Bibliography: leaves 72-81. / Dryland degradation is widely viewed as a major environmental issue and in many parts of Namibia is perceived to be significant to severe. In recent years, however, following a worldwide trend, there has been a re-evaluation and questioning of the extent, nature and causes of dryland degradation. Too often it seems pronouncements of degradation are based on limited data and a poor understanding of the context and functioning of dryland ecosystems. The aim of this report, therefore, is to demonstrate why an historical perspective of environmental dynamics is valuable in drylands for the identification of degradation and to evaluate the use of such a perspective using northern Damaraland a case study. In order to achieve this aim, several objectives were addressed, these being: to provide a clear and unambiguous definition of the term 'dryland degradation' or 'land degradation'; to review possible indicators and agents of environmental change and land degradation; to provide a conceptual framework that emphasises the importance of an historical; perspective, and the role of arid rangeland dynamics, in evaluating environmental change; to analyse environmental dynamics in northern Damaraland from an historical perspective, utilising aerial photography and archival data in the form of stock numbers; to highlight inherent problems and the utility of an historical perspective.

Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) was formulated during the 1980s by the Council for the Environment in response to a dual need in South Africa to effectively manage the country's natural resource base whilst stimulating economic growth and development. The IEM principles were translated into the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) in 1998, and IEM also became the title of Chapter 5, the purpose of which is to promote the application of appropriate environmental management tools to ensure the integrated environmental management of activities. Over the years a single tool, namely, environmental impact assessment (EIA) has come dominate the environmental management regime in South Africa, and many of the innovative attributes of IEM have been diluted with a more conventional and conservative approach to impact assessment. EIA has consequently been blamed for causing delays and undermining the national government's infrastructural development ambitions for the country. In 2014 the Department of Economic Development introduced the Infrastructure Development Act (IDA) which is aimed at prioritising public infrastructure projects seen to be of significant economic or social importance. This dissertation focuses on those factors that compel a comparison between NEMA and the IDA, not least of which is the provision for lists of projects and activities subject to legislated requirements. Whereas NEMA aims to ensure that such activities are planned, assessed and monitored in accordance with principles of sustainable development, the IDA seeks to expedite development in the face of lack of employment opportunities, an energy crises and falling GDP growth rates. The outcome of a comparison between NEMA and the IDA suggests that overly complex and arduous environmental procedures and legislative requirements have precipitated an extreme response. However, the steam-roller type approach advocated by the IDA is likely to create more problems than solutions as it ignores government's concurrent commitments to co-operative governance and sustainability. The original principles and procedures of IEM provide a potential alternative to ensuring a balance between environmental protection and economic growth.

South Africa is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world. This biodiversity is under threat from economic, social and climate change pressures. One mechanism that could be added to South Africa's conservation tools, is that of the biodiversity offset where certain activities are designed to compensate for unavoidable harm to biodiversity resulting from development. The concept and theory of offsetting is controversial however, and not all commentators are in favour of encouraging a formal biodiversity offsetting regime in South Africa. This dissertation will explore the concept of biodiversity offsets in the regulatory permitting context and the controversies implicit in their theory and implementation. A framework for their inclusion in South Africa's environmental permitting context will be suggested.

Bibliography: p. 163-167. / De Beers Consolidated Mines, Namaqualand Division (DBNM) anticipate that the financially viable diamond reserves at their mines on the West Coast would be depleted by 2002, resulting in closure of the mine. DBNM commissioned the Environmental Evaluation Unit (EEU) of the University of Cape Town to assess the social and economic impacts of future mine closure and to recommend measures to mitigate the negative impacts. The aim is to assist DBNM management in future planning. Baseline data were compiled in a separate document: NM2005: Impact Assessment: Baseline Information Report. Using that data, this report identifies and assesses the socio-economic impacts of mine closure on DBNM employees, and on the two regions from where most employees originate, Namaqualand and the Herschei/Sterkspruit district of Transkei (Fig 2). Integrated environmental management procedures and social impact assessment methods were followed in the assessment.

This dissertation critically considers and assesses the potential of the EU FLEGT Scheme to provide an effective and equitable legal regime for curbing illegal logging and promoting sustainable forest management (SFM) and good forest governance (GFG) in African Partner Countries. It considers a broad range of issues starting with the state of Africa's forests and the international regulatory framework for SFM. A critical review of recent studies led to a theoretical framework comprising a set of specific legal issues/themes (substantive issues) central to SFM and GFG. These were accompanied by three broad cross - cutting themes. The substantive issues are: (i) security/clarity on land tenure , ownership and use rights; (ii) stable institutional structures; (iii) clear environmental and forestry standards; (iv) effective and equitable approval processes; (v) participatory, transparent and accountable decision - making; (vi) cooperation and coordination procedures; (vii) monitoring, evaluation and reporting; (viii) effective compliance and enforcement; (ix) financial incentives; (x) equitable sharing of benefits; (xi) conflict resolution procedures; and (xii) mixture of regulatory approaches (direct regulation and voluntary mechanisms). The cross - cutting themes entail: (i) clear coherent and consistent law and policy; (ii) adherence/respect of the rule of law; and (iii) knowledge, capacity and resources. A rigorous assessment of the EU FLEGT Scheme against this theoretical framework shows that the FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) and the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) form a robust legal regime. The structure of FLEGT VPAs is based on the 16 Principles for FLEGT Partnership Agreements of 20 05 and the 18 key elements of FLEGT VPAs. Thus FLEGT VPAs have provided a landmark mechanism for multi - stakeholder participation in the forestry sector, and have propelled inclusivity in decision - making. Thus FLEGT VPAs are founded on international law and international trade laws. On the other hand, the EUTR is composed of a stringent Due Diligence System (DDS) and provision that emphasize legality as a cornerstone for FLEGT. In this context, legality requires the establishment of standards of legality, i. e. timber legality assurance systems and FLEGT licensing. This involves requirements for verification, guidelines for independent monitoring, and market - based legality assurance. Although the FLEGT VPAs and EUTR cover all the 15 legal themes listed above, inconsistences in national laws and sovereignty on forest resources have either hampered or slowed down effective and efficient implementation of FLEGT VPAs. Nonetheless, remarkable progress has been observed in forest governance across Partner Countries. More research is needed to ascertain the effectiveness of the EUTR and the degree of reduction in illegal logging in Partner Countries. Lastly, there are reports that that African timber producing countries have started to increase their exports to other international markets e.g. Australia, USA, China and Japan. Therefore, it is crucial that the EU collaborate with these international markets and enter into bilateral and multilateral negotiations so as to collectively deal with illegal logging and illegal timber and make a positive impact at a global scale.

Includes bibliographical references.

Bibliography: leaves 130-136. / This dissertation is based on the theoretical assumption that in order for conservation to be achievable it must go hand in hand with development, without undermining development of the environment continuing to degrade. At Independence, Namibia inherited a number of environmental and developmental challenges from previous government systems, including slow and even economic growth, a predominantly rural population dependent on the primary production of natural resources for their survival, human-induced loss of rangelands and croplands and a historical alienation from natural resources of residents from communal lands. As a result, Namibia finds herself confronting a number of development imperatives including the need to address and minimise inherited socio-economic and environmental debts as well as ensure that people are able to meet their basic needs. A further key finding of the REIA was that design, planning and implementation of policies, programmes, plans and projects in Namibia should seek to protect and enhance this sensitive environment, and ill-advised development activities may cause or contribute to additional environmental degradation. Recognising this, and in keeping with international trends, the Namibian conservation authorities, following Independence from South Africa began developing a national community-based natural resource management programme (CBNRM) aimed at addressing some of the key constraints of past conservation approaches and promoting development and conservation. One of the principle means of linking CBNRM and development is through the vehicle of conservancies, a defined geographical area which has been established for the management, conservation and utilisation of its wildlife and other natural resources for the benefit of a specific community. Whilst the conservancy approach was originally designed for application on commercial farms, the intention of communal land conservancies is that a community, within a defined geographical area, jointly manage, conserve and utilise the wildlife and other natural resources within the defined area. In so doing, conservancies aim to help promote sustainable environmental management, rural development and improved income and livelihoods for rural families and communities. The conservancy approach therefore is intended to be simultaneously a vehicle for development and for conservation.

Bibliography: leaves 81-82. / The primary aim of this dissertation is to analyze the information gathered in the baseline report, and evaluate the factors influencing land-use in the confluence area. The objectives are to identify the key constraining factors to land-use planning in the confluence area, and to propose appropriate land uses in light of these key constraining factors. These proposals must bear in mind the local and metropolitan significance of the confluence area.

Bibliography: leaves 92-96. / The objective of the present study was to investigate mist interception by Mountain Fynbos under non-rainfall conditions. Quantitative measurements and qualitative observations of plant-drip and stem-flow from selected plant species were recorded at five experimental sites on the Back Table of Table Mountain, Cape Province. Plant-drip and stem-flow catching devices were designed and installed in order to collect the moisture intercepted by plants. The results indicated that mist interception by the vegetation was influenced by wind speed, density of mist and by the morphological characteristics of the plants. Greater interception occurred when dense mist was accompanied by high wind speeds. The interception ability was found to increase with plant size. Interception efficiency depended on the leaf morphology of the plants. Narrow-sclerophylls (e.g. Psoralea pinnata) were found to be more effective in intercepting mist droplets than broad-clerophylls (e.g. Leucadendron salignum). The portioning of intercepted water into plant-drip and stem-flow was largely influenced by the shape of the plant. The mean rate of water yield per plant observed during five periods of rainfree, misty conditions, was 71 ml hr-1 . Rainfall is, therefore, not the sole source of moisture contributing to the water balance. The additional moisture intercepted by vegetation should, therefore, be taken into consideration in studies of water balance and hydrology.

The regulation of South African land use planning law is challenging; it is a field that is complex and not fully understood.1 One reason for the complexity in the past was the number of laws that were in force.2 Other factors include the number of authorities that are involved, the irregular implementation of the land use planning tools and the gap that is prevalent generally between planning theory and practise.34 The assortment of laws is implemented by authorities using land use planning tools.5 An array of land use planning tools, such as zoning and urban edge boundaries, are used in the planning process to distinguish the various aspects of development from one another. The combined English and Roman Dutch sources of our planning law passed down traditional land use planning devices such as: zoning schemes, subdivision and title deed restrictions.6 A range of unique South African tools, such as; guide plans, regional plans and urban structure plans were used for regional planning during apartheid times.7 Several new planning tools have been created since 1994 to give effect to changing policy, such as; land development objectives, environmental impact assessments (EIAs), integrated development plans (IDPs), spatial development frameworks (SDFs), the designation of different types of protected areas; urban edge lines and marine set back delineations.8 This thesis will analyse the status of the urban edge as a land use planning tool.