In the pursuit of sustainable development, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) are acknowledged globally as a tool designed to assist governing authorities by providing the information required to make an informed decision regarding development proposals. South Africa has entrenched this EIA requirement in the presiding environmental legislation: the National Environmental Management Act (Act 107 of 1 998). In the effort to manage the negative impact of development on the rocky ridges of Johannesburg, the Gauteng Department of Agriculture, conservation, Environment and Land Affairs (GDACEL) has introduced a buffer zone requirement in the procedure of the EIA. The Red Data Plant Policy for Environmental Impact Evaluations for GDACEL described a buffer zone as a collar of land that filters out inappropriate influences from surrounding activities. As a tool in the EIA, a buffer zone is a worthwhile concept. However, the determination of the dimension of the buffer zone on rocky ridges, is non-discriminatory between sites, and thus, presents potential contention between decision-making authorities and developers. There is a need for further research to establish a scientifically acceptable method of determining site-specific buffer zones for individual EIA applications. The key objective of this paper is to suggest the possibility of determining a buffer zone that accommodates the unique environmental aspects of each site. This is achieved by determining the distance between the edge of existing developments and the point at which the successional climax community within the adjacent natural vegetation is established. Three suitable study sites, consisting of developed residential estates on ridges adjacent to nature reserves, were identified within the greater Johannesburg metropolis. The three study sites identified for this assessment include Kloofendal (west), Morning Hill (east) and Kliprivier (south). Within each study site field surveys were conducted along transects starting 5m from the development edge and ending 75m within the nature reserve adjacent to each site. Quantitative (species density) and qualitative (Braun-Blanquet cover-abundance values) data analysis was employed to describe and evaluate the identified plant communities. The data in this study provides clear indication that a 25-35m buffer zone would suffice for these specific plant communities to maintain a climax successional status if impacted on by residential development. This paper thus makes a case for permitting the determining of variable buffers zones, based on a gradient analysis of a plant community, as a potential panacea to the problem of resistance and reluctance to accept present standard buffer zones. / Thesis (M. Environmental Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Thesis (Ph.D.)-- University of Western Sydney, 2008. / A thesis submitted to the University of Western Sydney in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, School of Natural Sciences, College of Health and Science. Includes bibliographies.

Thesis (M.S.)--California Polytechnic State University, 2009. / Title from PDF title page; viewed on July 14, 2009. Major professor: Paul Wack, AICP. "Presented to the faculty of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo." "In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of City and Regional Planning "May 2009." Includes bibliographical references. Will also be available on microfiche.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2002. / Typescript. Vita. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2002. / Typescript. Vita. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references). Also available on the Internet.

The Baltic Sea has a major problem with eutrophication where acts have been taken by the EU commission to sign a common action plan, the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP). The overall goal is to reach a good environmental status by the year 2021, where one of the sub-goals is that the Baltic Sea should be unaffected by eutrophication. For Sweden, the goal for phosphorus (P) is to reduce the annual load with 290 tonnes by the year 2021. Since phosphorus is the main limiting nutrient, it is targeted for reduction when it comes to addressing problems with eutrophication. The objective of this thesis is to estimate the effect of constructed wetlands (CW) and buffer zones (BZ), as measures for reducing agricultural phosphorus, in a specific sub-catchment area of the Söderköping river. The waters in this sub-catchment area have the status unsatisfying and poor. If these measures are suitable for this area and where, and if the effect implementation would fulfill a good status for these waters, are questions that this thesis will aim at. An assigned P reduction has been calculated for the sub-catchments where the waters with unsatisfying and poor statuses are present. Areas for CWs have been calculated with the help of the assigned reduction and retentions found in the literature, and location for them has been suggested. With the help of calculated areas for potential BZs for this area, the effect of them have been calculated by retentions found in the literature with 9 and 10 m widths. The results show higher results for assigned P reduction than the actual P load that is present in the sub-catchments. This gives odd results for the effect of the CWs where they show a P reduction of 59-234 %. The method for assigned P reduction is therefore questioned, where the method for the reference value that is used is not without flaws. For BZs, a reduction of 5-14 % is shown, where the reduction is larger with larger areas for potential BZs. Whether the implementation of the measures will fulfill a good status for the waters is difficult to say, due to the inadequate methods and the odd results given in this thesis.

M.Ed. / This study, entitled "Stakeholders Perceptions about their Educational Contributions of GNP in Mozambique" focused on stakeholders of Nhambita buffer zone in the Province of Sofala. My interest in conducting such an investigation stemmed from the fact that when started this research I was working at the center for sustainable development of natural resources (CDS-RN) in Chimoio. — Manica Province and had Gorongosa National Park (GNP) as our pilot project. I realized that there were different stakeholders involved with the Park as well as the communities around it and not that much was done to improve their quality of life. Therefore, there was a need to conduct an inquiry which could lead to identifying the real reason underpinning the stakeholders not to do much and to afterwards draw some conclusions to modify the methodologies in order to change stakeholders' perceptions. In this regard, I conducted interviews and questionnaires in the community and with some stakeholders at Nhambita community, followed by data analysis of research data representing the stakeholders, community members, GNP and also to empower all participants. Hopefully, an educational programme would result from the consensus among all interested parties in the process with the objective of improving the citizen's life.

The application of intensive farming and cultivation practices, resulting in large-scale modification of the hydrology of streams and rivers and of the natural vegetation, has increased the need to find ways to mitigate the negative impact of this habitat degradation. Suitable design and creation of riparian buffer zones in agriculture areas, is by many considered the best remedial measure. Riparian buffer zones (RBZ) are protecting waterways from degradation as they can improve and maintain water quality by filtering sediment, nutrients, organic matter, and pesticides. At the same time RBZ constitute habitat for many animals and plants and their existence increases ecological connectivity, reduces erosion and creates recreational areas. The aim of the study was to investigate how agricultural companies in the Örebro County relate to riparian buffer zones along small streams and examine the actual status of riparian buffer zones, to see if they are designed by taking site characteristics into consideration. Furthermore, the aim was to check how consistent the approach of the agricultural companies is with the actual status of the riparian buffer zones as well as with the recommendations of the Swedish Board of Agriculture. In addition, the study aims to make conclusions if riparian buffer zones can be both an economical and an ecological tool in agricultural landscapes. The data collection consisted of two different parts. First, a quantitative survey including 20 agricultural companies was done to investigate how different agricultural companies relate to riparian buffer zones in connection with smaller streams. Second, a field study was carried out to examine the riparian buffer design along small streams in14 agricultural sites, where the stream width, the buffer width, the slope of the riparian zone, the soil texture and the vegetation were measured. The study results from both the questionnaire and the field study suggest that a riparian buffer zone of 3-10 m without overstory vegetation is preferred. These findings follow the Swedish Board of Agriculture recommendations regarding buffer width and overstory vegetation. Because of the small number of sites investigated and the small variation of the variables, no significant correlation was found between site characteristics and buffer zone widths. A larger project that will include more sites all over Sweden could test if the existing riparian zones are designed efficiently. However, an important finding of this study was that the farmers consider RBZ as an important ecological tool for maintaining water quality and for minimizing soil erosion and the use of fertilizers and pesticides. In addition, most of the agricultural companies would consider wider buffer zones and overstory vegetation if they would be compensated with government funding. RBZ can be an economic and ecological tool in agricultural landscapes in the future, if correct guidance to design and manage RBZ according to the site characteristics will be provided to the farmers. / Intensiva jordbruks- och odlingsmetoder som resulterar i storskalig modifiering av hydrologi och den naturliga vegetationen i vattendrag har skapat ett behov av att hitta sätt att mildra de negativa effekterna. En lämplig design och skapande av kantzoner i jordbruksområden anses av många vara den bästa åtgärden för att begränsa den negativa påverkan. Kantzoner längs vattendrag skyddar dem från degradering eftersom de kan förbättra och bibehålla vattenkvalitén genom att filtrera bort sediment, näringsämnen och bekämpningsmedel. Samtidigt utgör kantzoner livsmiljöer för många djur och växter och bidrar till ökad ekologisk konnektivitet, minskar erosion och skapar rekreationsområden. Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur jordbrukare i Örebro län förhåller sig till kantzoner längs mindre vattendrag och undersöka den aktuella statusen för kantzoner för att se om de är lämpligt utformade för att ta hänsyn till lokala förhållanden. Målet var dessutom att kontrollera om jordbrukarnas strategi är förenlig med den reella statusen för kantzoner och med Jordbruksverkets rekommendationer. Dessutom undersöks om det går att dra slutsatser om kantzoner längs mindre vattendrag kan vara både ett ekonomiskt och ett ekologiskt verktyg i jordbrukslandskapet. Datainsamlingen bestod av två olika delar. Först gjordes en kvantitativundersökning som omfattade 20 jordbrukare för att undersöka hur olika jordbrukare relaterar till kantzoner längs mindre vattendrag. För det andra, genomfördes en fältstudie för att undersöka kantzoners design längs mindre vattendrag i 14 jordbrukområden, där vattendragets bredd, buffertbredden, lutningen av kantzonen, markstrukturen och typ av vegetation mättes. Studieresultaten från både frågeformuläret och fältstudien indikerar att en buffertzon på 3–10 m utan träd- och buskvegetation föredras. Dessa resultat följer Jordbruksverkets rekommendationer angående buffertbredden och typ av vegetation. På grund av det låga antalet undersökta lokaler och den låga variationen i variablernas värden hittades ingen signifikant korrelation mellan de andra egenskaperna och buffertzonsbredden. Ett större projekt som skulle omfatta fler lokaler över Sverige skulle kunna testa om de befintliga kantzoner utformas effektivt. Ett viktigt resultat i denna studie var dock att jordbrukarna betraktade kantzoner som ett viktigt ekologiskt verktyg för att upprätthålla vattenkvaliteten och minimera markerosion, samt användningen av gödsel och bekämpningsmedel. Dessutom skulle de flesta av jordbrukare överväga bredare buffertzoner och busk- och trädvegetation om de skulle kompenseras med statlig finansiering. Kantzoner kan vara ett ekonomiskt och ekologiskt verktyg i jordbrukslandskapet i framtiden, om korrekt vägledning för att utforma och hantera kantzoner enligt lokala förhållanden tilldelas jordbrukarna.