The provision of health in communities and their inhabitants are very important / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2007.

The dissertation's point of departure and contention is that the Admiralty Reserve is one of the Coastal Resources facing degradation due to the fact that it is a common property owned by the State President on behalf of all citizens of South Africa. The environmental management function has become the unfunded mandate of local authorities therefore the administration, control and management of the Admiralty Reserve is the responsibility of local government in terms of various lease agreements. There are currently no specific tools available to local government to manage the Admiralty Reserve. The encroachment of the Admiralty Reserve has been and still is a problem for all coastal municipalities including Umdoni municipality. The rationale for the topic was to study the geography of the Admiralty Reserve, the causes of encroachments and the way in which the local authorities dealt (past and present) with the Admiralty Reserve encroachments; to assess the strategies employed by the municipalities in dealing with encroachments, and with the traditional and evolving functions of the Admiralty Reserve. This was done using standard research methods and techniques. The study is located in one of the small coastal municipalities of South Africa called Umdoni, in the Province of Kwazulu-Natal. The results of the study show that the past and present strategies of dealing with encroachments were adversarial in stance and not collaborative. The failure to administer and manage efficiently can be attributed to the following reasons: lack of capacity to deal with environmental matters and legislation, lack of political willpower, negligence on the part of both national and local government spheres, lack of stewardship, lack of proper education, training and knowledge of environmental issues and negative attitudes towards environmental matters. It was also revealed that generally people encroach into the Reserve because of greed and selfishness. One of the conclusions drawn from the findings was that the Admiralty Reserve has become a victim of fragmented control and management by various spheres of government. The Admiralty Reserve requires an integrated management approach that incorporates civic organizations, the relevant government departments, the local authority and the interested and affected individuals. Local authorities are not given proper tools to manage the Admiralty Reserve. There are many laws but none of them are relevant to the Admiralty Reserve. In the absence of usable legislative tools relevant to the Admiralty Reserve encroachments, it is highly recommended and imperative that coastal local authorities (particularly Umdoni Municipality) should formulate and strengthen their bylaws. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2005.

Abstract not available. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2005.

The problems of land resources degradation as a result of misuse of arable land for non agricultural development and lack of appropriate methods and guidelines for land resources assessment are currently evident in Eritrea. These problems, have called for an urgent need for an appropriate land resources assessment in Eritrea. In response to this, a land capability classification in the areas around Asmara city that covers about 11742.7 ha was conducted. The intended aim was to properly assess the potential of the land resources in the study area and classify the capability of the land so as to designate the land according to its capability and foster appropriate land use. All the available natural resources in the study area were carefully assessed. A detailed soil survey was conducted and soil units were examined, described, classified and mapped out. Several criteria for the limitations were selected from the reviewed literature mainly USDA and RSA Land Capability Classification systems and in consultation with the soil survey and natural resources experts of the Ministry of Agriculture in Eritrea. In formation on land and soil characteristics, and the specified limitations and criteria were captured in a spatial digital format and then analysed within a GIS. Based on the specified parameters, different land capability units, subclasses, classes and orders were identified and mapped out. Finally, the sub classes were grouped to create,land capability classes ranging from Class I to Class VII and consequently the capability classes were grouped and mapped out at the level of land capability orders. The results revealed seven land capability classes (Class I to VII). Class III land in the study area covers 4149.43 ha (36.9 percent of the total area). The largest portion of this class is found in the central, southern and south eastern parts of the study area. However, classes I and II are very limited and cover 1562.95 ha (13.9 percent) of the study area. These classes are found mainly in the southern and central parts of the study area. Most of the gentle and steep sloping lands in the north and north eastern parts of the study area are classified as classes IV and VI. These classes have an area of 2652.08 ha (23.6 percent) and 2594.87 ha (23.1 percent) of the study area, respectively. Classes V and VII are very limited. These classes cover 221.53 ha (2 percent) and 57.55 ha (0.5 percent), respectively. The largest portion of class V land is found in the central part of the study area. Class VII land is mainly confined to the north eastern, western and southern corners of the study area. Four land capability orders were arrived at ranging from (high to moderate potential to non-arable land). The high to moderate potential arable lands are largely found in the southern and central parts of the study area. These lands cover 5715.39 ha (50.8 percent) of the study area. However, low potential arable (marginal productive) and non-arable lands have a considerable area of 2652.08 ha (23.6 percent) and 2652.42 ha (23.1 percent) of the study area, respectively. The largest portion of these lands is found in the north, north eastern and eastern parts of the study area. A small portion of the lands in the study area is classified as seasonally wetland. This land has an are~\ of 221.53 h~{2 percent) of the study area and is mainly found in the central part of the study area. It was concluded that nearly 50 percent of the land in the study area is classified as of moderately to high agricultural potential whereas the rest of the land is classified as marginal to non-arable land. However, the steady growth of demand for land for nonagricultural development due to the increasing population that depend on farm production in the study area, renders the prime arable lands as too limited to support the current population in the study area. Hence, protecting the prime arable lands and properly using such lands based on their sustained capacity can only secure the livelihood of the community. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

Tourism development in remote areas of South Africa is often being proposed as the solution to poor rural communities' development needs. However, experience indicates that tourism development can result in a negative impact on a community's culture and way of life. The issue of sustainable development and what it means sets a base in which the research looked at tourism in rural areas. The case study on the impact ofthe redevelopment ofLilani Hot Springs as a tourist resort focusses on both the people and environment. The historical context ofthe hot springs, their discovery, development and the demise ofthe old resort is investigated. This was undertaken so that lessons learnt from the past can be taken into consideration with the future development of the resort. This study has included investigating the viability and sustainability of such a tourist resort in the Umvoti Magisterial District and in a rural environment. By focussing on the Lilani community, this research project explores the key factors which have been identified as essential if long-term sustainable tourism is to be achieved in remote rural communities. An appropriate planning approach which stresses local participation and decision-making within the context of a holistic strategy for community development is subsequently proposed. Tourism has the potential ofprotecting the environment while providing social and economic benefits to the local communities. Clearly ifthe socio-economic needs ofthe local community in which a tourism development is set are not addressed, it will not succeed but ifthe natural environment, which is the very asset on which the tourism development is dependent upon, is not protected the resource which is the source of attracting tourists will be destroyed. / Thesis (M.Sc.) - University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.

South Africa has a fragmented past. Attempts to redress inequalities must acknowledge and understand the context of rural South Africa in terms of natural ecosystems. We are used to be being told that forests are good for us all. Certainly, the range of benefits that can be derived from forests, specifically natural woodlands are legion. The woodlands in South Africa are essential in the lives of many South Africans. It is for this reason that woodland resources are regarded as extremely important, not only for the maintenance of rural livelihoods but also as a potential contributor to the national economy. The woodlands are a diverse resource, extending over a vast area of the country and across several provincial boundaries. This as well as varied tenure systems as well as management objectives which exist, make the woodlands of South Africa a complex, yet essential resource to manage, monitor and sustain on a national level. Policy should therefore be able to ensure some kind of balance so that woodlands can be conserved, developed and sustainably managed in the most suitable ways possible. The findings of previous studies conducted on the woodland biome have highlighted the lack of sufficient knowledge of community perceptions with regards to the policy issues. This has been the catalyst in promoting informed reviews of current policies, in effect, which are affecting woodlands in African communal rural areas in South Africa. This particular study illustrates that there are a range of policies, both national and international, that impact either directly or indirectly on the woodlands in South Africa. The research identifies some of the key limitations in the various existing policies. Furthermore, the key concern raised is that current policies remain fragmented and are not in synergy with each other. Additionally, the ability to translate policy intentions into practice (that is, the implementation of policy directives) remain problematic. The gaps in the policy environment as well as the failure to implement are the key threats to ensuring the effective use of policy in promoting the sustainability of the woodlands in the South Africa context. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Durban-Westville, 2002.

The main objective of this study was to investigate the vertical distribution of aerosols over Durban in relation to the vertical stability structure and horizontal transport of air masses. The importance of aerosols in the region is well recognised and recently there have been many international experiments which have focused on aerosol distribution over the subcontinent. Durban is situated at the approximate centre of a giant plume that is known to transport aerosols and trace gases off the east coast of southern Africa and is therefore strategically located for an investigation of the vertical distribution of aerosols. The vertical distribution of aerosols over Durban was measured using a LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) system on selected cloud free days in 1997. Backward trajectory modelling was used at selected pressure (standard) levels to determine the origin and transport pathways of aerosols. Six case studies are presented in an attempt to gain insight into the relationship between the vertical distribution of aerosols and absolutely stable layers. The results of the study revealed that the occurrence of absolutely stable layers governs the vertical distribution of aerosols in the troposphere. An absolutely stable layer at ~5km (~500hPa) appears to be the most effective in capping and trapping aerosols in the atmosphere. Below 5km, the atmosphere was charcterised by marked stratification and relatively higher concentration of aerosols. Above 5km, the concentrations were much lower, but generally increased slightly with height. Low aerosol concentrations are observed during post-frontal situations and relatively higher concentrations during anticyclonic conditions. The background to the problem and the objectives of this investigation are elaborated in Chapter 1. A description of the data sets and derived meteorological variables, along with the methodologies applied in this thesis, are given in Chapter 2. A theoretical review of aerosols, including their sources, effects and distribution over the globe and southern Africa, is discussed in Chapter 3. Atmospheric circulation and weather patterns and their relationship to the transport and dispersion of aerosols are described in Chapter 4. The results of the study and an analysis of the major findings are presented in Chapter 5. Finally, Chapter 6 summarises the major findings of this dissertation. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2000.

Malaria incidence in the province of KwaZulu-Natal is influenced by seasonal climatic variations, drug and insecticide resistance, and population mobility within the region. Current control methods are directed at the malaria vector, the Anopheles arabiensis mosquito, through indoor residual spraying. Control of the dominant malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is done by treatmenting the symptomatic and asymptomatic parasite carriers with prophylactic medications of. A ceiling of effectiveness with current control efforts have been reached, necessitating the search for supplementary methods. The study area is located in the Ingwavuma District of northern of KwaZulu-Natal which adjoins the Mozambique border to the north, and includes the malaria areas of Ndumu and Makanisdrift. Homestead location coordinates were obtained with Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers and linked to malaria case records through homestead numbers which have been allocated to all homes in the area. The study includes the cases reported during 1993 and 1994 as this was the only data available when the project commenced in 1995. A geographic information system was used to undertake the spatial analysis to test the hypothesis that the malaria vector, Anopheles arabiensis, is localised to certain breeding sites during the winter months in northern KwaZulu-Natal. Identification of these winter 'seed point' breeding sites from which the onset of transmission spreads during the following malaria season, will allow them to be targeted for winter larval control measures. This will contribute to limiting the distribution and lowering the levels of malaria intensity in the region as a whole. The analysis also provided evidence of the maximum likely flight distance of the female mosquito given an adequate host supply in close proximity, thereby identifying those areas requiring additional prevention and control activities. Understanding the local epidemiology of the disease was necessary to determine which monthly malaria cases to include in order to identify the winter breeding sites, due to seasonal variations in the length of the mosquitoes life cycle. Medical geography, as a sub-discipline of geography, combines investigating spatial patterns with the epidemiological principles of medicine and zoology through scientific methods. It is traditionally divided into two approaches, the first being the geography of disease, under which this research falls, and the second being the geography of health care. The integration of the two disciplines allowed the results of the analysis to be presented in maps, graphs and tables in order to describe, interpret, test and explain possible associations between the location of the potential breeding sites and the homesteads at which the malaria cases were reported. The potential breeding sites consisted of the perennial pans, non-perennial pans and dams. Zones were created in the GIS at one kilometre intervals from these sites up to a distance of four kilometres, and the number of cases within each zone determined and corrected for the population at risk per 1000 people for comparative purposes. This spatial analysis was followed by the statistical analysis of the results to verify the findings. The results of the spatial and statistical analysis indicated that the perennial pans were used as the winter 'seed point' breeding sites, and that the maximum likely flight distance of the female mosquito, given an adequate host supply in close proximity, is 4 kilometres. The results will be made available to the local malaria research and control community who will assess the feasibility of implementing supplementary control measures. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

Terracettes are a widely occurring form of micro-relief found throughout regions displaying various climatic and environmental conditions. Much speculation surrounds the processes responsible for their formation and development. An investigation of these micro-forms, their associated soil physical properties, sustaining mechanisms, and their relationship to slope stability was undertaken in Giant's Castle Game Reserve, KwaZulu - Natal Drakensberg, South Africa. The study showed that relationships between terracette morphology and soil physical properties within the Reserve are few, and that current soil conditions cannot be used to infer process related to terracette formation. However dry bulk density data indicated that soil creep is the dominant formative mechanism within the Reserve. Throughflow at riser surfaces was the dominant sustaining mechanism, with needle ice growth, wind, surfacewash and animal disturbance contributing minor retreat at both treads and risers. Aspect played an important role in determining soil physical characteristics. It was inferred that terracettes imparted stability to the slopes on which they are found, and with continued retreat at both treads and risers the slope was again placed under conditions of instability. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1998.

This research project explores the restructuring of local government in the Durban Metropolitan Area (DMA) and, in particular, the delay in the implementation of Regional Services Councils (RSCs) in this region. During the late 1980's, both as an ongoing process of implementing apartheid and in response to various crises, the South African state has reformulated and restructured legislation and policies which have a regional dimension. The reform and restructuring of local and regional government have emerged as some of the central components of this strategy. The development which has changed the face of local government most obviously in recent years has been the introduction of RSCs. These bodies have been established in all the major metropolitan regions in South Africa, except Durban. While the Durban area was expected to host South Africa's first operational RSC, a protracted stalemate has developed over the implementation of these bodies. Informed by a theoretical conceptualisation of the research problem, which was found to lie at the interface of the concepts of local government restructuring and questions on the nature of the region, and the direct and indirect methods of investigation and data gathering, the study documents and seeks to explain the RSC impasse in the region. The practical import and significance of the conclusions reached from this study extend beyond the explanation of the RSC debacle in Durban . They offer insights into the power and influence that locality-based structures can wield in defining and redefining concepts of the metropolitan region. In addition, they enhance an understanding of the Natal/KwaZulu region, its proclaimed 'specificity', and the way in which this specificity has impacted on political developments here. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1990.