A GIS assessment of development and land use change in the coastal zone of the Ndlambe and Ngqushwa local municipalities, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Palmer, Bronwyn Jane
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Ndlambe Municipality , Ngqushwa Municipality , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Coastal zone management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Geographic information systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land use -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4836 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005511 , Ndlambe Municipality , Ngqushwa Municipality , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Coastal zone management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Geographic information systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land use -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The coastal zone accommodates some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world and offers a wide range of ecosystem goods and services; consequently it has become a focal point of human development. People are attracted to the coast because of access to resources, favourable climate, aesthetic appeal and potential for recreational activities. As pressure for utilisation and development increases, so does the need to manage the coastal system more effectively. This research focuses on the coastal zone of the Ndlambe and Ngqushwa local municipalities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, which are physically and environmentally similar, yet have distinct demographic and socio-economic differences. The research integrates information using GIS, from three time epochs, to determine where development and land use change is occurring. The Ndlambe Local Municipality displays high levels of formal development, while the Ngqushwa Local Municipality exhibits little formal development. These differences in development and land use are related to economic, social and legislative ‘drivers’ based on an adapted Driver-Pressure-State- Impact-Response model. The model identifies that development and land use changes lead to increased pressure on the natural system, which in turn leads to shifts in the natural state of the coastal zone, resulting in adverse impacts on the coastal zone. Changes in the natural functioning of the coastal zone highlight the need for a response in terms of changes in legislation governing coastal management and spatial planning. This research concludes that pressure for development in the coastal zone within the research site is beginning to increase and will adversely affect the coastal zone if not managed effectively. These two local municipalities have the opportunity to move forward and develop in such a way that allows for conservation and sound management of the coastal zone, which will ensure long-term sustainability within the coastal zones of the Ndlambe and Ngqushwa local municipalities
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Palmer, Bronwyn Jane
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Ndlambe Municipality , Ngqushwa Municipality , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Coastal zone management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Geographic information systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land use -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4836 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005511 , Ndlambe Municipality , Ngqushwa Municipality , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Coastal zone management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Geographic information systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land use -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The coastal zone accommodates some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world and offers a wide range of ecosystem goods and services; consequently it has become a focal point of human development. People are attracted to the coast because of access to resources, favourable climate, aesthetic appeal and potential for recreational activities. As pressure for utilisation and development increases, so does the need to manage the coastal system more effectively. This research focuses on the coastal zone of the Ndlambe and Ngqushwa local municipalities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, which are physically and environmentally similar, yet have distinct demographic and socio-economic differences. The research integrates information using GIS, from three time epochs, to determine where development and land use change is occurring. The Ndlambe Local Municipality displays high levels of formal development, while the Ngqushwa Local Municipality exhibits little formal development. These differences in development and land use are related to economic, social and legislative ‘drivers’ based on an adapted Driver-Pressure-State- Impact-Response model. The model identifies that development and land use changes lead to increased pressure on the natural system, which in turn leads to shifts in the natural state of the coastal zone, resulting in adverse impacts on the coastal zone. Changes in the natural functioning of the coastal zone highlight the need for a response in terms of changes in legislation governing coastal management and spatial planning. This research concludes that pressure for development in the coastal zone within the research site is beginning to increase and will adversely affect the coastal zone if not managed effectively. These two local municipalities have the opportunity to move forward and develop in such a way that allows for conservation and sound management of the coastal zone, which will ensure long-term sustainability within the coastal zones of the Ndlambe and Ngqushwa local municipalities
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
An investigation of the factors influencing vegetation stress in a part of the Keiskamma catchment, Eastern Cape : a remote sensing and GIS approach
- Haindongo, Priscilla Nauwanga
- Authors: Haindongo, Priscilla Nauwanga
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Plants, Effect of stress on -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land use -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Vegetation and climate -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Remote sensing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10652 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/975 , Plants, Effect of stress on -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land use -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Vegetation and climate -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Remote sensing
- Description: Vegetation stress as a form of degradation is a widespread problem in many catchments in the Eastern Cape province. The Keiskamma is one of the catchments where considerable parts of the thicket biome are stressed. This necessitates an assessment of the status of the thicket biome by way of detecting vegetation stress in the area. The underpinnings of vegetation stress are investigated in this study. As a basic method to evaluate the thicket condition, remotely sensed data were acquired. High resolution ASTER imagery for the Keiskamma area at two different dates (2001 and 2005) was used to compute SVI and NDVI as indicators of vegetation stress conditions. A Digital Elevation Model (DEM) was used to derive slope angle and aspect. By way of digitizing from ortho-photo maps, various land-use types were mapped using Arc View GIS. The relationship between land use, terrain, soil erosion and vegetation stress was established. Field based techniques comprising stomatal conductance measurements were used and compared to remotely sensed data. The SVI and NDVI resultant images expressed similarities in areas depicting vegetation stress conditions at both epochs. A strong linear regression between NDVI and stomatal conductance measurements (mmol/m²) serve to confirm that the NDVI is a reliable indicator of vegetation stress condition. Slope angle and aspect were found to have a significant influence on vegetation stress conditions. Similarly variations in soil moisture and soil surface condition have strong implications for vegetation stress. Amongst other land-use types, abandoned lands were found to have the lowest NDVI values implying an association with the worst vegetation stress scenarios. It was concluded that an element of persistent stress conditions exists amongst the thicket vegetation of the Keiskamma catchment. This was mainly due to land use activities in the area.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Haindongo, Priscilla Nauwanga
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Plants, Effect of stress on -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land use -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Vegetation and climate -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Remote sensing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10652 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/975 , Plants, Effect of stress on -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land use -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Vegetation and climate -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Remote sensing
- Description: Vegetation stress as a form of degradation is a widespread problem in many catchments in the Eastern Cape province. The Keiskamma is one of the catchments where considerable parts of the thicket biome are stressed. This necessitates an assessment of the status of the thicket biome by way of detecting vegetation stress in the area. The underpinnings of vegetation stress are investigated in this study. As a basic method to evaluate the thicket condition, remotely sensed data were acquired. High resolution ASTER imagery for the Keiskamma area at two different dates (2001 and 2005) was used to compute SVI and NDVI as indicators of vegetation stress conditions. A Digital Elevation Model (DEM) was used to derive slope angle and aspect. By way of digitizing from ortho-photo maps, various land-use types were mapped using Arc View GIS. The relationship between land use, terrain, soil erosion and vegetation stress was established. Field based techniques comprising stomatal conductance measurements were used and compared to remotely sensed data. The SVI and NDVI resultant images expressed similarities in areas depicting vegetation stress conditions at both epochs. A strong linear regression between NDVI and stomatal conductance measurements (mmol/m²) serve to confirm that the NDVI is a reliable indicator of vegetation stress condition. Slope angle and aspect were found to have a significant influence on vegetation stress conditions. Similarly variations in soil moisture and soil surface condition have strong implications for vegetation stress. Amongst other land-use types, abandoned lands were found to have the lowest NDVI values implying an association with the worst vegetation stress scenarios. It was concluded that an element of persistent stress conditions exists amongst the thicket vegetation of the Keiskamma catchment. This was mainly due to land use activities in the area.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
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