Indigenous forests are an integral part of rural communities in Africa, and they are socio-ecologically managed and conserved by customary laws. Most of these forests are important reserves of cultural and ecological values, although they are threatened by modern economic and political developments and often by foreign religious intrusion. Based on this background the Thathe sacred forest in the Zoutpansberg mountains of the Northern Province, in South Africa, was chosen for investigation. The perceptions and conservation attitudes of the rural communities living around the forest were investigated. In addition, the contribution of the traditional ethics of the local people to forest biodiversity management were also assessed. The extent to which the rural communities attach consumptive and/or non-consumptive values to the Thathe forest was examined for insight to the survival of the forest into the future. Data collection included a field survey, interviews with key informants, structured and semi-structured interviews, and a documentary survey (documents or records such as monthly or annual reports of an institution like the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) about its activities, and government gazettes). Responses of 201 interviewees from around the Thathe forest were analysed. Data was arranged by age, sex, educational background and area of residence. The majority of the respondents (76.6%) across the gender categories regarded the forest as sacred, while 20.4% felt it is an area of conservation importance. A strong cultural link between the local people and the forest is inferred from these positive attitudes! in spite of a history of forced removals of the surrounding communities from the Thathe-Vondo forest area. The attitudes of the people around the forest are wide-spread and consistent across the tribal areas. Nevertheless, cultural usage of the forest has waned in recent years (a consequence of restrictions on access to the forest) and few people (13.4%) actively use it for cultural rituals. Based on the research findings it is imperative that an attempt is made to reconcile the local people and the government institution managing indigenous forests and policing forestry in general (DWAF). The relevance of conventional conservation principles must be brought to the attention of the local people! and these ought to be integrated with cultural methods of forest resource management and conservation. This will serve as a foundation for sustainable indigenous forest resource management in Thathe forest. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.

Global shifts in environmental decision-making from technocratic, top-down models to democratic, open-ended forums to address environmental issues have highlighted the complexity of environmental issues. As a result, the definition of these environmental problems in the political arena is highly contested and thus the process of formalising environmental discourses through environmental policy-making has become very important. Hajer’s (1995; 2003) argumentative discourse analysis approach is used as a methodology to examine environmental policy-making regarding the St Lucia estuary mouth, in KwaZulu-Natal. This is also used to structure the presentation of the analysis particularly according to the terms of the policy discourses, such as the broad societal discourses, the local discourses and and the storylines. The environmental discourses are characterised using Dryzek’s (1997: 8) taxonomy of environmental discourses, based on his broad definition of discourse as “a shared way of apprehending the world”. This research aims to identify the environmental discourses that emerged in the 1940 to 2005 period regarding the management of the St Lucia estuary mouth and the shifts in discourses that have taken place during this time. An analysis of the shifts in environmental discourses in the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park over a 65 year period revealed two significant events that punctuated the management discourses of the protected area and effectively divided the analysis into three succinct periods. These two events were the Kriel Commission of Enquiry in 1966 and Cyclone Demoina in 1984. The promethean, ecological modernisation and survivalist discourses were dominant throughout the three periods analysed. The evidence also shows that there has been a shift from modernist engineering discourse to a more ecosystem discourse which advocates that ‘let nature take its own way’. Science remains a dominant force in shaping environmental policy-making in St Lucia; however environmental problems have become discursive in the post-apartheid period in a democratic South Africa and thus require a discourse that has wider stakeholder representation. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

Rapidly increasing concerns about energy security coupled with detrimental environmental impacts posed by the dependence on fossil fuels, and an urgent need for rural development in Africa are key drivers for the search for fuel alternatives. The international effort into the development of criteria and indicators for sustainable bioenergy production clearly recognizes that bioenergy production must not be at the expense of biodiversity and food security. Owing to its multi-purpose capabilities i.e. its ability to rehabilitate eroded lands, drought resistance as well as its biophysical and maintenance requirements, Jatropha was selected as a potential candidate for the production of biodiesel. Jatropha is not new to the people of Tanzania, the study area of the project. Research has shown that, its associated social, environmental and economic benefits are crucial to economic development of the country. At present, all of Tanzania’s petroleum based products are imported; about 90% of the energy consumed is derived from biomass; road, rail and electricity networks are underdeveloped. Environmental degradation is also a concern in the country. The aim of the study was to identify three optimal locations for large scale Jatropha cultivation for biodiesel production in Tanzania’s semi arid regions. Geographical Information Systems was used to overlay several remotely sensed data from previous research namely semi arid regions delineations, agro-ecological sub-zones that had Jatropha potential as well as the administrative zones of Tanzania. The unavailable and/unsuitable areas were verified against literature and this enabled the areas that were under cultivation, were housing biodiversity or were generally constrained to be filtered out from the study area. The three largest, available and potentially suitable areas that the study identified for large scale Jatropha cultivation occupied about 7.6 million hectares. Assuming an optimal seed yield and an oil content of 35%, these areas are capable of producing about 14.4 million litres of Jatropha oil per annum. Targeting a SADC fuel import substitution of 10%, these 14.4 million litres of Jatropha oil that the three areas will meet about 83% of the country’s energy needs. Owing to the state of electricity generation in Tanzania, these three areas are able to generate about six percent of electricity and this can contribute to some extend to the country energy needs. From the analysis it was clear to note that the production of biodiesel for blending or for electricity generation is going to be economically viable from the three selected regions. The available and suitable areas that were not consolidated within the three selected regions can be used for small scale Jatropha cultivation and their produce can be fed to large scale commercial oil production or they can use the biodiesel to produce their own electricity. Jatropha will have to be irrigated to enhance a viable economic yield; infrastructure will need to be constructed to areas that are not served by roads and railway lines. All of this bodes well for enhancing rural development. The government has already had the foresight to establish the National Biofuels Task Force which will need to monitor investors to ensure no enforced human displacement and/or exploitation in areas where the large scale farms are to be established. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2009.

Dartmoor Vlei is a 42ha un-channelled valley-bottom wetland system located in the headwaters of the Myamvubu River in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, South Africa. The wetland and its catchment are entirely underlain by a large dolerite sill that forms the Karkloof escarpment and plateau and the wetland terminates against a dolerite dyke ridge that has intruded into the sill. Wetlands on the Highveld and KwaZulu-Natal Midlands are thought to arise due to the lateral erosion of valleys upstream of resistant lithologies that impede vertical erosion. This is typical of valleys where Karoo sediments occur upstream of resistant dolerite dykes. Such valley widening by lateral planing is typically associated with actively migrating meanders. As a result, wetlands found upstream of dolerite intrusions are generally located on floodplains characterised by actively migrating meanders, extensive backswamps, ox bow lakes, alluvial ridges and clastic alluvial fill. However, in contrast to these floodplain wetlands, Dartmoor Vlei has evolved into an unchannelled valley-bottom wetland characterised by diffuse flow conditions, minimal channelled flow, extensive peat deposits and a general lack of floodplain features. Coring within the wetland has established that the sedimentary fill of the wetland generally comprises upward fining sequences of sediment characterised by sands and gravels near the valley floor that grade into fine organic-rich silt sediments and peat at the surface. These findings confirmed that the wetland has evolved from a floodplain wetland characterised by laterally migrating meanders to a valley-bottom wetland characterised by discontinuous streams and peat accumulation. Coring also established that the wetland is predominantly underlain by residual saprolite that extends to depths in excess of 7m. The occurrence of a large discontinuity between the residual saprolite and fresh dolerite surfaces underlying the toe of the wetland indicated that the residual saprolite surface has sagged relative to the fresh dolerite and dolerite dyke at the toe of the wetland over time. Chemical and mineralogical analyses of fresh dolerite and residual clay within the valley confirmed that the chemical transformation of the dolerite bedrock into residual clay has resulted in both volume and thickness losses in the weathered dolerite sill mass. This has in turn resulted in the sagging of the valley floor and the wetland surface over time. These findings provide an explanation for the extremely low energy conditions of Dartmoor Vlei and explain why the wetland did not evolve in the same fashion as other wetlands in a similar geological and geomorphological setting. The extensive chemical weathering of the dolerite sill underlying the wetland has been attributed to the extremely long-time period that the soils within the wetland have been saturated. The long-term saturation of soils within Dartmoor Vlei has been facilitated by the formation and preservation of the African Erosion Surface on which Dartmoor Vlei is located. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2009.

Cumulative Effects Assessment (CEA) is a more holistic assessment method that has emerged in the wake of experts recognising that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has a tendency to be a site –project specific process, which frequently lacks the capacity to assess multiple development actions within a region (Canter, 1997). Although CEA is part of environmental policy for many countries, including South Africa, research has revealed that CEA is often poorly applied and in many cases ignored (DEA, 2004;Canter and Ross, 2008).One possible solution to enhancing CEA, within the study area, is for the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs KwaZulu Natal (DAEA), the agency ultimately responsible for assessing the effects of development, to adopt a participatory approach with the Department of Water Affairs (DWA). This study explores the potential for KwaZulu Natal DAEA, and the associated members responsible for assessing the effects of development, to enhance CEA by engaging with the multi stakeholder Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) processes, in the institutional engagement space provided by the Catchment Management Agency (CMA). The rational for the DAEA adopting such an approach to enhancing CEA, in addition to the linkages between land and water, the linkages between DAEA and DWA's responsibilities and the opportunity for engagement, is that the theses forums encompass all the major stakeholder groupings within the region. This in conjunction with the DAEA's participatory policy would provide the ideal opportunity for DAEA members, involved in CEA, to reap the benefits of participation in enhancing CEA. The aim of this research is to investigate the potential to enhance CEA through participation between the DAEA, the DWA and the multi-stakeholder IWRM processes in the CMA engagement space. In particular the research has the objectives of firstly gaining an understanding of the barriers to such an opportunity and secondly exploring what stakeholders perceived as potential initiatives that could be established to overcome the barriers. The methods of investigation were primarily semi structured interviews. These interviews were conducted with seven staff members from the local chapter of the DEA, The Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs KwaZulu Natal (DAEA). Due to the limited number of DAEA members within Pietermaritzburg region staff from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, who deal with CEA under the auspices of the DAEA were also included. Further data sources included an extensive review of the relevant literature. Based on an analysis of the information gathered in the above mentioned manner, it was concluded that the current application of CEA is poor within the study area and participation between the DAEA and the DWA, although promoted in accordance with policy, was subject to barriers, many of them physiological, which severely hinder the process. It was also concluded that barriers to participation were preventing DAEA employees from recognising the full potential of the opportunity to engage with the established IWRM process in the CMA engagement space as a means to enhance CEA. Despite the many apparent barriers the majority of stakeholders did recognise the linkages between land and water, the linkages between the DAEA and the DWA and the value of what effective participation could mean for enhancing CEA. DAEA and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife employees did however not seem to acknowledge the true potential to enhance CEA by participating with the DWA as they were not taking advantage of the opportunity. Stakeholders did however suggested, that a dramatic change in attitude and mind set towards the way participation was approached was needed from all sectors and that the DAEA needs to acknowledge and take advantage of such opportunity to enhance CEA. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

In the context of globalization and neo-liberal urban restructuring, cities have been attempting to reposition themselves within the competitive global landscape through focusing on their images and their enhancement since the 1970’s. Rebuilding the city became the goal of urban policy through the process of urban regeneration, and large-scale, emblematic urban development projects or ‘mega-projects’ began to play a major role in this endeavour. However, in the current landscape of uncontained economic growth, social decline and ecological destruction, sustainability has become a critical concept, and the pursuit of a ‘sustainable city’ is a desirable goal. Urban policy consequently focuses on urban regeneration and sustainability as parallel agendas. This study focuses on the South African city of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, where regeneration has become particularly evident in recent years, with the focus intensifying when the country was awarded the bid for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, sparking the planning and construction of a number of mega-projects. Simultaneously sustainability has gained greater focus, as the need to develop within environmental limits has been recognized. Three particular mega-projects within the city are investigated: the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Warwick Junction Mall, and the Point Development; in order to explore the relationship between the two dominant agendas of contemporary urban policy. This is achieved through the exploration of the urban policy and regeneration landscape of the city, and the particular role which mega-projects play. Subsequently, the three mega-projects are assessed in terms of sixteen sustainable city principles to determine the extent to which they incorporate sustainability, and thereby the extent to which sustainability is considered in the city’s urban regeneration. The research findings reveal that although sustainability is present in the policy and planning rhetoric of the city, the mega-projects and urban regeneration do not include these principles to any meaningful extent. It is therefore concluded that these two policy strands are currently conflicting agendas within the planning and development landscape of Durban. There is a consequent need for sustainability to be practically incorporated to a greater extent in order to ensure a sustainable future for the city. i / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2012.

In South Africa, invasive black wattle trees (Acacia mearnsii D. Wild) are a major threat to ecosystem functionality causing widespread social, economic and environmental degradation. It is important that environmental managers are provided with rapid, regular and accurate information on the location of invasive black wattle trees to coordinate removal efforts. This study investigated the potential of an automated image classification algorithm to accurately identify black wattle (A. mearnsii De Wild.) trees using imaging spectroscopy. Hyperspectral data acquired by the EO-1 Hyperion sensor was used to identify black wattle trees in two study areas near Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Image classifications were performed by the classification algorithm to identify black wattle trees using general and age specific spectral signatures (three to five years, seven to nine years, eleven to thirteen years). Results showed that using the general spectral signature an overall accuracy of 86.25% (user’s accuracy: 72.50%) and 84.50% (user’s accuracy: 69%) was achieved for study area one and study area two respectively. Using age specific spectral signatures, black wattle trees between three to five years of age were mapped with an overall accuracy of 62% (user’s accuracy: 24%) and 74.50% (user’s accuracy: 49%) for study area one and study area two respectively. The low user’s accuracies for the age specific classifications could be attributed to the use of relatively low resolution satellite imagery and not the efficacy of the classification algorithm. It was concluded that the classification algorithm could be used to identify black wattle trees using imaging spectroscopy with a high degree of accuracy. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2012.

Globally, water turbidity remains a crucial parameter in determining water quality. South Africa is largely regarded as arid and is often characterised by limited but high intensity rainfall. This characteristic renders most of the country’s water bodies turbid. Consequently, the use of turbidity as a measure of water quality is of great relevance in a South African context. Generally, turbidity alters biological and ecological characteristics of water bodies by inducing changes in among others temperature, oxygen levels and light penetration. These changes may affect aquatic life, ecosystem functioning and available water for industrial and domestic use. Siltation, a direct function of turbidity also impacts on the physical storage of dams and shortens their useful life. To date, determination of water turbidity relies on the tradition laboratory based methods that are often time consuming, expensive and labour intensive. This has increased the need for more cost effective means of determining water turbidity. In the recent past, the use of remote sensing techniques has emerged as a viable option in water quality assessment. Hyperspectral remote sensing characterizes numerous contiguous narrow bands that have great potential in water turbidity measurement. This study explored the applicability of hyperspectral data in water turbidity detection. It explored the visible and near-infrared region to select the optimal bands and indices for turbidity measurement. Using the Analytical Spectral Device (ASD) field spectroradiometer and a 2100Q portable turbidimeter, spectral reflectance and laboratory based turbidity measurements were taken from prepared turbid solutions of predetermined concentrations (i.e. 10g/l to 150g/l), respectively. The Pearson’s coefficient of correlation and R2 values were employed to select optimal spectral bands and indices. The findings showed a positive linear relationship between reflectance, the amount of soil in water and turbidity values. The strongest relationships came from bands 528, 489, 657, 1000 and 983, reporting adjusted R2 values of 0.7062, 0.7004, 0.6864, 0.7120 and 0.6961, respectively. The highest coefficient came from band 1000nm. The strongest indices were 625/440 and (770-1000)/(770+1000), with adjusted R2 values of 0.6822 and 0.6973 respectively. The use of hyperspectral data in turbidity detection is ideal for optimal band interrogation. Although good results were generated from this study, further investigations are needed in the near-infrared region. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

Algae are primary producers in aquatic ecosystems and are thus the most important organisms in maintaining ecosystem functioning and stability. The usage of algae by humans is quite extensive; they act as an ingredient in aquaculture feed, a potential biomedical resource, as a fertiliser and as a nutritional source. Recently, algae have been identified as a third generation biofuel feedstock for fuel generation which essentially means that algae are more efficient, net carbon neutral and have less impacts on the environment. Algae as organisms are extremely sensitive to changes in the immediate environment. The interaction of parameters with each other causes minute changes in the environment which may alter the algae biomass present and the lipids that can be extracted from the biomass. The focus of this study is to model and determine which conditions maximise algal biomass and the subsequent lipids that can be extracted from the biomass. This will allow biofuel producers to understand which conditions are the best for harvesting algae in artificial conditions or harvesting algae from the wild. Furthermore, the model developed has broad application for biofuel specialists, pollution remediation specialists and biologists. This model developed is able to determine the present state of the algal bloom and uses the present state to predict the future state of bloom hence determining the optimal conditions to harvest. The model was developed under optimal ranges described by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and designed to replicate the most common combinations of parameters present in the wild. For the purposes of this study, various combinations of parameters within their optimal ranges that is temperature (18 – 24°C), salinity (20 – 24 p.p.t.) and photoperiod (25 – 75% light exposure) were assessed. The model was run for 72 hours with sampling every 6 hours. Every six hours, algal growth was measured by the biomass present (chloro-pigments used as estimators); this was done by fluorescence. Lipids were then extracted from algal biomass using the Bligh and Dyer method (1959). Spline curves were fitted to the data and analysis performed using Mathematica 8.0. It was found that photoperiod was the most important variable in controlling algal growth. Furthermore, lipids extracted from biomass were at their highest when algae were exposed to the conditions 75% light exposure, 21°C and 22 p.p.t. These conditions would allow for the highest amount of biofuel to be produced. Generally, algae biomass trend graphs mimic lipid trend graphs over the 72 hour period that is when lipids are at their maximum, biomass concentrations are at their maximum. It can be concluded from time model that the best time to harvest biomass is 48 hours from the initial start time of algal growth to gain the highest amount of lipids for biofuel production. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2012.

Poverty and unemployment are critical challenges that confront the post-apartheid government. Over a decade has passed since the implementation of the neoliberal Growth, Employment and Redistribution strategy (GEAR), and the policy has largely failed to address the socio-economic inequalities in South Africa. As a result of the lack of job opportunities in the country, many South Africans participate in the growing informal economy. Although there are more men employed informally, women tend to dominate certain sectors such as street trading. Research indicates that many female street traders are the sole providers for their dependants, and thus rely heavily on the small income that is generated. As women, female traders are also tasked with managing their households and taking care of their families. The thesis aims to explore the identities that female street traders construct in relation to their work experiences at home and in the informal economy. The empirical research for this study was conducted in the Hill Street informal market, which is located in the central Pinetown area, within the eThekwini Municipality. In order to address the research problem, this study adopts a feminist approach that highlights the engendered binary logic that pervades western spatial thought. Spatial binaries, such as the space/place and public/private dualisms, are intimately linked to gender. Whilst notions of home in the private sphere are thought to embody feminine characteristics, public space is typically encoded masculine. Feminist geographers argue that how space is conceptualised matters to the construction of gendered identities, in that gender and space are mutually constitutive. In this study a range of qualitative, interpretive techniques are used to explore the meanings that female street traders attach to their work spaces and to their identities as women. By exploring the everyday work activities of female street traders, as they move between engendered public and private space, attention is drawn to how the working experiences of these women both challenge and reproduce traditional ways of conceptualising space and gender. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.