Abstract not available. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.

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.

It is claimed that high returns can be achieved from hunting and ecotourism operations. As a result wildlife production is a rapidly growing form of land-use in South Africa. Lately, rural African communities have approached regional conservation agencies for aid to establish small game reserves so that they too may benefit from wildlife production. However wildlife operations have high input costs relative to domestic stock operations and no attempt has been made to determine the effect of property size on the costs and revenue generated by wildlife. It is thus necessary to conduct a Cost-Benefits Analysis to ascertain this effect by determining the opportunity cost incurred by choosing wildlife over other land-uses suitable in semi-arid savannas, namely communal subsistence production and commercial beef production. This project attempts to quantify the revenue generated, and the variable costs and fixed costs incurred by wildlife production, subsistence production and commercial beef production in order to observe their behaviour against property size and by this means to establish the size ranges for which each of the three land-uses is most appropriate. Mathematical modelling is used to define each of the three land-uses and how their revenue and cost curves interact with property size. The resultant profit curves are able to assess only the financial benefits from each of the land-uses to the local community. An assessment of the full economic benefits to the local and broader community would require different criteria and apportionment of costs and revenue. The effect of property size on fixed costs is the single most important factor which distinguishes the behaviour of the profit curves of the three land-use options: subsistence production has negligible fixed cost input and so is able to achieve greater profitability than either beef or wildlife at small property sizes. Beef has high input costs per hectare at small land sizes which diminish with each unit of additional land. Wildlife operations also have high input costs at small land-sizes which decrease per hectare with additional land added. However due to the service industry nature of wild life operations, fixed costs increase per hectare after some point (in this case it is assumed to be 2000 ha). This is because the attractiveness of game reserves to tourists increases with size due to the inclusion of "many" species of game, which in turn increases the number of people entering the park per hectare and as such the fixed cost input required to accommodate those extra people. The specific results derived from the model indicate that the profit curve of wildlife rises far more steeply than those of either subsistence production or commercial beef production. However, due to the effect of input costs, both commercial beef and subsistence production are more profitable at land sizes of less than 3000 ha. This indicates that investing large sums of money into small game reserves of less than 3000 ha may not be justified on the basis of profits alone. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1998.

Despite of Lesotho having abundant water, it is still faced with freshwater challenges as the current water supply cannot meet the needs of the population. In addition, water has become the main driver of development in Lesotho as it is one of the few natural resources of economic importance hence construction of water storage dams has been identified as a development strategy. Modelling of water flow is one of the techniques used in describing the movement of water and determining flow accumulation within the catchment. Rainfall-runoff modelling in Lesotho has been based on traditional methods which only focus on the discharge at the outlet neglecting the distribution of runoff over the catchment. GIS enables modelling of spatial variability hence this study is aimed at determining flow distribution and accumulation within Phuthiatsane Catchment and estimating runoff potential in a GIS environment. In order to achieve this, ArcHydro extension of ArcGIS was used in the determination of flow distribution and subsequent catchment delineation while ArcCN-Runoff tool was used to determine the potential runoff based on land cover, soil type and amount of rainfall. The delineated catchment covers an area of 468 km2 and has an average runoff of 30.943 MCM. Suitable dam sites, volume and the areas that would be submerged were then identified using other ArcGIS tools. It was concluded that GIS can produce accurate hydrological modelling results for Phuthiatsane Catchment. Simulation of dam sites and storage capacities has also proven to be efficient in GIS environment and a 70m high dam with a storage capacity of 327.92 MCM was considered to be the most suitable. It is recommended that further research should include ground truth surveys for the validation of results. Further research should also incorporate stakeholder concerns in deciding on the location and size of a dam. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2010.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

Wetlands have been described as “one of the most globally threatened and important ecosystems”, with most wetlands providing a variety of important ecosystem services, including water quality enhancement. Despite their importance the loss of wetlands is more rapid than that of any other ecosystem, which is of particular concern in South Africa, where many communities are directly and indirectly dependent on wetlands for survival. Two useful wetland assessment tools are currently used in South Africa, but a system that assesses the extent to which wetland ecosystem services (water quality enhancement in particular) are lost as a result of wetland degradation in a landscape context does not currently exist. This study therefore aims to develop a method to determine the cumulative effect of wetland degradation on water quality, which involves the exploration and integration of a number of issues, including land-cover and its effects on water quality, wetland health and its influence on the provision of ecosystem services such as water quality enhancement, and the spatial configuration of wetlands in a landscape, and its effect on water quality at a landscape scale. The method that has been developed is applied to a case study that comprises a quaternary catchment of the upper reaches of the Goukou River Wetlands in the Western Cape of South Africa. Prioritisation criteria are also explored in a series of scenarios, and the criterion and rehabilitation method that gives the best outcome in terms of water quality enhancement is applied to the case study catchment. The workings of the method are scrutinized and benefits and limitations are subsequently highlighted. An important benefit of the methodology is that many previously inadequately explored issues are integrated into a single tool that allows for prioritisation of wetlands for rehabilitation and conservation. This was achieved with South African contexts in mind. Limitations include poor responses by potential questionnaire respondents, while the scope of the study limits the inclusion of detailed aspects which would have further enhanced the accuracy of the tool and of the level of water quality enhancement explored. The methodology that is developed in this research has also not been applied to catchments with good long term water quality data in order to improve its validity. Recommendations for future research are made, which include possible refinement of the system by accounting for factors not included in the current methodology, validation of the system by applying it to a catchment with good water quality data, and the creation of software to make the system easier to use. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2009.

An environmental challenge that is currently plaguing the South African townships in the Metropolitan Area is the volume of solid waste being illegally disposed in open spaces along road verges as well as in streams. The research aims to identify the root cause of illegal dumping in the township of Clermont, Kwa-Zulu Natal. The researcher used quantitative, qualitative and observation methodologies to collect data from member’s of the community of Clermont. The severity of the problem will be measured by looking at different age groups; level of income per household as well as gender. In general waste management and environmental management has received little attention compared to other socio-economic problems like un-employment. As the bulk of the world’s population move from rural areas to urban areas, poverty is becoming an increasingly urban phenomenon. Environmental problems range from impairment of human health, economic and other welfare and extinction of the ecosystem. The urban poor bear the greatest burden of urban environmental risks. The most significant environmental challenge in South Africa is effectively management of waste. Currently the focus in South Africa has been on waste disposal rather than on waste prevention. Consequently there are no incentives for reducing waste and industries are not required to submit plans for waste management when commencing a new business. Waste management legislation is fragmented; as a result there is a lack of control in waste management. This research will investigate whether community members are aware of what is expected from them by the municipality and private waste collection companies. It will further analyse at the norm of waste disposal within the developing countries compared to developed countries. The study will attempt to provide practical solutions for the township of Clermont. The study has five chapters. The first chapter introduce the problem, objectives and hypothesis. The second chapter deals with the theoretical review to help the reader understand different cases and how waste management handled in different parts of the world. This has been done by looking at the international, national and local level, comparing waste management trends. The third chapter describe the study area in detail and different scientific methodologies researcher used to prove or disprove the hypothesis and objectives that were set in the first chapter. Chapter four analyses all the data that was collected from the community of Clermont and unpack other underlying factors that lead to poor waste management in this township. For example the researcher will conclude using the data collected if the frequency of waste collection is sufficient for the community and what can be done to minimize illegal dumping. Chapter five, which is the last chapter of this dissertation will suggest recommendations that can be used to correct all problems that associated with illegal dumping in Clermont Township. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2010.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

The media has had a significant impact on spreading environmental awareness internationally. The issues covered in the media can be seen as both representative of and an influence upon the heterogeneous public. This paper describes the environmental reporting in the South African provincial newspaper, the Natal Witness, and considers the results to both represent and influence South African environmental ideology. Environmental reporting in South Africa has been criticised for its focus on 'green' environmental issues. This criticism is rooted in the traditionally elite nature of both the media and environmentalists. However, both the media and environmentalists have been noted to be undergoing transformation. This research tests the veracity of assertions that environmental reporting is elitist, and has found that the assertions accurately describe reporting in the Witness. 'Green' themes are most commonly found, and sources and actors tend to be white and men. However, a broad range of discourses were noted, showing that the paper gives voice to a range of ideologies. These results hopefully will make a positive contribution to the environmental field by initiating debate, further studies, and reflection on the part of environmentalists, journalists, and academics on the relationship between the media and the South African environment. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

The aim of process industries is to produce products and intermediates from raw materials and other intermediates. Inevitably, there are waste products to be disposed of and if these are of no use, they must be returned to the air, water or land environments. Such returns should be carried out in such a way as to minimise any adverse effects on the environment, otherwise the waste is bound to cause pollution to the environIDent. Wastewater is one such product that has to be returned to the environment. A weakness in the current practice of wastewater treatment is that the potential toxicity of the effluent is only addressed through the prevention of specific types of waste being discharged to the sewer. The discharge of effluents containing toxic or inhibitory substances is currently not directly addressed or controlled by many industries and local authorities. While cost recovery is important, due consideration must be given to the possible effect on the receiving environment. The magnitude of the problem of toxic components in the inflow to wastewater treatment plants in South Africa is largely unknown. However, it is thought by some treatment authorities to be relatively serious. In addition, there has been no attempt to quantify the effect of individual toxicants on the performance of the treatment processes and thus put a monetary value to individual discharges. Nitrification is one of the important biological processes that takes place in wastewater treatment plants, which may be affected by toxicants from wastewater. The toxicants may inhibit the nitrification process and create problems in the treatment plant. The aim of this study was to determine if the Amanzimtoti Wastewater Treatment Plant is experiencing inhibition of nitrification, and if so, determine whether large industries discharging into the plant contribute to this problem. The study site used in this research was the Amanzimtoti Wastewater Treatment Plant, located at Isipingo, in Durban, together with some selected industries that discharge their effluents into this treatment plant. In this study, the Amanzimtoti Wastewater Treatment Plant together with lO industries that discharge effluent into it, were surveyed for inhibition of nitrification. A screening method for estimation of inhibition of nitrification at municipal wastewater treatment plants described by Jonsson (2001) was used in the investigations. This involved testing inhibition of nitrification at various dilutions of wastewater effluent from 20% to 80% dilution. An investigation was conducted of inhibitory substances within influent wastewaters to the Amanzimtoti Wastewater Treatment Plant, and inhibitory substances were detected in all four sampling weeks. The level of inhibition was in general up to 29%, with the greatest inhibition being observed at 20% and the least at 80% dilution. In order to investigate the source of inhibition, inhibition of nitrification was measured in the sewage influent during times when industries are open and when they are closed. Inhibition was significantly lower during December when industries close, supporting the hypothesis that industrial effluent contributes to inhibition of nitrification. Comparison of wastewater from different industries showed that of 10 surveyed industries, 9 generated wastewaters that were found to be inhibitory, with Industry D showing the highest inhibition of approximately 30% over the 4 dilutions. The least inhibitory effluent was from Industry C with an average of 10%. Industry A was found to stimulate nitrification. There was no correlation found between the daily volume contribution of the industries to the treatment plant, and the inhibition of nitrification. There was also no correlation found between the inhibition of nitrification and the chemical oxygen demand and settleable solids concentration of wastewater from each of the industries.. At 80% dilution, the nitrification inhibition results obtained for all nine industries were similar and it was difficult to distinguish between them, whereas at 20% dilution, the differences among the industrial effluents on nitrification could be clearly evaluated. Industries B, D, E, G and J were found to have higher inhibition than the other four surveyed industries. Results obtained at the 20% dilution could therefore be used as a decision making tool by wastewater pollution officers to identify industries requiring close monitoring. From the study, it was clear that the inhibition of nitrification that resulted from mixtures of industrial wastewaters cannot be readily predicted from nitrification inhibition by the individual wastewaters. New compounds may be formed during mixing in the sewer network that are more or less inhibitory than if the wastewaters are not mixed. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2005.