Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Maintenance of water resources protection practice for water availability, uninterrupted water
utilization, and for ecosystem integrity is critical for sustainable achievement of resource security for
all. Therefore, operationalization of water resource protection strategies such as resource directed
measures, especially at catchment level where water resources utilization takes place is critical. The
main aim of the current study was to develop a citizen science framework for operationalization of
resource directed measures at catchment level. Such a framework used a nexus approach, and its
development was guided by the principles of socio-ecological model from a systems thinking
perspective. This demonstrated importance of resource directed measures which are accepted as
relevant policy implementation strategies towards improved and integrated water resources
management practice at catchment level, where local citizens become part of such practice.
Local operationalization of resource directed measures provides a basis for practical policy
implementation at catchment level, thereby informing decisions taken on water resources protection
and sustainable water use for several purposes. It provides an understanding of how policies which are
formulated for water resources protection purposes influence land use activities and other non-land use
activities to ensure water availability for current and future generations. Furthermore, localized
operationalization of resource directed measures facilitates ecological ecosystems protection such that
goods and services derived from such ecosystems are sustained. The research problem of the current
study was a lack of available and feasible plan for resource directed measures practice at catchment
level which has a direct influence on the continued water quality deterioration and unsustainable
utilization of water resources. This study argued that a citizen science framework needed to be
developed and such a plan must be informed by science-policy interface that is practical, reflective and
must consider the nexus approach using the concept of citizen science in order to improve the practice
of resource directed measures at local level in an acceptable manner by practitioners.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uwc/oai:etd.uwc.ac.za:11394/8664 |
| Date | January 2021 |
| Creators | Nzama, Stanley Mvuselelo |
| Contributors | Kanyerere, Thokozani |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | University of the Western Cape |
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