The high pressures for coastal development, translated as prolific land cover transformation, coupled with the weaknesses of management to protect the environment has led to the gradual deterioration of environmental conditions in many coastal areas. Land use decisions in coastal areas are based on opportunities and constraints affected by both biophysical and socio-economic drivers, and hence present one of the main issues integrating the large debate on sustainable development in coastal zones (Lourenço and Machado, 2007: 1). The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of the integration of spatial analysis and participatory approaches in SEA (particularly its ability to identify and predict ecological impacts) on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast of South Africa. The study adopted a conceptual framework based on landscape ecology, which was underpinned within the overarching political ecology framework. The former underscores the importance of integration, while the latter critiques the institutionalization of environmental concerns, which are characterized by inequalities in terms of social and political power and of how problems are defined, mediated and resolved. Hence this conceptual framework was considered appropriate to assess the strategic environmental issues pertaining to the coastal zone on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast. The researcher used participatory methods, primarily focus group discussions (which included venn diagramming, ranking exercises and participatory mapping) which were triangulated with both quantitative and qualitative methods as part of an integrated impact assessment. These relate to the use of semistructured questionnaires which were administered to a purposive sample of six key stakeholder interest groups within the study area. A spatial GIS time series analysis of land use and cover change was employed to determine baseline conditions, changes in the state of key ecosystems, key development drivers and emerging threats. Additionally, a policy and institutional review was undertaken. The analysis revealed that major natural land cover classes are in decline in the study area,within a time period of less than 10 years. The most sensitive ecosystems were found to be grasslands (-19.99%), coastal forest (-40%), wetlands (-37.49%) and secondary dunes (- 21.44%). Furthermore, agriculture and forestry are also indicating severe declines. The reasons attributed to this transformation of land cover are increasingly being linked with economic motives such as individual private land-owner dynamics, tourism growth and development in the area. Furthermore, the policy agendas are clearly economically motivated. These losses signify the cumulative decline in ecosystem goods and services, and could undermine pose risks to the society that relies on them either directly or indirectly. One of the main considerations in this research endeavor was to formulate a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Framework to inform future ICZM in the study area. SEA is planning with a long-term perspective, with a focus on a spatial rather than a project level, an element that is clearly lacking in the current development scenario of this coastline. It is critical that the SEA Framework advocated in this study include a range of variables that will permit short-term, medium-term and long-term monitoring and evaluation aimed at ensuring sustainable planning in the area. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

This thesis documents eight estuaries that are situated on the northern coastline of KwaZulu-Natal viz.: St Lucia, Mfolozi, Zinkwazi, Mvoti, Mngeni and those of the South i.e. Isipingo, Manzimtoti and Mkomazi. The documentation is aimed at undertaking a holistic approach on estuaries of KwaZulu-Natal approximately 10% and determines the influence of anthropogenic and natural impacts upon their health status. The study has also analysed selected sample estuaries of KZN in terms of their general natural characteristics, looked at the morphological features, riparian vegetation and land use directly from site visits and from aerial photographys, and determined the influence of anthropogenic and natural impacts in the estuaries. It also assessed the health status of the estuaries, proposed appropriate management strategies and reviewed the current status of estuaries in KZN / southern Africa. The researcher employed quantitative approach as a viable and the most relevant method where a holistic approach has been used. This was achieved through the execution of various techniques. For instance, reconnaissance survey was conducted including the usage of aerial photographys and topographical maps. Data was also collected using the YSI 6920 model. The study was also undertaken in order to determine whether the KwaZulu-Natal estuaries were still having a nursery function, which appeared to be losing when considering both primary and secondary activities that took place in the catchment areas. All of these estuaries were under a severe stress and pressure through natural and anthropogenic phenomenon. They were all suffering and gradually getting contaminated and depleted through anthropogenic activities that took place uncontrolled in their catchmenmt areas. Findings also show humans as the main culprits for estuarine contamination and degradation. It was discovered that about 84.2% of the catchment areas within the study area was human occupied. Their suffering differed as it depended on the extent in which catchment areas were utilized. Where anthropogenic activities took place alarmingly, estuaries also suffered a great deal. This posed a challenge to ecologists, hydrologist and environmentalists generally, and to physical geographers specifically since they regard estuaries as very important for their nursery functions and ecological balances. Mfolozi and St Lucia estuaries were found to be little affected from direct anthropogenic effects. Pollutants accumulating in the systems may have come from farmlands in the north of the Mfolozi and from the town of St Lucia in the case of the St Lucia estuary. However, more negative effects were clearly due to excessive sedimentation. The study has revealed that the Mfolozi mouth position had been artificially relocated on several occasions since 1952 by human intervention in the system. In these situations, the Mfolozi mouth may be located between one and two kilometres south of the St-Lucia mouth. Two estuaries, Mvoti in the north and Isipingo in the south were found to be the most affected water bodies by human activities occurring in the catchment areas and this has led to them having unhealthy water status. It was found that through anthropogenic interference, there were changes in the nature of runoff and water quality that was attributed to industrial pollution, runoff from agricultural activities, sewage effluent and the runoff from urban areas. There is evidence of extremely poor catchment management practices as proved by the poor state of many estuaries along the KwaZulu-Natal coast. The study recommended that for the important future well being of these estuaries, various tiers of catchment management authority must be put in place by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. The local authorities must proactively manage land uses and anthropogenic activities on and around the estuaries in order to minimise potential impacts on the systems. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2008.

Consideration of almost any geomorphology textbook will show the fundamental argument that in cold environments mechanical weathering processes, usually freeze-thaw, will predominate and that chemical weathering will be temperature-limited, often to the point of non occurrence. These basic concepts have underpinned geomorphology for over a century and are the basis for the development of many landforms in periglacial regions. With the introduction of data loggers so field data became more readily available but, sadly, those data were not of a quality to other than justify the existent assumptions and thus did little more than reinforce, rather than test, the nature of our understanding of cold region weathering. Factors such as rock properties were dealt with to a limited extent but rock moisture was all but ignored, despite its centrality to most weathering processes. Here the results of field studies into weathering in cold regions, coupled with laboratory experiments based on the field data, are presented. An attempt is made to overcome the shortcomings of earlier studies. Temperature, moisture and rock properties have all been considered. Processes were not assumed but rather the data were used to evaluate what processes were operative. The results, both in terms of weathering process understanding per se and of its application to landform development, significantly challenge our longheld perceptions. Information is presented that shows that it is not temperature, but rather water, that is the limiting factor in cold region weathering. Indeed, in the absence of water, many cold environments have attributes akin to a hot desert. The relevance of this is that weathering processes other than freeze-thaw may play a significant role and that in the presence of water chemical weathering can play a far greater role than hitherto thought. Overall, the whole concept of zonality with respect to weathering is questioned. Finally, the attributes of weathering are put within the context of landform development and questions raised regarding the origin of some forms and of their palaeoenvironmental significance. Attributes of periglacial, glacial and zoogeomorphic processes and landforms in present and past cold environments are also presented. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

In presenting a Geography of Health of the Durban Metropolitan Area, the researcher has chosen a conceptual framework within which to sharply challenge the definition of health in a perfunctory/ functionalist way. Thus, the Geography of Health is, at the outset, locationally positioned in a socio-economic and environmental context of society. This argument is developed through a multi-conceptual approach that leads the thesis into building a framework with the central arching principles of biomedicine, social and humanistic philosophy in three randomly selected informal settlement contexts. The specific focus of this approach is on the growing poverty and homelessness, the inadequate health delivery system and the relationship between disease, physical, social and residential environments and structural inequalities. Thus, this study is embedded in numerous related contexts, the most important of which is the spatial! geographical and the social context in which health and health care is seen in relation to the nature of society and everyday life. To some extent this research endeavour is concerned with health and health care issues amongst specific categories of people within marginalized communities rather than some homogenous, non-existent category called "poor people". The key questions raised in the study relate thus to several variables that impact informal dwellers with the specific objective of determining socio-economic profiles, housing and environmental circumstances; the location and nature of health services; health status of people; the ways in which people conceptualise and prioritise health and the need for and possibility of community involvement in health and health care. In dealing with the above issues, a multi-faceted methodological approach allowed for the generation of 155 tabulations from the quantitative empirical data to be triangulated with the qualitative data produced through focus group interviews and also with the secondary data obtained. The most significant finding emerging from the study was the fact that the relationship between health and abject poverty is bi-directional. Respondents identified numerous factors that affected their health, the most important of which was poverty in respect of poor dwellings, lack of basic services, access to certain health services and the prevalence of disease. It is hardly surprising that a biomedical perspective largely prefaced the respondent's understanding of health. This can be attributed to locational factors but more specifically to the overriding socialising influence of biomedicine in South African society. In the focus group interviews with informal dwellers, the ranking exercises demonstrated that high health risks emerge from multiple and complex factors related to personal, economic, social, environmental and political factors. It is the contention of this thesis that health status improvement and the reduction of health risks of disadvantaged individuals and communities needs a multi-pronged approach with multiple solutions drawing on resources from international, national and local agencies and organisations. Finally, the study concludes by presenting an extensive pool of more concrete systematic and holistic interventions that would not only improve the quality of public health care, but also redefine the Geography of Health in South Africa. These, it is argued are seldom attainable in the short term as it is a continuous process underpinned by priorities, possibilities and planning. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Durban-Westville, 2002.

This thesis aims to clarify the sources of, and mechanisms associated with, the generation of ozone maxima over the southern African region. Inasmuch as, tropospheric ozone concentration is a function of both chemistry and meteorology, this thesis concentrates on the role of atmospheric dynamics. Firstly, a statistical analysis of the relationship between total ozone and meteorological parameters revealed a generally weak negative relationship between total ozone and the height of the 500, 300 and 100 hPa geopotential surfaces. The relationship is best expressed by the passage of a mid-latitude cyclone while anticyclonic conditions exhibited a weak relationship. An examination of the spatial distribution of total ozone and potential vorticity (PV), during the passage of westerly troughs, prompted a more thorough investigation of the exchange of ozone between the stratosphere and troposphere. The relationship between tropospheric ozone, and low pressure and anticyclonic systems is investigated further using data obtained during the South African Fire-Atmospheric Research Initiative (SAFARI) conducted in 1992. Ozone concentrations, as expressed by ozonesonde data, reveal different characteristic profiles for the two scenarios. Explanations for the differences observed are sought in the observed circulation patterns during the experiment. Case studies at Okaukuejo (Namibia), Irene (South Africa) and Brazzaville (Congo), which were utilised as ground stations during SAFARI, are presented in an attempt to gain insight into the vertical distribution of ozone over the entire expanse of the study region. The role of convective systems in the generation of short-lived upper tropospheric ozone maxima at tropical latitudes is illustrated while the different vertical ozone signatures, expressed under cyclonic and anticyclonic systems as described earlier, are reconfirmed by the Okaukuejo and Irene data. An attempt is made to investigate dynamic links between the troposphere and stratosphere and the concomitant exchange of ozone during the passage of westerly trough systems. Particularly deep troughs or cut off low pressure systems are identified as important mechanisms in the generation of upper tropospheric ozone maxima. An examination of the vertical distribution of ozone at Irene during the passage of a COL, using data obtained from the SA'ARI 1994 experiment, suggests concurrence with Danielsen's (1968) model of tropopause folding. The intrusion of high PV and dry stratospheric air, coupled with downward flow near the tropopause, in the vicinity of the upper tropospheric disturbance, promotes the transport of ozone-rich air to tropospheric altitudes. The limited availability of data has severely hampered the understanding of tropospheric ozo~e in southern Africa in the past. This study demonstrates the value of daily vertical ozone data, even for very short periods. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, 1995.

No abstract available. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1969.

South Africa is the leading producer of sugarcane in Africa and one of the largest sugarcane producers in the world. Sugarcane is grown under a wide range of climatic, agronomic, and socio-economic conditions in the country. Stress factors such as water and nutrient deficiencies, and insect pests and diseases are among the most important factors affecting sugarcane production in the country. Monitoring of stress in sugarcane is therefore essential for assessing the consequences on yield and for taking action of their mitigation. The prediction of sugarcane yield, on the other hand is also a significant practice for making informed decisions for effective and sound crop planning and management efforts regarding e.g., milling schedules, marketing, pricing, and cash flows. In South Africa, the detection of stress factors such as nitrogen (N) deficiency and sugarcane thrips (Fulmekiola serrata Kobus) damage and infestation are made using traditional direct methods whereby leaf samples are collected from sugarcane fields and the appropriate laboratory analysis is then performed. These methods are regarded as being time-consuming, labour-intensive, costly, and can be biased as often they are not uniformly applied across sugarcane growing areas in the country. In this regard, the development of systematically organised geo-and time-referenced accurate methods that can detect sugarcane stress factors and predict yields are required. Remote sensing offers near-real-time, potentially inexpensive, quick and repetitive data that could be used for sugarcane monitoring. Processing techniques of such data have recently witnessed more development leading to more effective extraction of information. In this study the aim was to explore the potential use of remote sensing to quantify stress in and predict yield of sugarcane in South Africa. In the first part of this study, the potential use of hyperspectral remote sensing (i.e. with information on many, very fine, contiguous spectral bands) in estimating sugarcane leaf N concentration was examined. The results showed that sugarcane leaf N can be predicted at high accuracy using spectral data collected using a handheld spectroradiometer (ASD) under controlled laboratory and natural field conditions. These positive results prompted the need to test the use of canopy level hyperspectral data in predicting sugarcane leaf N concentration. Using narrow NDVI-based vegetation indices calculated from Hyperion data, sugarcane leaf N concentration could reliably be estimated. In the second part of this study, the focus was on whether leaf level hyperspectral data could detect sugarcane thrips damage and predict the incidence of the insect. The results indicated that specific wavelengths located in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum have the highest possibility of detecting sugarcane thrips damage. Thrips counts could also adequately be predicted for younger sugarcane crops (4–5 months). In the final part of this study, the ability of vegetation indices derived from multispectral data (Landsat TM and ETM+) in predicting sugarcane yield was investigated. The results demonstrated that sugarcane yield can be modelled with relatively small error, using a non-linear random forest regression algorithm. Overall, the study has demonstrated the potential of remote sensing techniques to quantify stress in and predict yield of sugarcane. However, it was found that models for detecting a stress factor or predicting yield in sugarcane vary depending on age group, variety, season of sampling, conditions at which spectral data are collected (controlled laboratory or natural field conditions), level at which remotely-sensed data are captured (leaf or canopy levels), and irrigation conditions. The study was conducted in only one study area (the Umfolozi mill supply area) and very few varieties (N12, N19, and NCo 376) were tested. For practical and operational use of remote sensing in sugarcane monitoring, the development of an optimum universal model for detecting factors of stress and predicting yield of sugarcane, therefore, still remains a challenging task. It is recommended that models developed in this study should be tested – or further elaborated – in other South African sugarcane producing areas with growing conditions similar to those under which the predictive models have been developed. Monitoring of sugarcane thrips should also be evaluated using remotely-sensed data at canopy level; and the ability of multispectral sensors other than Landsat TM and ETM+ should be tested for sugarcane yield prediction. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.

The tourism industry has emerged as one of the key economic drivers in Africa and remains as one of the few growth industries in the world. The industry has well-documented, significant socio-economic and environmental impacts, many of which are not positive and result in enduring problems at destinations. This is particularly acute in countries such as South Africa where socio-economic inequities are high and historical patterns of development have resulted in most people being marginal from the tourism sector. The accommodation sector is one of the main players in terms of tourism and benefits the most from this industry. However, very few studies have critically examined this sector in terms of environmental management. It is the lacunae in the research that this study aims to address. The main objectives of the study were to investigate the nature and extent of environmental management in hotels and lodges in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The primary data collection was undertaken via the use of surveys to 60 accommodation managers and 400 hotel guests. In-depth interviews were also undertaken with key tourism industry stakeholders. The main findings of the research indicated that although participants were aware of the detrimental environmental impacts of the accommodation sector, environmental management programs were very much in its infancy. Hotel managers were enthusiastic about environmental management but were unable to implement environmental programs and actions due to a number of challenges and constraints. Environmental issues were also not a high priority for hotel guests in the study. The study concludes that environmental issues in the accommodation sector needs to be re-examined and measures need to be put in place to address the sector’s negative impact on the environment. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

Unclear predictions surrounding climate change, associated sea-level rise and potential impacts upon coastal environments have placed an emphasis on the importance of sea-level change. Past sea-level fluctuations have been measured using biological and geomorphological forms of evidence. One such biological proxy is salt-marsh foraminifera, which have been used as a high-resolution indicator of past sea-level change, based on the assumption that surface foraminiferal assemblages are similar in composition to buried fossil foraminifera. In South Africa, there is ongoing research seeking to produce high-resolution records of sealevel change, however foraminifera remain an underutilized source of proxy evidence. This research applies salt-marsh foraminifera as precise indicators of relative sea-level change at Kariega Estuary on the Eastern Cape coastline of South Africa. Distributions of modern foraminiferal assemblages were investigated, revealing vertical zonation across the intertidal zone. The foraminiferal and marsh vegetation zones were in part similar and overlapped to a certain extent, identifying three zones; high, low and tidal flats. This suggested foraminiferal distribution is a direct function of elevation relative to tidal fluctuation. A 94 cm core consisting of peat, sand and clay sediments was extracted from the salt marsh. A chronological framework for the core was based on five AMS radiocarbon age determinations of both bulk sediment and shell fragment samples placing the record within the last 1500 years Before Present (BP). The basal shell age was a clear outlier to all bulk sediment ages, possibly as a result of shell recrystallisation. The bulk sediment age determinations suggested two possible age reversals, potentially linked to sedimentary hiatus or contamination. These inconsistencies in the chronology were best viewed as separate age models. The core was analysed at a high resolution, whereby fossil foraminifera were extracted every 2 cm’s down the core. A transfer function was applied to calculate the former elevation at which each core sample once existed, to produce a relative sea-level reconstruction. The reconstruction was related to the age models to produce two possible sea-level curve scenarios. Reconstructed curves from both scenarios depict a 0.5 m (±0.16 m) sealevel highstand at 1500 cal years BP followed by a lowstand of -0.6 m (±0.03 m). Scenario One reached its lowest recorded sea-level between 600 cal years BP and 500 cal years BP and then fluctuated below present day levels. Scenario Two reached its lowest recorded sea-level around 1200 cal years BP, followed by low amplitude fluctuations and a relatively stable period from 100 cal years BP till the present day. The 1500 cal years BP highstand recorded for both scenarios correlates well with existing palaeoenvironmental literature from the southern African coastline. Chronological limitations associated with the remainder of the record hinder inter-comparison with previous studies. The outcomes of this research suggest that intertidal saltmarsh foraminifera demonstrate enormous potential for the high-resolution reconstruction of relative sealevel change in the South African context. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

The health restructuring taking place within the health sector is a direct result of the unfolding socio-political processes presently sweeping across the country's very young democracy. The adoption of a Primary Health Care approach and the transition to a district-based health system is an attempt to bring the health services closer to the people and to correct or redress the way in which money is spent to keep people healthy. Given that 'in South Africa more people die from preventable diseases, a Primary Health Care approach is more appropriate to deal with the country's health needs. However, many also die from degenerative diseases such as heart disease, stroke and cancer and are dependent upon curative hospital-based care. Their health needs have to be catered for as well. Since the declaration of Alma Ata in 1978, the concept of Primary Health Care has been broadened to include other determinants of health such as water, sanitation and health education. As a result, collaboration with other service sectors became essential to support such a holistic view of health. The District Health System is the unit of management of the health system that is best able to compliment an intersectoral collaboration. The technology that is best suited to analyse health resources within a District Health System is a Geographical Information System. The delineation of the boundaries for the proposed New Hanover District Health System was essentially a consultative process. An assessment of the health resources within the proposed district revealed spatial inequalities between the areas of the former Republic of South Africa and the areas of the former Kwa-Zulu. The former Kwa-Zulu areas are disadvantaged in term of health care facilities, health care personnel, health services, water, sanitation, roads and economic opportunities.In collaboration with the Department of Health and the New Hanover Primary Health Care and Development Programme, five potential fixed clinic sites and two mobile clinic points were identified using a Geographical Information System. This study goes beyond considering population as the only and most important variable in the identification of potential sites. Other important variables such as the road network density, the number of primary schools and the number of mobile clinics within a 10 kilometre radius of each site were taken into consideration. The siting of the Khanyile and nKululueko mobile clinic points has demonstrated yet another way by which primary health care services could be made more accessible. Community participation was crucial in identifying and confirming each potential site. A mathematical formula named Pregan's PCs formula was specifically devised to determine the 'potentiality' of each site. For example, if the PCs value was less than one then the site was not considered. In the proposed New Hanover District Health System all sites were considered. The lack of health care facilities and lack of personnel along the densely populated eastern border of the proposed New Hanover District Health System were two major factors that affected access to primary health care services . It is envisaged that the five potential fixed clinic sites and the two mobile clinic points which were identified would help to improve access to primary health care services and at the same time redress the spatial inequalities that exist within the proposed health district. This study concluded that a Geographical Information System is a useful tool for addressing questions of access to primary health care services within a district-based health system. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1997.