Includes abstract. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 123-146). / Rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) middens have been identified as excellent sources ofpalaeoenvironmental information in arid and semi-arid areas, and have been successfully used in various parts of southern Africa. Hyrax middens from the De Rif site in theCederberg Mountains of the south-western Cape have been collected and sampled. Through the application of pollen analysis to the midden material, local plant communities were inferred and a palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of prevailing conditions over the period of accumulation was produced. An assessment of the overall pollen assemblages indicates that typical mountain fynbos were present at De Rif throughout the last 28 ka and that generally there were no major changes in vegetation communities throughout this period.

Includes bibliographical references. / This dissertation arises from a study commissioned by the Peace Parks Foundation to investigate the feasibility of establishing a new conservation area known as the Gariep Transfrontier Conservation Area (GTFCA), entitled; Feasibility Study of the Proposed Gariep Transfrontier Conservation Area: Environmental Overview of the South African Section. The proposed GTFCA encompasses an area of 2,774 km2 (277,400 hectares) straddling either side of the Orange River, which represents the international border between South Africa and Namibia. The author of this dissertation was a member of a small team of postgraduate students from the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science at the University of Cape Town who spent six months, from November 1997 to May 1998, focusing on the South African section of the proposed GTFCA, which covers approximately 2,000km2 and is situated in the Northern Cape (MAP 1).

Bibliography: p. 124-141. / The Outeniqua and Langkloof Mountains are Islands of fairly pristine mountain fynbos surrounded by intensively cultivated agricultural land, in the Southern Cape. Active management is imperative if the ecosystems are to remain viable. An adaptive system of management is used to determine a management policy for the area. Literature and field surveys supplied data for a basic description of the ecosystems Management objectives were formulated to realize the following Land-use types: water conservation, nature conservation, agricultural utilization timber production, recreation and research. A Mountain Catchment Area is proposed to realize water conservation aims on private catchment land. An efficient classification system is essential for planning. The study area was subdivided, according to land-use and management objectives, into various management zones: water conservation, restricted management, fire control and nature conservation zones. The basic subdivision of zones are compartments.

Includes bibliographical references. / The aim of this dissertation was to study Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) follow-up during construction as an important indicator of EIA effectiveness. The hypothesis for this dissertation was that EIA follow-up helped to bridge the divide between prediction and reality and is effective in ensuring an adaptive EIA process towards sustainable development. This hypothesis was explored through the investigation of six research questions in four case studies. The research questions were formulated from a conceptual framework derived from various literature sources on EIA follow-up research. These questions cover a range of issues that inform effective EIA follow-up, from theory to best practice. In the four case studies evaluated, the predicted impacts and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) mitigation measures correlated to a high degree with actual impacts. The correlation between predicted- and actual impacts did not always mean that the goal of EIA was achieved. In complex, natural systems predicting impacts cannot be completely accurate and effective. It is important to rather invest in an adaptable management system to cope with the reality of not understanding the complexity of impacts on the environment. The focus in deciding when EIA is required should therefore be the sensitivity of the receiving environment rather than predetermined triggers and thresholds. It was found that it is important to establish the baseline condition of the affected environment.

BIbliography: pages 73-75. / This summary contains three sections. Firstly a review of the Baseline Information Report followed by a presentation of the findings of this assessment report. The findings are the impacts of closure. Finally mitigatory measures are recommended. The Baseline Information Report, 5/92/87, was produced by the Environmental Evaluation Unit (EEU) with the assistance of the 1 992 Masters students of the department of Environmental and Geographical Science. Its primary aims were to introduce the NM 2005 study, describe methods used and present results. A brief description of its contents follows : De Beers Namaqualand Mines (DBNM) commissioned the EEU to undertake a study, seeped to assessment ofthe socio-economic effects of mine closure and recommendations for mitigation. The effects or impacts; vary in their magnitude and significance further more they effect a wide range of people and organisations. To establish the magnitudes and significance of the socio-economic effects, the environments of Namaqualand and the Transkei region, in which the impacts are to occur, needed definition. The defined environments acted as a baseline for changes brought about through DBNM closure. Firstly, the history of the Namaqualand people and their socio-economic activity trends was established and issues were put in context. History indicates Namaqualand went through a land-grabbing phase, during which the Khoi Khoi people were dispossessed of their land to make way for trekboer farming and copper and diamond mining (Fig, 1991). The latter industries continue to dominate the region today, providing labour opportunities for Namaqualand's coloured majority and 58 %of the region's gross geographic product in 1991. The agricultural and fishing industries are marginal and are expected to remain that way (Dunne, 1988). Secondly, the Transkeian environment, its history and trends were established using the Herschel District as microcosm for study. The results indicated a history of forced removals. The present subsistence community are struggling with poor infrastructure and are heavily dependant on pensions and money sent home from migrant labourers. Having established some background the report continues by describing the social effects which could be felt by the DBNM employees, their dependants, their communities and other interested and affected parties. The social effects were gauged through surveys, meetings, written and telephonic correspondence. The employees were divided into three groups; Namaqualand, Transkei and mine town, based on the regions the employees called "home". The survey results showed that the three groups were distinctly different. Indicating that group members along with their dependants and communities, could be effected by DBNM closure to different levels of significance. Their concerns with closure, revolved primarily around; unemployment and the lack of opportunities, education, quality of life and the regional economy. The groups also suggested mitigation such as the establishment of a development aid fund, returning DBNM land to the Rural Coloured Areas and DBNM involvement in local projects. The economic effects will be felt by businesses who deal with DBNM and its employees. The businesses in the Namaqualand region are likely to experience the most significant effects. While the national and international communities are likely to be influenced to a lesser extent. Economic effects were established through the examination of macro-fiscal flows, input-output analysis and a business survey in Namaqualand. The macro scale study was covered by the input-output analysis which found South Africa, outside of development region A, is likely to experience the largest financial loss, greater than that of the local region and the international community. In particular, the services and machines sectors were predicted to experience the greatest loss due to closure. On a micro scale, the survey of Namaqualand businesses indicates that 17 % of the regions turnover emanates from dealings with DBNM and its employees. DBNM closure would result in business closures (3 % in Springbok and 5 % elsewhere in Namaqualand) and retrenchments (a predicated 250 or 4. 7 % of business employees) primarily in Springbok, Steinkopf and Komaggas.

This dissertation explores the values of nature through the personal narratives of landowners in the Overberg area of Western Cape, South Africa. In the past, scholarly literature has imagined nature as separated from the human world. Historically, mainstream conservation methods have followed ideals of nature in forming environmental management policies and practices, aiming to create and maintain an isolated nature. This ideal of nature has largely ignored the roles of humans within the environment. A range of new fields of studies around identity, business and politics explore new ways of imagining nature, focusing on the human within nature and the nature within the human. Using these alternative imaginings, this research uncovers a variety of ways 'humanness' and nature are deeply embedded within each other. This research challenges the ideal of a pristine otherness whilst both supporting and filling in the gaps of contemporary alternative literature. The personal narratives of 34 landowners were gathered during 10 weeks of fieldwork. These stories offered an alternative portrayal of the relationship between humans, nature and conservation. Landownership was more than business as usual; land embodied deep and meaningful emotions, experiences and discourses of daily human life. Landscapes embodied personal emotions of owners through shaping their identities, spirituality, belonging and family histories. Dynamics of politics manifested in different forms such as fear, mistrust, corruption and exclusion throughout landowner's experiences and attitudes. These political factors, emotions and economic dynamics play a role in shaping landowners' attitudes, resistances and participation both towards conservation as well as nature, in turn influencing the way they organise themselves in relation to conservation bodies such as government run programmes as well as NGOs. It also affects how they organise, negotiate and manage themselves and their land. Conservation management of land should take into account these deeply complex, multidimensional and integrated complexities entrenched within daily narratives of landownership.

Includes bibliographical references. / With the continued spread of invasive alien vegetation in South Africa, there is a growing need and recognition in protecting ecosystem service delivery. While most literature on ecosystem services has focussed on provisioning and supporting services, this study looks at the less addressed cultural ecosystem services, specifically focussing on tourism and recreation. This research explores the relationship between tourism and invasive alien vegetation. This was carried out at firstly a national level, utilising primarily quantitative methods to identify, and map alien vegetation overlaps with key tourist sites in South Africa. This was followed by a more in-depth qualitative analysis, at a case study level, focussed on the Stellenbosch municipality, to determine the understanding and perceptions, tourists, landowners, and tourism operators have regarding invasive alien plants. Moderate to high levels of infestation were found overlapping various key tourism destinations across the country. The most heavily impacted provinces include the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal. In certain areas, invasion levels at key tourist destinations raise concerns regarding the management of these sites. The findings of this research signify a close link and definite relationship between tourism, and invasive alien vegetation. Looking specifically at tourism as a cultural ecosystem service, and the relationship this service has with invasive alien vegetation, future studies need to recognise the significance of this association, while the broader tourism industry needs to recognise the potential threats invasive alien vegetation poses to their operations. Furthermore, this research identifies the value in combining qualitative, human dimensions, with quantitative data and mapping approaches in ecosystem services research.

Includes abstract. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-113). / Bush encroachment is an environmental phenomenon which affects arid and semi-arid savanna rangelands across the world. Bush encroachment has numerous negative and positive impacts on these savanna ecosystems depending on the land use practices and associated rangeland management regimes.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 78-87). / Three case studies were used to evaluate whether the set normative objectives were achieved in the development planning processes of these Environmental Management Frameworks (EMFs): the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality’s Zone of Choice EMF, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality’s EMF and the Tlokwe Municipality’s EMF. The objectives include the provision of a mechanism and decision support tool for the study area (identification of geographical areas) for competent authorities as well as proactive input into development proposals. EMFs functioning as a repository were found to facilitate effective and efficient decision making that is achieved through integrating all relevant and viable spatial information into a single workable platform that will provide input into local Spatial Development Frameworks (SDFs) and IDPs.

We find that ICA could make a useful contribution through the identification of the land based seasonal cycle and the ocean based seasonal cycle. These qualities mean that ICA may further prove a useful tool in the problem of identifying components of climate change signals from ensembles of multiple climate models.