The purpose of the study was to examine the cultural ecosystem service and the community perceptions of the Diep River Corridor that connects the Table Mountain National Park, Little Princess Vlei, Zandvlei Estuary, and finally feeds to the sea of the Atlantic Ocean. Constructed interview questions were used to assess the cultural ecosystem activities occurring along the Diep River corridor. The intention of assessing the cultural ecosystem services was to examine the importance of the corridor for the local communities. The corridor was historically important for various activities such as water for human and livestock drinking purposes, agricultural activities, and irrigation of gardens and to a power water mill. The increased number of people relocating and using the Diep River corridor resulted in degradation and transformation of the river. The study thereof acknowledges people as the major cause of transformation of the Diep River corridor. Literature revealed a lot of studies that have been about water quality, vegetation cover and positions people as the cause of environmental crisis such as pollution. This study thereof saw the need to assess the perceptions of people towards their natural environment and see if this could be used to argue for the importance of this green amenity. Overall, the assessment of community members' perceptions regarding the importance of the river corridor as an available green space was a challenge as individuals had a number of different views. Cultural ecosystem services associated with the Diep River corridor are numerous and variably experienced and enjoyed by the different communities along the river corridor. The outcome of the study revealed different levels of importance and various uses of the corridor by individual and group participants. Important community activities included walking, relaxing, enjoying the peaceful environment, experiencing the beauty of nature, spending time alone or with loved ones, having picnics, sports and kayaking/ boating. The study recognizes that improved management of Diep River corridor for these recreational activities is important and efforts must be made to meet the diverse interest of local community members and residents. The findings will hopefully result in community needs being taken into increased consideration for future recreational management around the Diep River corridor.

Climate change is projected to impact the hydrological cycle and have a negative effect on water supply. In South Africa, water to the end user is supplied by local municipalities, and thus municipalities are likely to benefit from adapting to these climate impacts. This research aims to understand the views and behaviours of local municipal actors towards water management and climate change, and how these views and behaviours influence the resilience of their water supply system in the face of climate change. A secondary aim of the thesis was to determine if the advice networks, where the actors receive the bulk of their information from, influenced the actor’s views and behaviours around water management, climate change, and adaptation, using a social network approach. The study area focused on five local municipalities in the West Coast District of South Africa. This research made use of a mixed methods approach, utilising both qualitative and quantitative data, obtained using semi-structured interviews with a structured component. Qualitative data were used to collect water management-related views and behaviours of municipal actors, whilst quantitative data were collected to determine social network characteristics. The views and behaviours on water demand and supply management of the actors interviewed tended to differ. Actors’ views on ideal water management approaches were more concerned with the long-term sustainability of water resources through raising awareness and managing existing infrastructure better. Actor’s preferred behaviours however focused on immediate relief to water shortages, by augmenting existing supply and enforcing restrictions. These findings imply that actors respond reactively to drought, and not proactively. In terms of climate change, actors showed a clear understanding of climate change and its risks to water management. Actors understood how climate change adaptation could be used to make their municipalities’ water supply more resilient, by utilising sustainable sources of water or through ecosystem-based adaptation, however it was found that municipal plans and behaviours did not generally reflect these views. Social network characteristics such as strengths of ties, and the existence of multiplex ties, did not appear to influence the sharing of behaviours or views between the actor and their given advice network. It was thus theorised that institutional lock-in and hierarchical governance might play a larger role in influencing views and behaviours than the actors’ social networks. The reactive responses by actors to issues of water demand or supply can lead to poor resilience in the face of climate change, where cases of drought and water shortages may become more frequent. Whilst municipal actors are aware of these changing conditions and risks, the limitations placed on them by governance structures and lock-in impact their ability to be proactive. More work needs to be done to ensure sustainable and resilient water management interventions are implemented at the local municipal level. Additionally, lockin, both institutional and technological, could usefully be challenged to allow for innovative ideas to enter the realm of water management at the local municipal level.

Includes bibliographical references. / The term atmospheric haze is a condition of reduced visibility, caused by the presence of fine particulate matter in the atmosphere, which can originate from natural or anthropogenic sources. The "Brown Haze" is a phenomenon that is associated with Cape Town and can be described as brown coloured smog. It occurs over the winter months, mainly May to September, due to the strong temperature inversions and windless conditions that can occur during these months. These conditions lead to the build-up of pollutants emitted into the atmosphere. The Cape Town Brown Haze Phase Two study was used to obtain a detailed analysis of the atmosphere in a programme of lateral and vertical profiles through the Brown Haze. The field campaign took place from the 29th July 2003 to the 26th August 2003 around the Cape Town metropolitan region.

Includes abstract. / Includes bibliographical references. / This dissertation presents a comparative analysis of two selected Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) of environmental improvement projects and evaluates the performance of this tool towards its overall goal of promoting sustainable development. Principles for EIA effectiveness are articulated in different countries in general and in South Africa in particular; which describe the current state of knowledge on EIA effectiveness. A framework for evaluation of the two cases is developed from the EIA literature which includes criteria such as contributing to project design, development control, and informing the planning process and decision making. Various perspectives on effective EIA and problems in South Africa informed the evaluation framework. The dissertation outlines legal and institutional arrangements including EIA regulation, administration and enforcement at different government levels, the extent of cooperation between the province and the local municipality, and the implications for EIA performance. In evaluating EIA, it is crucial to define the factors underlying a given EIA problem or strength and the consequences, rather than just outlining the problems. This requirement for in-depth analysis inspired the choice to conduct the study on the basis of case studies. Prevention of groundwater contamination of the Duikersvlei stream at the old Kynoch Factory site and proposed processing and disposal of sulphur produced at the Caltex Refinery are two selected EIAs of environmental improvement projects. They were both done under Environmental Conservation Act (ECA), 1997. For the record of decision, the scoping report was considered in the case of Duikersvlei project and for the Sulphur processing project a full EIA was done.

Includes bibliographical references. / Coal mining in the Highveld region of Mpumalanga Province, South Africa generates between 14 and 30 million litres of waste water per day. Much of the water is saline (TDS> 2500 mg/I) and has high concentrations of dissolved SO₄²⁻, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺. Crop irrigation has been proposed as a useful way to dispose of saline mine water and enhance agricultural productivity in this low rainfall (˂800 mm/year) region. In order to avoid undesirable salinization of the regional groundwater, it is necessary that soils immobilize, at least partially, the dissolved salt load of irrigation water.

Includes abstract. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 79-91). / This dissertation discusses the challenges to interorganizational collaboration in Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) projects in the developing world. After roughly 20 years of implementation, ICM is just beginning to systematically review its initiatives especially in the developing world. The early reviews of ICM initiatives that have been published note several challenges that are hindering the effectiveness of many ICM initiatives. One of these challenges is how to implement effective interorganizational coordination in ICM initiatives.

This research explores the ecological integrity of three small-scale interventions in urban greening in a single catchment in the City of Cape Town, within the Cape Flats Sand Fynbos ecotype. The chosen intervention sites were namely: Tokai Park, Princess Vlei and Bottom Road Sanctuary. The study aimed to bridge a gap in the current research by contributing to an understanding of the ecological value of social management and intervention.

In densely settled urban and peri-urban areas of South Africa, stormwater infrastructure is frequently being used as a conduit for the daily discharge of effluents resulting in the deterioration of rivers and other receiving water bodies. This study investigates the pollution load from urban localities entering the Berg River at Paarl, and in particular, seeks to determine whether or not there is a difference in the pollution load immediately after periods of wet and dry weather conditions.

Includes abstract. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-71). / This study examines and analyses the role played by Community Based Organizations (CBOs) that act as intermediary organizations that help to bring benefits to veld product harvesters. It also examines the nature of these benefits, with a focus on Kgetsi-ya-Tsie (KyT) in the Tswapong region of eastern Botswana. Specific objectives were to examine how KyT has helped veld product harvesters maximize benefits from natural resources; to analyse the institutional capacity, structure, and relationships that affect decisionmaking processes to distribute benefits; and to examine who and how many people benefited from KyT and why they benefited. Intermediaries such as KyT identify market linkages between producers and markets. They are able to build on the strengths of traditional skills and knowledge by infusion of technologies, capital and innovative practices. Thus they are able to equip local communities with new skills and capabilities to market and run profitable enterprises. Through detailed investigation of KyT it is concluded that producers have benefited from the involvement with the organization. The values of products have been enhanced through quality control, labelling, packaging, marketing and sales. Not only have markets been secured, but prices to producers have also improved through KyT. Producers have also benefited through skills acquisition and social empowerment.

Includes bibliographical references / Trade in rhino horn is currently banned in terms of CITES, however the last few years have seen the establishment of an illegal trade which supplies the growing demand for rhino horn through poaching. As a result, a rhino poaching crisis has developed in South Africa, this dissertation will seek to analyse the theories for and against the legalisation of trade as a method to address said crisis. In addition to considering whether the legalisation of trade is the most viable option, this paper will explore how one would go about lifting the trade ban. The latter will involve looking at the proposal for trade to be submitted, as well as what such a trade might look like if such a proposal is successful.