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Learning commercial beekeeping: two cases of social learning in southern African community natural resources management contextsMasara, Christopher January 2011 (has links)
Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) in southern Africa has gained an important role in alleviating poverty and conserving natural resources. The attention and funding CBNRM is receiving from governments, non-governmental organisations and donors is seen as one way to strengthen civil society‟s involvement in decision-making and participating in activities that contribute to a sustainable livelihood, whilst at the same time learning in their social contexts to adapt and care for the ever changing environment characterised by constraints, challenges, contradictions, new opportunities for learning and change. This study focuses on social learning in commercialisation of natural resource products in two case studies of commercial beekeeping in rural southern African contexts. In this study social learning entails a process of qualitative change taking place in a social context for the purpose of personal and social adaptation. This perspective is useful in this study as learning in the two cases, Hluleka in South Africa and Buhera in Zimbabwe involved the transition beekeeping.from traditional honey harvesting practices and subsistence beekeeping to commercial beekeeping. This study is informed by two related theoretical perspectives namely Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) and Social Learning Theory. CHAT was used as conceptual and methodological framework to inform the first phase of data gathering and analysis processes; as well as second phase data gathering. In the first phase, I gathered data through semistructured interviews, document reviews and observations to identify problems, challenges and critical incidents in learning commercial beekeeping, technically known as tensions and contradictions within the CHAT framework. These tensions and contradictions, surfaced through analysis of first phase data were used as "mirror data‟ in Intervention Workshops within CHAT's process of Developmental Work Research, which supports social learning in response to tensions and contradictions in workplace activity. Use of mirror data provided a basis for dialogue and the modelling of new solutions to identified contradictions. To interpret the social learning processes resulting from these interactions, I drew on Wals' (2007) analytical lenses, through which I was able to monitor social learning processes that emerged from the Intervention Workshop dialogues while beekeepers modelled new solutions to contradictions in learning commercial beekeeping. The findings of the study revealed that social learning in commercial beekeeping is internally and externally influenced by socio-cultural, political and economic complexities. Social learning in Intervention Workshops was supported by different knowledge bases of participants, in this study these are beekeepers, extension officers, trainers and development facilitators. Such knowledge bases were the source of information for learning and constructing model solutions. The study also revealed that learning in CBNRM workplaces can be observed across the development processes, and CHAT as a methodological tool and Wals‟ (2007) analytical tool are complementary and can be used in researching social learning in other CBNRM workplaces. The study contributes in-depth insight into participatory research and learning processes, especially within the context of CBRM in southern Africa. It gives some empirical and explanatory insight into how change-oriented social learning can emerge and be expanded in Education for Sustainable Development. It also provides learning and extension tools to work with contradictions that arise from socio-cultural and historical dimensions of learning commercialisation of natural resources in southern African context. Its other key contribution is that it provides further insight into the mobilisation of human agency and reflexivity in change oriented social learning processes of commercialisation of sustainable natural resources products and poverty alleviation processes that are critical for responding to socioecological issues and risks and development challenges in southern Africa.
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Promoting stability and sustainability of China's natural resource investments in Africa through BIT approachJia, Meng Qi January 2018 (has links)
University of Macau / Faculty of Law
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Towards a spatial framework for transfrontier conservation planning in die SADC regionVan der Merwe, Nadia 04 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Peace Parks Foundation (PPF) was established in 1997 to facilitate Transfrontier
Conservation (TFCA) initiatives in the SADC region and thereby support economic development,
conservation of biodiversity, as well as the promotion of regional peace and stability. To this
effect, their regional planners require a thorough knowledge of the condition of areas in which the
estimated actions will be carried out. To date, the PPF have used base datasets, such as land cover
and population densities, in their GIS projects to support their decision making processes.
However, they have realised the importance of developing rigorous methods for the extraction and
generalization of biodiversity information for informed conservation decisions. The main aim of
this study was, therefore, to develop a spatial framework for the generalisation and integration of
data to become meaningful information that may be readily interpreted. The resultant framework
represents a methodology for, firstly, identifying and, secondly, prioritizing core natural areas or
units (CNU). CNUs were modelled to represent large blocks (minimum 100 km') of contiguous
natural vegetation that are far from major roads and densely populated places. They were, then,
ranked into three classes of importance (low, medium and high) according to an ecological value
derived for each. This made the framework comprehensive in its considerations of regional
biodiversity and robust enough to be used for planning at the SADC scale. By organising data and
quantitative approaches logically in a robust, but rigorous, way, spatial frameworks provide the
structure for combining specialized knowledge as well as scientific analysis and pragmatic politics
in an effective planning process. This could guide plans which are proactive instead of reactive,
visionary as well as pragmatic and well founded in research and understanding. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Peace Parks Foundation (PPF) was gestig in 1997 om oorgrens bewarings-initiatiewe in die
SADC streek te fasiliteer en daardeur steun te verleen aan ekonomiese ontwikkeling, die bewaring
van biodiversiteit asook die bevordering van vrede en stabiliteit in die streek. Om dit te behaal
benodig die betrokke streeksbeplanners 'n grondige kennis van die toestand van die areas waarin
die beoogdede aksies uitgevoer sal word. Tot op hede het die PPF basis datastelle, van
byvoorbeeld landgebruik en populasie-digtheid, ingespan m hul GIS projekte om
besluitnemingsprossese te ondersteun. Daar is egter besef dat dit van hoogste belang is om
deeglike metodes te onwikkel vir die onttrekking van biodiversiteits-informasie sodat ingeligte
besluitneming moontlik gemaak kan word. Gevolglik was die hoof oogmerk van hierdie studie om
'n ruimtelike verwysingsraamwerk te ontwikkel wat data kan veralgemeen en integreer tot
betekenisvolle inligting wat geredelik interpreteerbaar is. Die daaruit-vloeiende raamwerk stel 'n
metodologie voor wat Kern Natuurlike Areas (KNA) eerstens kan identifiseer en tweedens kan
prioritiseer. Hierdie KNA is gemodelleer om groot blokke (minstens 100km2
) van aaneenlopende
natuurlike plantegroei, ver van hoofpaaie en dig bevolkte gebiede, voor te stel. Hulle is
hieropvolgend gesorteer in drie range van belangrikheid (laag, medium en hoog) na gelang van 'n
ekologiese waarde wat vir elk afgelei is. Hierdeur is die raamwerk, in terme van voldoende
oorwegings teenoor streeks-biodiversiteit, omvattend gemaak en terselfdertyd robuus vir
beplanning op die SADC skaal. Deur data en kwalitatiewe benaderings logies en in 'n deeglike en
robuuste wyse te organiseer, bied ruimtelike verwysingsraamwerke die struktuur om
gespesialiseerde kennis met wetenskaplike analise en pragmatiese politiek te kombineer in 'n
effektiewe beplanningsproses. Hierdeur kan planne geformuleer word wat proaktief is instede van
reaktief, visionêr sowel as pragmaties, en terselfdertyd goed gefundeer bly op navorsing en begrip.
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Extractivism and transition in Africa : opportunities and challengesHuber, Maria 04 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MPhil) Stellenbosch University, 2014 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Existence of natural resources in majority of African countries has been identified to support further
development due to continuously increase in commodity revenues. However, the resource curse
presents critical aspects of resource intensive economies such as short-term benefits of
commodity revenues, limited economic diversification and unstable government. Due to natural
resource abundance in Africa, extractive industries are essential in the domestic economic system,
although, the disadvantages based on the resource curse theory, question the support of
commodity revenues in Africa’s development.
South America views the issues of extractive industries from a different perspective by analysing
the related developmental approaches namely conventional extractivism, neo-extractivism and
post-extractivism. While South American countries are in different transition phases of extractivism,
Africa is dominated solely by conventional extractivism. This results in varying degrees of social
and environmental impacts on the African continent. However, Africa’s transition towards neo- or
post-extractivism will limit the problems of the resource curse and offers a more sustainable
resource management of the extractive industries.
The Environmental Kuznets’ Curve (EKC) supports the principle of developed and recently
industrialised countries by relying on the economic development, which will reduce environmental
degradation automatically by achieving a specific turning point. The three phases of EKC can be
related to different stages of economic development, as well as to the three extractivism
approaches. Therefore, transitions from conventional extractivism to neo-extractivism and finally to
post-extractivism have to occur to stabilise economic development and reduce environmental
degradation.
Within this process of transition towards more sustainable extractivism approaches, the principle of
“Sustainable Structural Transformation” (SST) is applicable. SST was described in the UNCTAD
report (2012) as a tool to reduce environmental impacts while continuing to provide for the demand
of an increasing global population. Neo- and post-extractivism approach supports the concept of
SST, which primarily emphasises more efficient technologies, new economic activities, labour
productivity and regulations. The foundation of SST is based on resource decoupling in order to
separate economic developmental process from natural resource extraction while minimizing
environmental impacts. For the application of SST and thus for the transition of extractivism,
reinvestment is essential to create a diversified economy. While reinvestment can take place in
various forms, the World Bank (2011) identified three types of wealth namely natural, produced
and intangible capital contributing to the total wealth of a country. However, developing countries
prioritise natural wealth in comparison to other forms of wealth; therefore, reinvestment has to take place in other types of wealth namely intangible and produced wealth in order to achieve
sustainable development in Africa.
UNCTAD (2012) considers SST as a framework without an attempt of creating a “one-size-fits-all”
solution. This understanding is crucial for the transition from one phase of extractivism to another.
Depending on the context of a country, tools have to be adapted to support the needed transition.
These existing differences are presented in the case studies of Nigeria and Botswana, which are
two developing countries in Africa but they present different stages of extractivism and resource
management. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar is vasgestel dat die beskikbaarheid van natuurlike hulpbronne in ’n meerderheid van Afrikalande
verdere ontwikkeling ondersteun deur ’n ononderbroke toename in grondstofinkomstes. Die
hulpbronvloek wys egter kritisie aspekte van hulpbron-intensiewe ekonomieë uit. Van hierdie
aspekte sluit in korttermynvoordele van grondstofinkomstes, beperkte ekonomiese diversifisering
en onstabiele regerings. Weens die oorvloed van natuurlike hulpbronne in Afrika is
ontginningsnywerhede onontbeerlik in die binnelandse ekonomiese stelsel, alhoewel die nadele
wat deur die hulpbronvloekteorie uitgewys word die ondersteuning van grondstofinkomstes in
Afrika se ontwikkeling bevraagteken.
Suid-Amerika beskou die kwessie van ontginningsnywerhede vanuit ’n ander perspektief deur die
verwante ontwikkelingsbenaderings, naamlik konvensionele ontginning, neo-ontginning en
postontginning, te ontleed. Alhoewel Suid-Amerikaanse lande in ander oorgangsperiodes van
ontginning verkeer, word Afrika slegs deur konvensionele ontginning oorheers. Dit lei tot
wisselende grade van sosiale en omgewingsimpakte op die Afrika-kontinent. Afrika se oorgang na
neo- en postontginning sal egter die uitdagings van hulpbronvloek beperk en bied ’n meer
onderhoubare hulpbronbestuur van die ontginningsnywerhede.
Die Omgewing-Kuznetskurwe (OKK) ondersteun die beginsel van ontwikkelde en onlangs
geïndustrialiseerde lande. Hierdie ondersteuning geskied deur staat te maak op die ekonomiese
ontwikkeling wat outomaties omgewingsagteruitgang sal verminder deur ’n spesifieke keerpunt te
bereik. Die drie fases van die OKK kan met verskillende fases van ekonomiese ontwikkeling asook
die drie ontginningsbenaderings verbind word. Om hierdie rede moet oorgange van konvensionele
ontginning na neo-ontginning en uiteindelik postonginning plaasvind om die ekonomiese
ontwikkeling te stabiliseer en die omgewingsagteruitgang te beperk.
Die beginsel van “Onderhoubare Strukturele Transformasie” (OST) is veral toepaslik in die
oorgangsproses na meer onderhoubare ontginningsbenaderings. Die OST is in die verslag van die
Verenigde Nasies se Kongres van Handel en Ontwikkeling (VNKHEO) (2012) beskryf as ’n middel
om omgewingsimpakte te beperk terwyl dit in die behoefte van ’n toenemend groeiende
wêreldbevolking voorsien. Neo- en postontginningsbenaderings ondersteun die OST-konsep wat
veral meer doeltreffende tegnologieë, nuwe ekonomiese aktiwiteite, arbeidsproduktiwiteit en
regulasies benadruk. Vir die toepassing van OST en dus die verandering in ontginning is
herbelegging noodsaaklik om ’n gediversifiseerde ekonomie te bewerkstellig. Alhoewel
herbelegging op verskillende maniere kan plaasvind, het die Wêreldbank (2011) drie tipes rykdom
geïdentifiseer, naamlik natuurlike, vervaardigde en ontasbare kapitaal wat tot die algehele rykdom
van ’n land bydra. Ontwikkelende lande gee voorkeur aan natuurlike rykdom teenoor ander vorme
van rykdom. Om hierdie rede moet herbelegging binne die ander vorme van rykdom plaasvind om onderhoubare ontwikkeling in Afrika teweeg te bring. Hierdie ander vorme van rykdom sluit
ontasbare en vervaardigde rykdom in.
VNKHEO (2012) beskou OST as ’n raamwerk wat nie poog om ’n “one-size-fits-all”-oplossing voort
te bring nie. ’n Oorkoepelende benadering is kardinaal om die verandering in ontginning teweeg te
bring. Afhangende van die konteks van ’n land moet middels aangepas word vir die nodige
ondersteuning van die verandering. Hierdie bestaande verskille word in die gevallestudies van
Nigerië en Botswana uitgewys. Dié twee lande dui op twee verskillende ontginningstadia en
hulpbronbestuur.
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The prospects for conventional and renewable energy in the context of African economiesStauss, Wolfgang 03 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Energy of any form is of paramount importance in the development process of communities,
regions and nations. It is a domestic necessity but also a factor of production whose cost
directly affects prices of other goods and services, and the competitiveness of enterprises.
Energy also plays a critical role in enabling social improvement and development: economies
that are unable to provide access to modem energy for everyone at reasonable costs are left
behind in a globalised world.
Industrialised countries have proved that efficient energy production and distribution is a key
factor for the generation of wealth. They have built there success on energy sources that are
easily accessible and convertible into motion, heat or electricity. However, most of these
sources are limited and not renewable in the literal meaning of the word. Huge infrastructure
projects and trillion dollar investments are done in energy sources like fossil fuels that will in
a not too distant future be exhausted. Additionally, these fuels lead to climate change with
unpredictable consequences. Renewable energy on the other hand, has not been given enough
political and financial attention that would make it competitive and provide a real alternative.
Developing countries, and the African continent as a whole, have tried to imitate the
economies of the first world when it comes to energy sourcing. They are very likely to fall
into the same traps: large investments into projects that benefit a small number of people,
over capacities on the supply side, energy generation that is closely connected to
environmental pollution and last but not least: dependency on energy reserves that are located
in politically unstable regions of the world.
It is recommended that Africa as a continent should work on energy sourcing concepts that
• reduce poverty and enable development,
• give its scattered population access to modern energy at reasonable cost,
• rely on socially and environmentally sustainable energy generation,
• integrate regions to avoid conflicts,
• lead to independency from external energy supply and
• make the continent a competitive actor in the global market place.
In the case of 3 African countries namely Algeria, Ghana and South Africa it is illustrated that
there is an opportunity for Africa to do things differently and to learn from the mistakes in the
history of modem energy. The focus on existing opportunities, the interest to learn from
others and the readiness to work together with partners enable these nations to really fuel
development and achieve above average social and economical growth. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Energie in alle vorme is van uiterste belang in die ontwikkeiingsproses van gemeenskappe,
streke en nasies. Dit is beide 'n plaaslike vereiste, maar ook 'n produksiefaktor, waarvan die
koste 'n direkte invloed het op pryse van ander goedere en dienste en die mededingendheid
van ondernemings. Ekonomië wat nie die vermoe het om toegang na moderne energie vir
almal teen redelike koste te gee nie, word agtergelaat in 'n geglobaliseerde wereld.
Geindustrialiseerde lande het bewys dat effektiewe energieproduksie en -verspreiding 'n
sleutelfaktor is vir welvaartskepping. Hulle sukses is gebou op energiebronne wat maklik,
toeganklik en omskakelbaar is in beweging, hitte of elektrisiteit. Meeste van hierdie bronne is
egter beperk en nie hernubaar nie.
Enorme infrakstuktuurprojekte van biljoene dollar word investeer in energiebronne soos
fossielbrandstof wat in die nie-soverre-toekoms uitgeput sal wees. Die gebruik van hierdie
tipe brandstof lei tot klimaatsveranderinge met onvoorspelbare gevolge. Hernubare energie
het egter nog nie genoegsame politieke en finansiele steun gekry wat dit 'n mededingende
werklike alternatief maak nie. Ontwikkelende lande en Afrika as geheel, probeer eerste
wereldse ekonomie navolg ten opsigte van energie verkryging. Die kanse is goed dat hulle in
die volgende slaggate sal val: Groot investering wat min mense bevoordeel; oorvoorsiening
ten opsigte van lewering; energie-opwekking wat omgewingsbesoedeling aan die hand werk;
afhanklikheid van energie-reserwes wat in politiese onstabiele streke van die wereld gelee is.
Dit word aanbeveel dat die Afrika-kontinent werk na energiebron konsepte wat:
• Verminderde armoede aan die hand werk en ontwikkeling bevorder
• 'n Verspreide bevolking toegang gee tot moderne energie teen billike pryse
• Vertrou op sosiaal en omgewings volhoubare energie opwekking
• Streke integreer ten einde konflik te vermy
• Afhanklikheid van eksterne energie bronne vermy
• Die kontinent 'n mededingende speler in die wereldmark, maak.
In die gevalle van drie Afrika lande naamlik, Algerie, Ghana en Suid-Afrika, is dit geillustreer
dat daar is 'n geleentheid vir Afrika om nie die foute van die verlede te herhaal nie. Die fokus
op bestaande geleenthede, die belangstelling om te leer van andere en die bereidwilligheid om
saam met vernote te werk, skep die geIeentheid vir hierdie lande om ontwikkeling te dryf en
om bo-gemiddelde ekonomiese en sosiale groei aan te teken.
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Transboundary conservation - towards an institutional framework for integrated management : a case study of the Ndumo-Tembe-Futi transfrontier conservation area.Blok, Robert Edmund. January 2005 (has links)
No abstract available. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.
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ELECTRICAL ENERGY PLANNING FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN WEST AFRICAGlakpe, Emmanuel Kobla January 1980 (has links)
In terms of economic development, internal availability of energy in a region means the capability to produce essential goods and services for the improvement in the quality of life of all the economic agents. Economic development consists in large part of harnessing increasing amounts of energy for productive purposes or by making more efficient use of available energy resources. In this dissertation, the future electricity supply and demand interactions are examined for seven countries in West Africa: Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Niger, Nigeria, Togo, and Upper Volta. A description of the primary energy resources (coal, hydro, natural gas, and oil) available in each country is presented. The future demands for electricity in the medium term (1980-1989) are projected through econometric models developed in the study. Two sectorial models for each country's economy, the residential sector, and the commercial and industrial sector, are presented. Multiple regression analysis is applied in the estimation of all demand equations. Major determinants for electricity demand used in the estimation for the residential sector were average price of electricity, real personal income, and the number of households with access to electricity. Data on these variables were obtained from international organisations such as the United Nations and from government publications for the period 1960-1977. Each of these determinants was found to be significant for most countries; however, their relative importance differ across countries. Similarly, average price of electricity, real output, and employment were major determinants used and found to be significant in the demand for electricity in the commercial and industrial sector of all countries. Price and income elasticities were obtained from the estimated equations. A general multi-region supply model was developed to structure the future electricity supply possibilities in the countries involved. The objective of this model, using linear programming, was to seek the least-cost combination of resources (primary energy, capital, and technology) for the production of electricity. The impacts of various levels of resource availability on average cost of electricity were examined for each country, and for joint development efforts using a non-integer, deterministic, linear version of the general model. The application of the supply and demand models to West Africa over the decade to 1989 reveals that except for Nigeria, all countries in the region will require fossil fueled systems to supply additional demands for electricity, because all hydro resources would have to be exploited by the mid-1980s. This will lead to higher costs in producing electricity. However, Nigeria is expected to have excess electrical energy if plans initiated in its third development plan are completed. The extension of transmission lines between Nigeria and Benin could effectively distribute the relatively cheaper energy from Nigeria to other countries, since adequate transmission network already exists between most of the countries.
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A case study of inland fisheries management in the Lucheringo-Rovuma- Messinge river systems, northern Niassa, Mozambique : from open access to common property?Abacar, Antonio Jose Augusto. January 2000 (has links)
There is growing realisation world wide that the attainment of environmental sustainability is contingent upon reinstatement of community authority over management of natural resources. In acknowledgement of this imperative the government of Mozambique has formulated policies and enacted legislation to promote Community-Based Natural Resource Management. The research reported here considers the prospects for achieving CBNRM in a fishery located in a remote part of the country on the border between Mozambique and Tanzania. The central hypothesis addressed is that the fishery in historical terms was operated under a common property regime and that, under a number of forces , this has changed to an open access regime. The challenge facing government is to return the fishery to a common property regime. A conceptual framework which illustrates transformation of the fishery was developed. This was used to structure the research. Central question posed includes: what evidence is there that the fishery may have operated as common property system? what evidence is there that it now operates as an open access system? • what forces promoted such change, if indeed change has occurred? The findings are that the fishery has changed and now has the characteristics of the prospects for a return to CBNRM. Three issues are considered: who is the community? • what are the resources? and what are the management issues? It is concluded that definition of the 'community' is difficult because of historical precedents of access and use. The resource is shown to be complex including fish, water, land and plants; it also varies in tenure and space. Quite different rights of tenure issues accompany different resources. And management is complicated by international issues and apparent weaknesses in organisational structures, legislation and resources (human and financial). Evidence indicates that the people involved in the fishery are concerned about the state of the fishery and the lack of controls. They express a need for CBNRM. This study exposes the very complex nature of the fishery and suggests that failure to appreciate and understand this complexity encourages simplistic approaches to introduction of CBNRM. These are likely to fail. It is recommended that in light of the complexity elucidated by this research, the government should engage a strategic planning process with the intention of designing and implementing a process for introducing CBNRM which is constructed in the context of what is a very complex system. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.
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Spatial monitoring of natural resource condition in Southern AfricaVan der Merwe, Joseph Petrus Albertus 04 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MSc (Geography and Environmental Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / South Africa’s natural vegetation and soils, which are essential resources for agricultural practices, are
becoming degraded. Natural resource disturbances can also cause extensive harm to local communities
and their economies. To allow successful natural resource monitoring, there is an urgent need for
integrated GIS spatial data and development of remotely sensed indicators of key ecosystems
processes. Satellite remote sensing provides the most cost-effective and reliable tool for generating
these spatial data. The main objective of the study is, therefore, to develop and evaluate methodologies
for assessing, mapping and monitoring the condition of natural resources in southern Africa with the
aid of remote sensing and GIS. The resulting integrated spatial framework represents methodologies
for, firstly, identifying and accessing vegetation and soil parameters on a gradient from pristine to
degraded condition; secondly, identifying, assessing, processing and modelling GIS and remotesensing
spatial data to derived degradation maps, which identify rangeland condition and woody cover
classes and, thirdly, comparing two satellite remote-sensing sensors (LANDSAT ETM and MODIS)
and making statements of degradation. This approach could make an integrated spatial framework
comprehensive in its considerations of provincial degradation mapping and robust enough to be used
for monitoring on a national scale. By acquiring spatial and non-spatial data in a quantitative logically
robust but accurate manner, integrated spatial frameworks provides the structure for combining
specialized information as well as for analysis in an effective management programme. This could
guide rangeland managers in assessing, mapping and monitoring of natural resources in a scientifically
acceptable way. All of these factors emphasise the need for the development of a national rangeland
monitoring strategy and monitoring system.
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The Global Political Economy of Mining in Selected African StatesBenkenstein, Alex 03 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MA (Political Science. International Studies)()--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / Many African countries present the observer with a paradox: though richly
endowed with mineral wealth, these countries are among the least-developed in
the world. Mineral resources have historically been an important source of
revenue for the state and one finds great diversity in the strategies that states
have employed to access this wealth. These strategies range from direct
participation in mining activity by means of state-owned companies to more
indirect methods such as taxes levied on mining activity, with approaches varying
not only among states, but also over time as historically certain strategies with
regard to state involvement in mining have come to predominate.
This study develops a typology of public/private sector configurations in the
mining sector. The typology consists of three models, a direct participation,
market-led and sustainability model. This typology serves as an analytical tool to
investigate the impact of mining codes on sustainable development.
The study concludes that in many cases the investment-oriented mining code
reform undertaken by African states in the 1980s and 1990s has had a negative
impact through the social and environmental costs associated with mining.
Increasing recognition of these costs has resulted in the emergence of a
sustainability model.
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