This study made use of Geographical Information System and aerial photographs to determine LULC transformation in the eastern suburbs of Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Land use land cover maps for the eastern suburbs (Copesville, Eastwood, Raisethorpe and Willowton) for the years 1989 to 2009 were generated and transformations based on twelve LULCs determined. Results in this study showed that the most significant increase were in residential (formal and informal) and industrial LULCs while the most significant decrease were recorded in the cultivated and open LULC. Generally, results in this study further show that urban LULC attributed to human influx has been at the expense of internal open green spaces and peripheral cultivated and uncultivated lands. The study concludes that aerial photographs in concert with GIS are valuable tools in mapping rapidly changing urban landscapes. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

Land use management and development control play an important role in achieving integration and sustainability in developing societies such as South Africa today. Town Planning Schemes are generally used as a tool for achieving this by making provision for land uses that are freely permitted, permitted by special consent or prohibited, thereby ensuring that incompatible land uses are not allowed. However, these town planning schemes are interpreted by different officials, with different levels of planning experience and qualification, as well as different opinions in the interpretation, which can result in inconsistency in decision-making and subsequent development patterns. The aim of this dissertation is therefore to investigate a range of special consent applications, the decision-making process applied to them and the applicability of any conditions attached thereto. The spatial focus of this dissertation is the South Municipal Planning Region of the Ethekwini Municipality which was established during the 2000 demarcation process. Inherent is this amalgamation is the fact that there are now thirty eight different town planning schemes in the Municipal area, with nine of them found in the South Municipal Planning Region. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.

This research aims at evaluating the level at which GIS is currently performing as a Decision Support Tool in Land Use Management Systems in KwaZulu Natal. Research was conducted amongst all ofthe district municipalities (in survey format, with a seventy percent response rate), as well as amongst representatives of three local municipalities, and representatives of the only Metropolitan municipality (all in the form of in-depth inten1iews). The results of the research were certainly revealing, and at points, significantly concerning. This research illustrates that despite the fact that the municipal LUMS should be in place, in most instances, the local municipalities have not completed their LUMS, and many districts have not finalised their specific components of the LUMS (namely the Land Use Framework, or LUF). Reasons for the difficulties experienced in developing the municipal LUMS were mainly capacity related, although there were a few additional impediments worth noting. Due to this, it was difficult to successfully evaluate the role that GIS is playing in LUMS as a Decision Support Tool. Despite this difficulty, it was still possible to evaluate the current use of GIS in the development of LUMS, as well as its perceived use in the future. Furthermore, the general perceptions regarding GIS as a Decision Support Tool were open for examination, along with how it will be used as such in LUMS This research confirms that GIS has been used to some extent in the development of the municipal LUMS, and that it will be used extensively in the future, particularly in Decision Support. This research concludes by offering various solutions or recommendations to the problems being experienced by the municipalities. These solutions originate both from points mentioned in the literature review, as well as from the responses to the questionnaires and interviews; and could assist in resolving the noteworthy problems revealed during the research. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

The effect of land management including undisturbed native forest, native grassland, sugarcane (preharvest burnt or green cane harvested), exotic forest (gum, pine or wattle), orchard crops (banana, orange and avocado) and grazed kikuyu grass pastures on soil organic matter status, size of the microbial biomass and size and composition of the earthworm community was studied. The study locality was in the tropical, northern part of KwaZulu-Natal near the town of Eshowe and sites were on a number of sugar estates in the area. Concentrations of soil organic C were notably high under kikuyu pasture, native forest and banana and lowest under burnt cane. Among the land uses, values followed the order: kikuyu pasture ≥ native forest > banana > native grassland = orange ≥ trashed cane = gum ≥ pine ≥ avocado > wattle ≥ burnt cane. Soluble C was considerably higher under kikuyu pasture than other land uses. Soils under native forest and banana also had relatively high values while lowest values were recorded under burnt cane. Values for microbial biomass C showed broadly similar trends with land use to soluble C. Very high values for microbial biomass C (> 2000 mg kg⁻¹ ) and microbial quotient (> 4.5 %) were recorded under kikuyu pasture, native forest, banana and orange whilst lowest values for microbial biomass C ( 250 - 750 mg kg⁻¹ ) and microbial quotient (1- 2 %) were found for soils under avocado, trashed and burnt sugarcane. Earthworm numbers followed the order: kikuyu pasture > native forest > banana > orange > wattle = pine = gum = trashed sugarcane ≥ native grassland ⁻¹ avocado > burnt sugarcane. Values for earthworm numbers and biomass were closely correlated. Earthworm numbers, microbial biomass C and soluble C were closely correlated with each other but none were significantly correlated with soil organic C content. Earthworm numbers were also positively correlated with soil pH and exchangeable Ca content. A total of 11 species of earthworm were collected from the sample sites. Over 80 % of the individuals collected were accidentally-introduced exotic species which originated from India, South America and West Africa. Most land uses supported between 5 and 7 species. Wattle forest and sugarcane, however, had only 2 or 3 species. Juveniles dominated the community under all land uses except kikuyu pasture and avocado where the majority of earthworms were adults. Epigeic species dominated the community under native forest and native grassland and this was also the case under avocado and gum. For the other land uses endogeic species predominated. The most numerous earthworm species present was Pontoscolex coreththrurus which was present under all the land uses. It is a peregrine, endogeic species originating from South America and is thought to have been introduced via India. The most common epigeic species was the Indian species Amynthas rodericensis which made up a particularly notable portion of the community under native and gum forests, avocado and banana. The third most numerous species was A. minimus, also from India, which is a polyhumic, endogeic species. It was particularly numerous under kikuyu pasture. In 8 out of 11 land uses, P. corethrurus, A. rodericensis and A. minimus coexisted together. Another polyhumic, endogeic species, Dichogastersaliens, which originates from West Africa, was present particularly under oranges, wattle and sugarcane. The only land use that contained mainly native species was native grassland where Tritogenia douglasi and Acanthodrilidae sp predominated. It was concluded that organic matter content, microbial biomass C, soluble C and the size and composition of earthworm communities in soils of the study area are greatly affected by land management practice. As is the case in most other parts of the world, the earthworm community under agricultural land management is dominated by accidentally introduced exotic species and these have also emigrated into soils under native vegetation; The role of these species in influencing soil chemical, physical and microbial properties, and thus soil fertility, deserves further studying. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.