Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The multifaceted land degradation problem and its associated manifold impacts have attracted
research from different disciplines, resulting in varying definitions of the concept. However, most
researchers agree that human intervention that deteriorates the state of the environment is the central
element. Among the anthropogenic activities that exacerbate land degradation, land cover has been
singled out as the salient element. Rapid and unplanned land cover changes are primary
manifestations of this problem. UMhlathuze Municipality, the study area which has superior
biodiversity richness, is one of fastest growing municipalities in South Africa and is the locale of
significant land modifications in recent decades because of a variety of industrial and residential
developments.
Using Landsat TM imagery acquired for 1984, 1996 and 2004, this study mapped and
quantified land cover change and manifestations of land degradation in the uMhlathuze
Municipality in conjunction with settlement intensification computed from orthophotographs
acquired for 1984 and 2004. Census population statistics were analysed as a reflection of population
dynamics and further to gauge related causes of land cover change. Geographical information
technology (GIT) was applied as an analytical tool.
The results revealed the anthropogenic influences that led to changes in land cover over the 20-
year period between 1984 and 2004. The dominant natural cover classes in 1984 declined
continuously and human-dominated land categories had increased sharply by 2004. Much of
grasslands, forest and wetlands were converted to monotypical agroforestry (sugar cane and forestry
plantations), built-up settlement and mining. These changes engendered complete loss of
biodiversity (floral and migration of fauna). Bare ground, signifying land degradation, was noticeable although it exhibited a fluctuating trend which could be attributable to differences
between the various imagery used. Along with population growth, the area of settlements increased
over the study period and spatially sprawled from urban areas. Settlements showed a fairly stable
spatial configuration over the 20-year period, but became magnified in medium- and high-density
areas. Grassland and wetlands occurring around Richards Bay, as well as indigenous forest near
Port Durnford, were identified as critically threatened ecosystems. The proposed industrial
development zone and port expansion were recognized as having adverse ecological implications
for wetlands. The study concluded that significant land cover changes occurred in the form of
natural land cover giving way to monotypical agroforestry, built-up settlements and mining - all to the detriment of pristine natural habitat. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die veelvlakkige probleem van omgewingsdegradasie en die gepaardgaande veelsoortige
impakte lok navorsing uit verskillende dissiplines, wat lei tot verskillende definisies van die konsep.
Tog is die meeste navorsers dit eens dat menslike invloede die sentrale element is wat die toestand
van die omgewing verswak. Van die vele menslike aktiwiteite is grondgebruikverandering
uitgesonder as die belangrikste beïnvloeder van agteruitgang van die omgewing. Veral vinnige en
onbeplande grondgebruikveranderinge verteenwoordig die primêre manifestasies van hierdie
probleem. UMhlathuze Munisipaliteit, die studiegebied met 'n hoë biodiversiteitsrykdom, is een van
die vinnigste groeiende munisipaliteite in Suid-Afrika, waar 'n verskeidenheid nywerheids- en
residensiële ontwikkelings beduidende grondgebruikverandering oor die afgelope dekades dryf.
Met behulp van Landsat TM beelde van 1984, 1996 en 2004, is hierdie studiegebied gekarteer
en oppervlaktes gekwantifiseer om grondgebruikverandering en verwante manifestasies van die
agteruitgang van landbedekking in die uMhlathuze Munisipaliteit te konstateer. Tesame hiermee is
die verdigting van nedersettings ook met behulp van ortofoto’s van 1984 en 2004 aangeteken.
Bevolkingsensusstatistieke is ontleed as weerspieëling van die gepaardgaande bevolkingsdinamika
en om moontlike oorsake van verandering in grondbedekking te bepaal. Vir hierdie doel is
geografiese inligtingstegnologie (GIT ) as analitiese instrument toegepas. Die resultate toon antropogeniese invloede lei tot veranderinge in grondbedekking oor die
tydperk van 20 jaar tussen 1984 en 2004. Die dominante natuurlike dekkingsklasse in 1984 het
voortdurend verminder en menslik-gedomineerde kategorieë het teen 2004 skerp gestyg. Baie van
die grasvelde, woude en vleilande is daadwerklik omskep tot monotipiese agro-bosbou (suikerrieten
bosbouplantasies), beboude nedersetting en mynbou. Hierdie veranderinge behels 'n volledige
verlies van biodiversiteit (plantegroei en migrasie van fauna). Kaalgrond, wat dui op die
agteruitgang van grondbedekking, was ook opvallend, hoewel dit 'n wisselende tendens toon wat
ook kan wees as gevolg van die verskille tussen die beeldmateriaal wat gebruik is. Saam met die
groei van die bevolking is bevind dat nedersettings oor die studieperiode toegeneem het en in
tipiese spreipatrone weg van die stedelike gebiede uitbrei. Nedersettings het 'n redelik stabiele
ruimtelike liggingsopset oor die tydperk van 20 jaar getoon, maar het in medium- en hoë- digtheid
gebiedeverdeel. Die voorkoms van grasveld en vleiland rondom Richardsbaai, asook inheemse
woud naby Port Durnford, is geïdentifiseer as krities-bedreigde ekosisteme. Die voorgestelde
nywerheidsontwikkelingsone en hawe-uitbreiding is geïdentifiseer as ontwikkelings met nadelige
ekologiese implikasies vir vleilande. Daar is dus tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat beduidende
voortgaande grondbedekkingveranderinge in die gebied voorkom, waarin natuurlike landdekking
transformeer tot monotipiese agrobosbou, beboude nedersettings en mynbou - alles tot nadeel van
die ongerepte natuurlike habitat.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/86208 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | Xulu, Sifiso |
| Contributors | Van der Merwe, J. H., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Geography and Environmental Studies. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 127 p. : ill., maps |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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