The loss of ecosystem resilience and rangeland (often referred to as veld in South Africa) productivity is a major problem in the semi-arid Savanna environments of southern Africa. The over-utilization of rangelands in the Molopo region of the North- West Province in South Africa has resulted in profound habitat transformations. A common regional indicator of rangeland degradation is the imbalance in the grasswoody ratio, characterized by a loss of grass cover and density with increased shrub or tree density. This can result in major reductions of rangeland productivity for the grazing animal, forcing land users to apply active or passive restoration actions to improve rangeland condition, control the thickening of woody species (bush thickening), mitigate economic losses and restoring the aesthetical value of the Savanna environment for ecotourism and game hunting aspects. This study formed part of the multinational EU-funded PRACTICE project (“Prevention and restoration actions to combat desertification: an integrated assessment”). The first aim of the study was to evaluate locally applied restoration actions using a participatory approach, followed by interviews with certain stakeholders that formed part of a multi-stakeholder platform (MSP) related to the livestock and game farming community in the Molopo. Participants of the MSP ranked indicators according to their relative importance regarding the restoration actions on an individual basis. The individual ranking results were combined with quantitative bio-physical and qualitative socio-economic measurements for each indicator in a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), whereby the alternative actions were ranked according to their relevancy and performance. The results were then shared with members of the MSP in order to stimulate discussion among the members and contribute to the social learning of the project outcome. The overall positive response and acceptance of results by members of the MSP changed the perceptions and objectives of the land users regarding rangeland management. This type of participatory assessment was therefore found to be very promising in helping to identify more sustainable actions to mitigate rangeland degradation in the Molopo Savanna region. There is, however, still an urgent need to create legal policy frameworks and institution-building, to support local-level implementation in all socio-ecological and economic settings, particularly in communal areas. The second aim was to evaluate the effect of two chemical bush control actions (chemical hand- (HC) and aeroplane control (AC)) as well as rotational grazing (RGM) on the Molopo Savanna vegetation. Results show that rangeland productivity, i.e. forage production and grazing capacity, was found to be negatively related to the woody phytomass in the savanna system studied. Bush thickening influenced grass species composition which was commonly associated with a decline in the abundance of sub-climax to climax grasses, respectively. All three actions (HC, AC & RGM) significantly reduced the woody phytomass and increased forage production and grazing capacity. Although AC resulted in the highest reduction of woody phytomass, the highest forage production and grazing capacity was found under RGM. The second highest grazing capacity was found in HC sites, which was due to a high abundance of perennial, palatable climax grass species. Results from this study also show that the patterns and compositions of grass species, grass functional groups (GFGs) and woody densities indicated by RGM and chemical HC, best resemble a productive and stable savanna system that provides important key resources to support both grazing and browsing herbivores. / MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

En 2010, le président de l'Alliance Renault-Nissan annonce l'investissement de 4 milliards d'euros dans un programme de développement du véhicule électrique et de sa batterie. À cette période, le secteur automobile est confronté à une crise économique importante. Le succès de cet engagement est crucial. Le véhicule électrique fait l'objet d'une conception innovante qui déstabilise les pratiques de l'entreprise. De nouveaux protocoles doivent être définis pour valider les acquis de ce produit. Compte tenu de la suppression des émissions au roulage, de nouvelles questions émergent et réclament une évaluation globale de la performance environnementale de ces véhicules. En conséquence, l'entreprise doit mettre en place un dialogue transparent et gérer une contestation .Ce travail repose sur un monde industriel dont la situation est propice à l'intervention. La méthode d'abduction - déduction – induction est utilisée. L'action collective ne va pas de soi est demande à être pilotée. Le modèle Co-LCA vise à faciliter une collaboration et la construction d'un ensemble de règles clés pour procéder à l'étude. Ces règles sont toujours contestables. Néanmoins, cette approche permet de donner une légitimité plus grande à l'étude. Cette expérience a consolidé les pratiques de l'entreprise, elle autorise de nombreux échanges avec les parties prenantes concernées dans un cadre structuré. Ce processus est une plate-forme pour le partage des savoirs, un débat ouvert et la diffusion d'informations. Enfin, nous ouvrons la voie pour que l'outil ACV devienne un instrument de gestion de l'environnement au service d'une transition dans le secteur automobile. / In 2010, the president of the Renault-Nissan announces $ 4 billion in a program to develop electric vehicle and its battery. At that time, the automotive industry is facing a major economic crisis. The success of this engagement is crucial. The electric vehicle is the subject of an innovative design that destabilizes business practices. New protocols should be defined to validate the performance of that product. Given the elimination of emissions during operation, new questions emerge and require a comprehensive assessment of the environmental performance of these vehicles. Therefore, the company must set up a transparent dialogue and manage contested.This work is based in an industrial world, the situation is suitable for intervention. The method of abduction - deduction - induction is used. Collective action is not obvious and needs to be managed. Co-LCA model is designed to facilitate collaboration and building a set of key rules to carry out the study. These rules are still questionable. However, this approach can give more legitimacy to the study. This experience has strengthened the company's practices; it allows many discussions with stakeholders in a structured framework. This process is a platform for knowledge sharing, open discussion and dissemination of information. Finally, we open the way for the LCA tool becomes an instrument for environmental management at the service of a transition in the automotive sector.

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Water represents a natural resource that is essential for humanity and the environment. Therefore, the framework of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) seeks to combine social equity, ecological sustainability and economic efficiency for effective management of this critical resource. As the private sector is a major water user it represents an important stakeholder in sustainable water resources management. However, a quarter of countries reported a low level of private sector engagement in IWRM in the last SDG indicator 6.5.1 survey. Therefore, this thesis identifies obstacles to private sector engagement in IWRM and proposes interventions to improve the involvement of the private sector in water resources management. For this, it applies models for participatory approaches to the topic of private sector engagement. As water stewardship represents another approach for the private sector to get involved in sustainable water resources management, this concept is analysed as a possible alternative or complement to private sector engagement in IWRM. The first six expert interviews provided insight into general perspectives of the topic and then two case studies in Kenya (three interviews) and Viet Nam (five interviews) were used to understand private sector engagement in a country context. These case studies are further supported by secondary data from the SDG indicator 6.5.1 survey which analysed the degree of private sector engagement in IWRM across 171 countries. The research results suggest that topics of financing, innovation, the private sector’s convening power, its role as a major water user and its influence across the whole value chain represent opportunities of private sector engagement in IWRM, similar to the general benefits of participatory approaches. Furthermore, this research identifies several obstacles of which a lack of capacity, the complexity of the concept of IWRM, the complexity of government structures, data and information sharing, and a missing business case were considered the most important. For these topics, the thesis suggests several enabling factors that would improve private sector engagement. In the discussion, the relationship between IWRM and water stewardship is further explored as these two concepts can complement each other to provide new opportunities for private sector engagement. The research concludes that there is a need to redefine the concept of IWRM or to consider new approaches for sustainable water resources management to engage the private sector successfully.

Employee involvement and participation in HIV-prevention interventions at the workplace remains a barrier to effective programme implementation, which contributes significantly to programme failure and the consequent continued spread of HIV among employees at the workplace. This study explores employee involvement and participation in HIV-prevention interventions at a Bulawayo tyre manufacturing firm. It assesses factors affecting employee involvement and participation in these interventions, and examines the implications of these findings for programme implementation. I used a semi-standardised interview schedule to conduct in-depth, face-to-face qualitative interviews and a self-administered questionnaire to collect quantitative data. The responses showed the nature of employee involvement in HIV-prevention at the firm was at a co-option level, and the type of participation was mere token participation. I recommended that the firm should develop a clear understanding of the importance of stakeholder involvement in HIV-prevention programmes. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

Employee involvement and participation in HIV-prevention interventions at the workplace remains a barrier to effective programme implementation, which contributes significantly to programme failure and the consequent continued spread of HIV among employees at the workplace. This study explores employee involvement and participation in HIV-prevention interventions at a Bulawayo tyre manufacturing firm. It assesses factors affecting employee involvement and participation in these interventions, and examines the implications of these findings for programme implementation. I used a semi-standardised interview schedule to conduct in-depth, face-to-face qualitative interviews and a self-administered questionnaire to collect quantitative data. The responses showed the nature of employee involvement in HIV-prevention at the firm was at a co-option level, and the type of participation was mere token participation. I recommended that the firm should develop a clear understanding of the importance of stakeholder involvement in HIV-prevention programmes. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

The study assessed the effectiveness of environmental management structures and participation process in the upper Pungwe River basin. It looked at the interaction of environment and water management institutions and stakeholder structures in environmental management. A concurrent mixed methods approach was used. Qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis techniques were employed. Seventeen questionnaires were administered to environmental management committee chairpersons. Interviews were held with three water resources management experts from the ZINWA and PSCC. Another three questionnaires were administered to the EMA, Mutasa RDC and Mutasa District Administrator. Water quality, sediment load and river runoff data for the Pungwe River was analysed using Mann-Kendal and Regression Analysis Statistics to detect trends and predict future levels. River sediment load showed a negative linear relationship with pH levels. Stakeholder participation still require enhancement. Coordination of land/environment and water management institutions and local stakeholders remains the key to achieving sustainable environmental management. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Management)

The global use of resources such as materials, energy, and water has surpassed sustainable levels by many accounts.  The research presented here was explicitly normative in its aim to improve the understanding of, and make sustainable change toward highly systemic issues of resource management.  The core methods chosen to work toward this aim were bottom up action research procedures (including stakeholder engagement processes) and industrial ecology analysis tools.  These methods were employed and tested in pragmatic combination through two of the author’s case study projects. The first case study, performed between 2009 and 2012, employed a multi-stakeholder process aimed at improving the cycling of construction and demolition waste in the Stockholm region.  The second case study produced a strategic tool (Looplocal) built for facilitating more efficient regional industrial resource networks. While the highly participative aim of the cases required a larger contribution of resources than that of more closed studies, it is arguable that the efficacy of approaching the project aims is improved through their employment. / <p>QC 20130522</p>

Vattenförvaltning inom EU har, enligt EU:s vattendirektiv, som mål att samtliga vattenförekomster ska uppnå god status senast 2027. Sverige är ett av de EU-länder där målet ej har uppnåtts med uppmätt icke-tillfredsställande status i en del vattenförekomster i exempelvis Skåne; en situation som inte beräknas förbättras inom tidsfristen. I Sverige styrs vattenförvaltning lokalt med kommuner och myndigheter som beslutsfattande organ i enlighet med vattenmyndighetens sexårsplan. EU:s vattendirektiv kräver inkludering av intressenter och allmänheten i förvaltningen, vilket har lett till bildandet av vattenorganisationer såsom vattenråd. Dessa har till uppgift att verka som lokalkunskap för särskilda avrinningsområden, där ett nätverk av aktörer bildas för att möjliggöra påverkan av inriktning i vattenförvaltningen. Forskning visar på samarbetsproblematik mellan aktörer i vattenråd, brist på kunskap och intresse bland allmänheten och intressenter samt fall där ekonomiska och sociala mål har prioriterats före ekologiska, vilket har försvårat implementeringen av EU:s vattendirektiv. Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur skånska vattenråd utifrån nuvarande organisationsstruktur och prioriteringar kan bidra mer i arbetet för målet om god vattenstatus enligt EU:s vattendirektiv. Studien utgick från ett strategiskt urval och semistrukturerad intervju-metodik eller fokusgrupper bestående av intervjupersoner med hög expertis. Resultatet analyserades med hjälp av följande teorier: Environmental governance, vattenförvaltning, flernivåstyre, politisk samstämmighet, social inlärningsteori samt reflektiv och reflexiv kommunikation. Studiens resultat visar att de undersökta skånska vattenråden gör vad de kan för att bidra utifrån nuvarande förutsättningar, men att finansieringsbegränsningar, extern påverkan av andra aktörer i avrinningsområdena och brist på samarbete mellan olika nivåer i vattenförvaltningen förhindrar mångas utveckling. Organisatoriskt och prioriteringsmässigt fungerar majoriteten av de undersökta vattenråden väl och visar god potential, men förbättring inom det ovannämnda hade behövts om ett närmande av EU:s vattendirektivs mål skall uppnås i lokala skånska vattenförekomster. / Water management within the EU, according to the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), has the aim to achieve good water status in all water bodies no later than 2027. Sweden is one EU country where the aim has not been reached, with measured non-satisfactory status in numerous water bodies in Scania for example; a situation not predicted to improve before the deadline. In Sweden, water management is governed locally with municipalities and agencies as decision-makers in accordance with the six-year plan of the water agency. Since the WFD requires stakeholder and public participation, the creation of water organisations such as water councils has been conducted. These act as local knowledge bodies in certain catchment basins, creating a network of actors to enable an influence on the orientation of water management. Research has shown collaboration issues between actors in water councils, a lack of knowledge and interest amongst the public and stakeholders, and cases where economic and social aims have preceded ecological ones. These factors in turn have aggravated the implementation of the WFD. The purpose of this study is to investigate how water councils of Scania, from current organizational structure and prioritizations, have the possibility to increase their contribution towards the aim of the WFD regarding good water status. The study was conducted from a strategic selection and semi-structured interviews or focus groups, including interviewees with high expertise. The result was analyzed using the following theories: Environmental governance, water governance, multi-level governance, policy coherence, social learning and reflective as well as reflexive communication. The results of the study demonstrate a situation where water councils contribute their utmost from current capabilities, yet are prevented to develop further due to financial limitations, external impacts from other actors in catchment basins, and a lack of collaboration between different levels of water management. From an organizational and prioritization point of view, the majority of investigated water councils work well and showcase high potential, with improvements of the aforementioned needed for the approach of the WFD’s aim in local water bodies of Scania.

Political boundaries make watershed planning difficult despite the influence of many state and federal programs. Broad, top-down, watershed initiatives fail to reach many municipalities due to human resources, time and legalities. Thus, a watershed ecosystem based approach to city planning should be utilized in order to integrate a holistic and scientific foundation for land use decisions. However, there is a need for research for developing and applying a watershed approach to urbanizing watersheds. The goal of this study is to provide a series of science based transferable recommendations upon which municipalities can make land use planning decisions. These recommendations are informed by a watershed modeling and prioritization study conducted with the community of Northampton, Massachusetts. Analyses of water resource planning options were made concerning future development scenarios using an approach which links water quality and quantity, land use and government. A required component of the ecosystem approach, stakeholder participation, applied the Deliberative Attribute Prioritization Procedure (DAPP) for the first time in this context to assess the relative of different environmental concerns. The results of these stakeholder focus groups showed the importance of several key attributes including land use, water quality, water quantity, and impacts to neighborhing communities that were utilized in the watershed models. This thesis provides an integrated tool for water resource planning at the municipal level. However, without the effective transfer of these recommendations into existing policies like zoning, the results of the study have limited use. Therefore implementation of recommendations within municipal planning documents is an important component. This information will be utilized to evaluate priority water resource protection overlays by providing quantitative information and decision making within a community. A citywide watershed model and analysis used to guide policy-making and decision-making will assist in fulfilling the community of Northampton’s continuing commitment to work toward economic, environmental, and equitable sustainability, as well as provide a model for other communities.