Integrating local knowledge and forest surveys to assess Lantana camara impacts on indigenous species recruitment in Mazeppa Bay, South Africa
- Jevon, Tui, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: Jevon, Tui , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180843 , vital:43650 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-015-9748-y"
- Description: Invasive alien species have variable impacts on peoples’ livelihoods, plant communities and species at the local scale. Local people often have deeper insights into and experiences of these impacts than can be measured by scientific surveys. Here we examine the impacts of Lantana camara on the recruitment of indigenous forest species, many of which are used by local people. We integrate findings from conversations with elderly respondents with standard ecological surveys. Both sources of information indicate that the increasing presence of Lantana suppresses the number and species richness of recruits of indigenous forest species, which may retard forest succession. Dense thickets of Lantana also restricted access to non-timber forest products and species of cultural significance. The origin and date of the Lantana introduction in the area was identified by respondents as the 1960s and it escaped into the wild in the early 1970s. These findings can be incorporated into locally based management considerations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Jevon, Tui , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180843 , vital:43650 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-015-9748-y"
- Description: Invasive alien species have variable impacts on peoples’ livelihoods, plant communities and species at the local scale. Local people often have deeper insights into and experiences of these impacts than can be measured by scientific surveys. Here we examine the impacts of Lantana camara on the recruitment of indigenous forest species, many of which are used by local people. We integrate findings from conversations with elderly respondents with standard ecological surveys. Both sources of information indicate that the increasing presence of Lantana suppresses the number and species richness of recruits of indigenous forest species, which may retard forest succession. Dense thickets of Lantana also restricted access to non-timber forest products and species of cultural significance. The origin and date of the Lantana introduction in the area was identified by respondents as the 1960s and it escaped into the wild in the early 1970s. These findings can be incorporated into locally based management considerations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The contribution of wild palms to the livelihoods and diversification of rural households in southern Mozambique
- King, Angelina R, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: King, Angelina R , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/399846 , vital:69563 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2022.102793"
- Description: In most low-income countries, rural households combine a range of economic activities to generate income, achieve food and nutritional security and fulfill other livelihood objectives, including: small-scale farming, fishing, hunting, livestock and timber production, and non-timber forest products gathering, as well as off-farm activities such as wage labour and informal trading. This work examines the role of diversification, including palm products income, on rural livelihoods in the Zitundo area, southern Mozambique. Seven livelihood strategies were identified, with every strategy combining cash income from several sources. Most households adopt a wage-based strategy to some degree, although this strategy shows low potential for reducing poverty in the area. Households adopting a palm-based strategy show between 23% and 60% lower poverty incidence than those adopting alternatives strategies. Yet, a palm-based livelihood strategy was adopted by only 11% of households. Traders of palm products earn approximately double the annual income and per capita income than non-traders. Village of residency and some household socio-economic and demographic characteristics correlate with a households' choice of livelihood strategy and palm income dependency. The adherence of many households to a less remunerative wage strategy indicates other factors also influence the choice of livelihood strategies. The study shows that future development plans and policy interventions to mitigate poverty in the area should go beyond the usual agricultural sector and recognize the role of non-timber forest products, especially palm products, for people's livelihoods and poverty alleviation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
- Authors: King, Angelina R , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/399846 , vital:69563 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2022.102793"
- Description: In most low-income countries, rural households combine a range of economic activities to generate income, achieve food and nutritional security and fulfill other livelihood objectives, including: small-scale farming, fishing, hunting, livestock and timber production, and non-timber forest products gathering, as well as off-farm activities such as wage labour and informal trading. This work examines the role of diversification, including palm products income, on rural livelihoods in the Zitundo area, southern Mozambique. Seven livelihood strategies were identified, with every strategy combining cash income from several sources. Most households adopt a wage-based strategy to some degree, although this strategy shows low potential for reducing poverty in the area. Households adopting a palm-based strategy show between 23% and 60% lower poverty incidence than those adopting alternatives strategies. Yet, a palm-based livelihood strategy was adopted by only 11% of households. Traders of palm products earn approximately double the annual income and per capita income than non-traders. Village of residency and some household socio-economic and demographic characteristics correlate with a households' choice of livelihood strategy and palm income dependency. The adherence of many households to a less remunerative wage strategy indicates other factors also influence the choice of livelihood strategies. The study shows that future development plans and policy interventions to mitigate poverty in the area should go beyond the usual agricultural sector and recognize the role of non-timber forest products, especially palm products, for people's livelihoods and poverty alleviation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
Grand challenges in urban agriculture: ecological and social approaches to transformative sustainability
- Zimmerer, Karl S, Bell, Martha G, Chirisa, Innocent, Duvall, Chris S, Egerer, Monika, Hung, Po-Yi, Lerner, Amy M, Shackleton, Charlie M, Ward, James D, Ochoa, Carolina Y
- Authors: Zimmerer, Karl S , Bell, Martha G , Chirisa, Innocent , Duvall, Chris S , Egerer, Monika , Hung, Po-Yi , Lerner, Amy M , Shackleton, Charlie M , Ward, James D , Ochoa, Carolina Y
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/402287 , vital:69838 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.668561"
- Description: This synopsis of the Grand Challenges of Urban Agriculture (UA) is framed by the urgent need to understand and strengthen the expanding yet highly diverse roles of UA amid rapid global urbanization, failures of predominant food systems, and crises in systems of physical and mental health. More than half of humanity lives in cities today and by 2030 this is projected to grow to 60.4 percent, ∼5 billion people (UN Habitat, 2020). More than 90 percent of urban demographic increase is anticipated to take place in the developing world. Ecological and social dimensions of UA are situated in these expanding spaces of cities, towns, and villages (along with their urban fringe or peri-urban areas), and among their diverse populations. UA is further situated in the powerful, far-reaching influences of urbanization processes that occur within and beyond these spaces. UA is thus integral to the prospect of Urban Sustainability as SDG 11 (“Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”) of the U.N.’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Zimmerer, Karl S , Bell, Martha G , Chirisa, Innocent , Duvall, Chris S , Egerer, Monika , Hung, Po-Yi , Lerner, Amy M , Shackleton, Charlie M , Ward, James D , Ochoa, Carolina Y
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/402287 , vital:69838 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.668561"
- Description: This synopsis of the Grand Challenges of Urban Agriculture (UA) is framed by the urgent need to understand and strengthen the expanding yet highly diverse roles of UA amid rapid global urbanization, failures of predominant food systems, and crises in systems of physical and mental health. More than half of humanity lives in cities today and by 2030 this is projected to grow to 60.4 percent, ∼5 billion people (UN Habitat, 2020). More than 90 percent of urban demographic increase is anticipated to take place in the developing world. Ecological and social dimensions of UA are situated in these expanding spaces of cities, towns, and villages (along with their urban fringe or peri-urban areas), and among their diverse populations. UA is further situated in the powerful, far-reaching influences of urbanization processes that occur within and beyond these spaces. UA is thus integral to the prospect of Urban Sustainability as SDG 11 (“Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”) of the U.N.’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Public green space inequality in small towns in South Africa
- McConnachie, Matthew M, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: McConnachie, Matthew M , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6644 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006874
- Description: The distribution of public green space within towns is frequently uneven, and influenced by attributes such as its location relative to the commercial core, as well as the ethnicity and relative wealth and education of the residents. Yet most studies are from large cities in developed countries. In contrast, this study reports on the distribution of public green space across 9 small towns in a developing country, namely South Africa, which offers a unique case study because of its former racially defined settlement patterns. We do so using GIS analysis of aerial photographs focusing on 3 types of suburbs in each town, defined on the basis of wealth as well as race-based history under the previous apartheid regime. The more affluent suburbs, inhabited mainly by whites, have the lowest density of housing and the highest area of green space per capita. Proportionally, they have a similar area under public green space as to the previously racially defined townships, but because of the lower housing density, they have a greater area per person. The newly built low-cost housing areas (termed RDP suburbs), occupied largely by poor black South Africans, are poorly endowed with public green space, and fare worse than the other 2 suburb types on all attributes measured. This needs to be addressed in further low-cost housing developments.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: McConnachie, Matthew M , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6644 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006874
- Description: The distribution of public green space within towns is frequently uneven, and influenced by attributes such as its location relative to the commercial core, as well as the ethnicity and relative wealth and education of the residents. Yet most studies are from large cities in developed countries. In contrast, this study reports on the distribution of public green space across 9 small towns in a developing country, namely South Africa, which offers a unique case study because of its former racially defined settlement patterns. We do so using GIS analysis of aerial photographs focusing on 3 types of suburbs in each town, defined on the basis of wealth as well as race-based history under the previous apartheid regime. The more affluent suburbs, inhabited mainly by whites, have the lowest density of housing and the highest area of green space per capita. Proportionally, they have a similar area under public green space as to the previously racially defined townships, but because of the lower housing density, they have a greater area per person. The newly built low-cost housing areas (termed RDP suburbs), occupied largely by poor black South Africans, are poorly endowed with public green space, and fare worse than the other 2 suburb types on all attributes measured. This needs to be addressed in further low-cost housing developments.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Aesthetic and spiritual ecosystem services provided by urban sacred sites
- De Lacy, Peter J G, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: De Lacy, Peter J G , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/60919 , vital:27891 , http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su9091628
- Description: The range and use of ecosystem services provided by urban sacred sites has hardly been considered in studies of urban ecology, sustainability and human wellbeing. This paper examines the perceived ecosystem services supplied by green spaces or gardens associated with places of religious worship and appreciated by worshippers in a mid-sized town in South Africa. A questionnaire with open, closed and Likert scale questions was administered at 30 places of worship (25 with gardens and five without). Respondents identified a wide diversity of ecosystem services provided by gardens, with social ones being more recognized than ecological, and economic services the least. Approximately two-thirds of respondents visited a sacred site garden weekly or more often. The majority of respondents (96%) felt that a garden was necessary because it added to their feelings of connection with God, or helped them relax and so be better able to concentrate, and 54% stated that a garden enhanced their overall spiritual experience. Regression analysis revealed that aesthetic appreciation of a garden was significantly related to woody plant species richness, number and basal area in the garden. On the other hand, spiritual experience was positively related to woody plant basal area, but not species richness nor tree number. Neither size of the garden, nor number of years the respondents had been vising a particular sacred site had any influence on the rated spiritual or aesthetic experiences. These results reveal the widely appreciated ecosystem services provided by urban sacred spaces and their centrality in enhancing spiritual satisfaction for some.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: De Lacy, Peter J G , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/60919 , vital:27891 , http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su9091628
- Description: The range and use of ecosystem services provided by urban sacred sites has hardly been considered in studies of urban ecology, sustainability and human wellbeing. This paper examines the perceived ecosystem services supplied by green spaces or gardens associated with places of religious worship and appreciated by worshippers in a mid-sized town in South Africa. A questionnaire with open, closed and Likert scale questions was administered at 30 places of worship (25 with gardens and five without). Respondents identified a wide diversity of ecosystem services provided by gardens, with social ones being more recognized than ecological, and economic services the least. Approximately two-thirds of respondents visited a sacred site garden weekly or more often. The majority of respondents (96%) felt that a garden was necessary because it added to their feelings of connection with God, or helped them relax and so be better able to concentrate, and 54% stated that a garden enhanced their overall spiritual experience. Regression analysis revealed that aesthetic appreciation of a garden was significantly related to woody plant species richness, number and basal area in the garden. On the other hand, spiritual experience was positively related to woody plant basal area, but not species richness nor tree number. Neither size of the garden, nor number of years the respondents had been vising a particular sacred site had any influence on the rated spiritual or aesthetic experiences. These results reveal the widely appreciated ecosystem services provided by urban sacred spaces and their centrality in enhancing spiritual satisfaction for some.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Above ground woody community attributes, biomass and carbon stocks along a rainfall gradient in the savannas of the central lowveld, South Africa
- Shackleton, Charlie M, Scholes, Robert J
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , Scholes, Robert J
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6658 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007079
- Description: Enumeration of carbon stocks at benchmark sites is a necessary activity in assessing the potential carbon sequestration and possible generation of credits through restoration of intensively impacted sites. However, there is a lack of empirical studies throughout much of the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa. We report an estimation of species specific and site biomass and carbon stocks, and general vegetation structural attributes from three protected areas along a rainfall gradient in the central lowveld, South Africa. Estimates of biomass and carbon stocks were effected through destructive sampling to establish locally derived allometric equations. There was a gradient of increasing woody density, height of the canopy, number of species, density of regenerative stems and a greater proportion of stems in small size classes from the arid locality to the mesic locality, with the semi-arid locality being intermediate. The proportion of spinescent species decreased with increasing rainfall. The mesic locality was significantly more woody than either the arid or semi-arid sites, having double the biomass, four times the density and 40% higher basal area. Above ground carbon pools were also higher; carbon stocks were approximately 9 t/ha for the arid and semi-arid sites and 18 t/ha for the mesic site.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , Scholes, Robert J
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6658 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007079
- Description: Enumeration of carbon stocks at benchmark sites is a necessary activity in assessing the potential carbon sequestration and possible generation of credits through restoration of intensively impacted sites. However, there is a lack of empirical studies throughout much of the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa. We report an estimation of species specific and site biomass and carbon stocks, and general vegetation structural attributes from three protected areas along a rainfall gradient in the central lowveld, South Africa. Estimates of biomass and carbon stocks were effected through destructive sampling to establish locally derived allometric equations. There was a gradient of increasing woody density, height of the canopy, number of species, density of regenerative stems and a greater proportion of stems in small size classes from the arid locality to the mesic locality, with the semi-arid locality being intermediate. The proportion of spinescent species decreased with increasing rainfall. The mesic locality was significantly more woody than either the arid or semi-arid sites, having double the biomass, four times the density and 40% higher basal area. Above ground carbon pools were also higher; carbon stocks were approximately 9 t/ha for the arid and semi-arid sites and 18 t/ha for the mesic site.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Declines in Livestock Numbers Accompany Cropping Deagrarianisation Processes in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Shackleton, Charlie M, Ntshudu, Monde
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , Ntshudu, Monde
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/402248 , vital:69834 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091735"
- Description: Deagrarianisation amongst smallholder farmers is a growing phenomenon globally, driven by a complex array of context-specific and higher-scale factors. Most research has focused on declines in arable cropping, with relatively little regard to the deagrarianisation dynamics associated with livestock ownership, yet the two are often linked through the need for draught power for ploughing. Here, we report on a survey of 293 rural households in 10 rural villages in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa, where we ascertained whether ownership of cattle, goats, sheep and pigs had changed over the previous 15 years and what were the underlying reasons for any changes at both village- and household-scale. The majority felt that there had been a decline in the number of households keeping livestock and the number of animals in the village. Additionally, a clear majority of owners for each type of livestock stated that their households currently have fewer animals than 15 years ago. The main reasons for declines were that their animals had died due to drought or disease, theft, or they had sold them because of financial needs. There was a positive association between the keeping of cattle and field cultivation. Despite these general declines, two-thirds of households currently without livestock wished that they had some, primarily for use in cultural ceremonies/rituals or for income. This study shows the deagrarianisation processes in the region also apply to the livestock sector despite the significance of livestock in the local Xhosa culture. This study highlights the multifaceted nature of deagrarianisation in communal tenure systems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , Ntshudu, Monde
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/402248 , vital:69834 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091735"
- Description: Deagrarianisation amongst smallholder farmers is a growing phenomenon globally, driven by a complex array of context-specific and higher-scale factors. Most research has focused on declines in arable cropping, with relatively little regard to the deagrarianisation dynamics associated with livestock ownership, yet the two are often linked through the need for draught power for ploughing. Here, we report on a survey of 293 rural households in 10 rural villages in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa, where we ascertained whether ownership of cattle, goats, sheep and pigs had changed over the previous 15 years and what were the underlying reasons for any changes at both village- and household-scale. The majority felt that there had been a decline in the number of households keeping livestock and the number of animals in the village. Additionally, a clear majority of owners for each type of livestock stated that their households currently have fewer animals than 15 years ago. The main reasons for declines were that their animals had died due to drought or disease, theft, or they had sold them because of financial needs. There was a positive association between the keeping of cattle and field cultivation. Despite these general declines, two-thirds of households currently without livestock wished that they had some, primarily for use in cultural ceremonies/rituals or for income. This study shows the deagrarianisation processes in the region also apply to the livestock sector despite the significance of livestock in the local Xhosa culture. This study highlights the multifaceted nature of deagrarianisation in communal tenure systems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023
The benefits from and barriers to participation in civic environmental organisations in South Africa
- Higgins, Olivia, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: Higgins, Olivia , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180813 , vital:43648 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-015-0924-6"
- Description: With growing global public awareness of a wide range of conservation and environmental issues, environmental volunteerism is increasing. In order to attract and retain volunteers, it is useful to understand what benefits they hope for as well as the barriers that hinder their participation. Here we examine the benefits from and barriers to participation in 26 conservation and environmental civic organisations in South Africa, categorised by their primary mission as botanical, wildlife or green. Questionnaires were sent to volunteers on the mailing list of each civic organisation (and 66 responses received), supplemented with direct interviews with key staff and five focus group discussions. There were differences in the perception of benefits obtained and barriers experienced by volunteers between the three groups. Respondents from botanical and green civic organisations rated enjoyment of the task as the primary benefit, whereas the most common response amongst wildlife organisation volunteers was a higher level of life satisfaction. Lack of time was a major barrier across all groups, whilst lack of communication between organisers and volunteers was mentioned frequently by volunteers in wildlife and green organisations. The mean number of hours offered per volunteer was significantly higher amongst wildlife organisations than either botanical or green ones, but for all three, the value of volunteer contributions was, at several millions of rand annually, substantial. There was no relationship between the number of perceived benefits and the number of hours volunteered. This study indicates that motivations and barriers differ amongst volunteers, which is important to acknowledge in attracting and optimising the contributions of conservation and environmental volunteers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The benefits from and barriers to participation in civic environmental organisations in South Africa
- Authors: Higgins, Olivia , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180813 , vital:43648 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-015-0924-6"
- Description: With growing global public awareness of a wide range of conservation and environmental issues, environmental volunteerism is increasing. In order to attract and retain volunteers, it is useful to understand what benefits they hope for as well as the barriers that hinder their participation. Here we examine the benefits from and barriers to participation in 26 conservation and environmental civic organisations in South Africa, categorised by their primary mission as botanical, wildlife or green. Questionnaires were sent to volunteers on the mailing list of each civic organisation (and 66 responses received), supplemented with direct interviews with key staff and five focus group discussions. There were differences in the perception of benefits obtained and barriers experienced by volunteers between the three groups. Respondents from botanical and green civic organisations rated enjoyment of the task as the primary benefit, whereas the most common response amongst wildlife organisation volunteers was a higher level of life satisfaction. Lack of time was a major barrier across all groups, whilst lack of communication between organisers and volunteers was mentioned frequently by volunteers in wildlife and green organisations. The mean number of hours offered per volunteer was significantly higher amongst wildlife organisations than either botanical or green ones, but for all three, the value of volunteer contributions was, at several millions of rand annually, substantial. There was no relationship between the number of perceived benefits and the number of hours volunteered. This study indicates that motivations and barriers differ amongst volunteers, which is important to acknowledge in attracting and optimising the contributions of conservation and environmental volunteers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Is there no urban forestry in the developing world?
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/181060 , vital:43695 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.5897/SRE11.1117"
- Description: Urban forestry and greening offer a multitude of benefits to the inhabitants of towns and cities. However, the nature and magnitude of these frequently depend upon the context. Yet, at first glance, the developing world context around urban forestry debates seems to be poorly represented in the international peer-reviewed literature. This is examined in this paper, followed by a brief outline of ten key research areas for urban forestry in the developing world. A survey of the peer-reviewed literature confirms that almost 80% of articles come from the developed world context. This correlates with the greater availability of research finance and personnel from developed regions. However, there are urban forestry questions and issues that require examination in the developing world because they cannot simply be transferred from knowledge gleaned from and tested in a developed world context. Ten of these are briefly outlined as a catalyst towards greater attention to urban forestry in the developing world and their contributions to global debates and models.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/181060 , vital:43695 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.5897/SRE11.1117"
- Description: Urban forestry and greening offer a multitude of benefits to the inhabitants of towns and cities. However, the nature and magnitude of these frequently depend upon the context. Yet, at first glance, the developing world context around urban forestry debates seems to be poorly represented in the international peer-reviewed literature. This is examined in this paper, followed by a brief outline of ten key research areas for urban forestry in the developing world. A survey of the peer-reviewed literature confirms that almost 80% of articles come from the developed world context. This correlates with the greater availability of research finance and personnel from developed regions. However, there are urban forestry questions and issues that require examination in the developing world because they cannot simply be transferred from knowledge gleaned from and tested in a developed world context. Ten of these are briefly outlined as a catalyst towards greater attention to urban forestry in the developing world and their contributions to global debates and models.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
The women of Willowvale-crafting livelihoods from the wild date palm
- Mjoli, Nwabisa, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: Mjoli, Nwabisa , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/182322 , vital:43820 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC185235"
- Description: The Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape is renowned for its cultural landscapes, stunning scenery and remarkable biodiversity. It is also one of the least developed regions of South Africa, which underpins the small productive base and limited economic opportunities for the hundreds of rural communities scattered along the hilltops. It is not surprising therefore, that many inhabitants make extensive use of natural resources, such as firewood, reed mats, medicinal plants and wild vegetables, in their daily lives, as well as for sources of income when the opportunity arises.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Mjoli, Nwabisa , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/182322 , vital:43820 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC185235"
- Description: The Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape is renowned for its cultural landscapes, stunning scenery and remarkable biodiversity. It is also one of the least developed regions of South Africa, which underpins the small productive base and limited economic opportunities for the hundreds of rural communities scattered along the hilltops. It is not surprising therefore, that many inhabitants make extensive use of natural resources, such as firewood, reed mats, medicinal plants and wild vegetables, in their daily lives, as well as for sources of income when the opportunity arises.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Temporal dynamics and motivations for urban community food gardens in medium-sized towns of the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Roberts, Sky, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: Roberts, Sky , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/179768 , vital:43178 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/land7040146"
- Description: Urban agriculture is said to be increasing with global urbanization. However, there is little examination of the temporal or spatial dynamics of urban agriculture. We investigated the benefits and challenges experienced by community gardeners in four towns in South Africa, along with GIS analysis of the number, area, and location of urban food community gardens over the last three decades. Common reasons for practicing community gardening were cash poverty (37%) and the need to grow food (34%). The most common benefits reported by respondents were a healthy lifestyle (58%) and consumption of the food produced (54%). Theft of garden infrastructure or produce was a noteworthy challenge to continued motivation and engagement in urban community gardening. There were declines in the number and area of urban community gardens, and more central location over the last three decades. Only 16% of the gardens present in the 1980s were still operating in the 2000s. Clearly community gardening is temporally and spatially dynamic, which requires context-sensitive policy initiatives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Roberts, Sky , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/179768 , vital:43178 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/land7040146"
- Description: Urban agriculture is said to be increasing with global urbanization. However, there is little examination of the temporal or spatial dynamics of urban agriculture. We investigated the benefits and challenges experienced by community gardeners in four towns in South Africa, along with GIS analysis of the number, area, and location of urban food community gardens over the last three decades. Common reasons for practicing community gardening were cash poverty (37%) and the need to grow food (34%). The most common benefits reported by respondents were a healthy lifestyle (58%) and consumption of the food produced (54%). Theft of garden infrastructure or produce was a noteworthy challenge to continued motivation and engagement in urban community gardening. There were declines in the number and area of urban community gardens, and more central location over the last three decades. Only 16% of the gardens present in the 1980s were still operating in the 2000s. Clearly community gardening is temporally and spatially dynamic, which requires context-sensitive policy initiatives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Production of and trade in African indigenous vegetables in the urban and peri-urban areas of Durban, South Africa
- Shackleton, Charlie M, Paumgartner, Fiona, Mthembu, Thami, Ernst, Lisa, Pasquini, Margaret W, Pichop, Germain
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , Paumgartner, Fiona , Mthembu, Thami , Ernst, Lisa , Pasquini, Margaret W , Pichop, Germain
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/181134 , vital:43701 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835X.2010.498937"
- Description: This paper reports on the farming and trade of lesser known crops, here termed African indigenous vegetables (AIVs), in the Durban metropole. Most households grow AIVs, and collect them from the wild, primarily for home consumption. Modal income from sale was approximately R30 per month per farmer, most of whom were middle-aged to elderly females, with limited education, who had been cultivating AIVs here for many years. The main constraints to greater sales were deemed to be low market demand and adverse climate. The commonest AIVs grown were pumpkin leaves, taro and amaranth. Although most farmers sold very little, there is a thriving retail trade in AIVs. Generally, retailers were females, but younger and more educated than the farmers. The majority viewed retailing as a full-time occupation. Modal income for retailers was R450 per month, but included non-AIV produce. Most of the traders thought there was insufficient market demand for AIVs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , Paumgartner, Fiona , Mthembu, Thami , Ernst, Lisa , Pasquini, Margaret W , Pichop, Germain
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/181134 , vital:43701 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835X.2010.498937"
- Description: This paper reports on the farming and trade of lesser known crops, here termed African indigenous vegetables (AIVs), in the Durban metropole. Most households grow AIVs, and collect them from the wild, primarily for home consumption. Modal income from sale was approximately R30 per month per farmer, most of whom were middle-aged to elderly females, with limited education, who had been cultivating AIVs here for many years. The main constraints to greater sales were deemed to be low market demand and adverse climate. The commonest AIVs grown were pumpkin leaves, taro and amaranth. Although most farmers sold very little, there is a thriving retail trade in AIVs. Generally, retailers were females, but younger and more educated than the farmers. The majority viewed retailing as a full-time occupation. Modal income for retailers was R450 per month, but included non-AIV produce. Most of the traders thought there was insufficient market demand for AIVs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Special section on urbanisation and ecosystem services in sub-Saharan Africa: Current status and scenarios
- Pauleit, Stephan, Lindley, Sarah, Lotz-Sisitka, Heila, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: Pauleit, Stephan , Lindley, Sarah , Lotz-Sisitka, Heila , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/183082 , vital:43910 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2018.09.008"
- Description: The African continent is facing unprecedented population growth in the 21st century. Most of this growth will be absorbed by urban areas where the overall population is projected to triple from presently appr. 400 people to 1.3 billion people in 2050 (UN-Habitat, 2014). In sub-Saharan Africa, which is the focus of this Special Issue, not only the number of megacities with more than 10 million such as Lagos will rise, but smaller or medium sized cities will attract most of this growth (UN-Habitat, 2014). The majority of this increase is taking place in the form of informal settlements where people are living in poverty and where basic facilities and services such as a secure supply of clean drinking water and safe waste water disposal are missing.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Pauleit, Stephan , Lindley, Sarah , Lotz-Sisitka, Heila , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/183082 , vital:43910 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2018.09.008"
- Description: The African continent is facing unprecedented population growth in the 21st century. Most of this growth will be absorbed by urban areas where the overall population is projected to triple from presently appr. 400 people to 1.3 billion people in 2050 (UN-Habitat, 2014). In sub-Saharan Africa, which is the focus of this Special Issue, not only the number of megacities with more than 10 million such as Lagos will rise, but smaller or medium sized cities will attract most of this growth (UN-Habitat, 2014). The majority of this increase is taking place in the form of informal settlements where people are living in poverty and where basic facilities and services such as a secure supply of clean drinking water and safe waste water disposal are missing.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
The role and value of savanna non-timber forest products to rural households in the Kat River Valley, South Africa
- Shackleton, Charlie M, Shackleton, Sheona E, Ntshudu, M, Ntzebeza, J
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , Shackleton, Sheona E , Ntshudu, M , Ntzebeza, J
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/182820 , vital:43882 , xlink:href="https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20023145773"
- Description: The majority of South Africans reside in rural areas characterized by limited infrastructure and employment opportunities. Many, therefore, make extensive use of non-timber-forest products (NTFPs) as part of their daily livelihoods. However, until recently, there were relatively few quantitative studies on resources used, amounts and frequencies. This is especially so for the savanna biome in South Africa, even though it is the largest biome. This paper presents data from a quantitative study of resource use and value in three villages situated in the savannas of the poorest province of South Africa. The results demonstrated widespread use of a wide variety of NTFPs. There were no households that did not make use of at least one NTFP from the surrounding woodlands. The five contributing most to the total gross value per household were fuelwood, wild herbs, wild fruits, bushmeat and honey beer. The mean gross annual direct-use value at the three villages ranged from US$211 to US$324 per household, averaged across user and non-user households. The direct-use value to user households was approximately double this. The net value differed between specific NTFPs because of differential labour input. The net value represented between 39 and 86% of the gross value, with a mean of 63%. However, the use of opportunity costs of labour in such areas requires examination.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2002
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , Shackleton, Sheona E , Ntshudu, M , Ntzebeza, J
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/182820 , vital:43882 , xlink:href="https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20023145773"
- Description: The majority of South Africans reside in rural areas characterized by limited infrastructure and employment opportunities. Many, therefore, make extensive use of non-timber-forest products (NTFPs) as part of their daily livelihoods. However, until recently, there were relatively few quantitative studies on resources used, amounts and frequencies. This is especially so for the savanna biome in South Africa, even though it is the largest biome. This paper presents data from a quantitative study of resource use and value in three villages situated in the savannas of the poorest province of South Africa. The results demonstrated widespread use of a wide variety of NTFPs. There were no households that did not make use of at least one NTFP from the surrounding woodlands. The five contributing most to the total gross value per household were fuelwood, wild herbs, wild fruits, bushmeat and honey beer. The mean gross annual direct-use value at the three villages ranged from US$211 to US$324 per household, averaged across user and non-user households. The direct-use value to user households was approximately double this. The net value differed between specific NTFPs because of differential labour input. The net value represented between 39 and 86% of the gross value, with a mean of 63%. However, the use of opportunity costs of labour in such areas requires examination.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2002
The potential use of natural resources in urban informal settlements as substitutes for financial capital during flooding emergencies
- Dalu, Mwazvita, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: Dalu, Mwazvita , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/179814 , vital:43191 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2018.03.002"
- Description: Rapid and widespread land cover change and the subsequent loss of the buffering capacity provided by healthy ecosystems against natural hazards has resulted in increased vulnerability to natural hazards. There is an insufficient understanding of the natural resources contribution to the resilience of poor urban communities living in informal settlements and the financial implications thereof. Thus, household strategies used to recover from the October 2012 flood shock were investigated within the informal settlements of three small South African towns using questionnaires. Within the vulnerability paradigm and the sustainable livelihood framework, the study also quantified and evaluated the relative contribution of natural resources to recovery strategies and the impacts on household financial capital. We found that natural resources contributed up to 70% to recovery of households from the flood shock, most of this being to reconstruct housing structures after the flood. Factors such as household head education level, household income, kinship level, the extent of property damage and the cost associated with property rehabilitation significantly influenced the uptake of natural resources in recovery from floods, and this was variable among settlements and towns. The main findings showed that natural resources reduced household vulnerability of urban informal settlements by providing an emergency-net function that substitutes financial capital. Their inclusion in disaster management plans and responses has the potential to contribute to the sustainable livelihoods of the urban poor in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Dalu, Mwazvita , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/179814 , vital:43191 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2018.03.002"
- Description: Rapid and widespread land cover change and the subsequent loss of the buffering capacity provided by healthy ecosystems against natural hazards has resulted in increased vulnerability to natural hazards. There is an insufficient understanding of the natural resources contribution to the resilience of poor urban communities living in informal settlements and the financial implications thereof. Thus, household strategies used to recover from the October 2012 flood shock were investigated within the informal settlements of three small South African towns using questionnaires. Within the vulnerability paradigm and the sustainable livelihood framework, the study also quantified and evaluated the relative contribution of natural resources to recovery strategies and the impacts on household financial capital. We found that natural resources contributed up to 70% to recovery of households from the flood shock, most of this being to reconstruct housing structures after the flood. Factors such as household head education level, household income, kinship level, the extent of property damage and the cost associated with property rehabilitation significantly influenced the uptake of natural resources in recovery from floods, and this was variable among settlements and towns. The main findings showed that natural resources reduced household vulnerability of urban informal settlements by providing an emergency-net function that substitutes financial capital. Their inclusion in disaster management plans and responses has the potential to contribute to the sustainable livelihoods of the urban poor in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Natural resource use, incomes, and poverty along the rural–urban continuum of two medium-sized, South African towns
- Ward, Catherine D, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: Ward, Catherine D , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180790 , vital:43646 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.10.025"
- Description: Urbanization is a significant driver of global change, reshaping livelihoods, productive activities, and incomes. Yet, many elements of what are typically regarded as rural activities can be found in urban places and vice versa. We report on the incomes from land- and cash-based activities along the rural–urban gradient of two South African towns. Although the dominant income strategies varied, all households had more than one income source. Use of wild resources and agriculture were common in urban settings, although variable between and within towns. Poverty levels would be 5–10% higher in the absence of natural resource-based incomes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Ward, Catherine D , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180790 , vital:43646 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.10.025"
- Description: Urbanization is a significant driver of global change, reshaping livelihoods, productive activities, and incomes. Yet, many elements of what are typically regarded as rural activities can be found in urban places and vice versa. We report on the incomes from land- and cash-based activities along the rural–urban gradient of two South African towns. Although the dominant income strategies varied, all households had more than one income source. Use of wild resources and agriculture were common in urban settings, although variable between and within towns. Poverty levels would be 5–10% higher in the absence of natural resource-based incomes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
The comparative growth rates of indigenous street and garden trees in Grahamstown, South Africa
- De Lacy, Peter J G, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: De Lacy, Peter J G , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180943 , vital:43672 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2014.02.007"
- Description: Urban forestry is advocated worldwide as a means of enhancing the liveability of towns and cities, and mitigating some of the anticipated impacts of climate change. Optimisation of the benefits of trees in urban areas is dependent upon knowledge of tree form, growth, and the products and benefits that trees provide. Growth rates are a vital variable for modelling benefits, yet there is a significant gap in knowledge pertaining to growth rates of trees in urban areas, especially indigenous species in developing world countries. Here we report on growth rates of indigenous street and garden trees in Grahamstown, South Africa, using two approaches; tree ring counts on increment cores and mean rates from trees of known planting age. Growth equations for both street and garden trees were derived. There was no significant difference in mean growth rates determined via the two methods. For both methods street trees grew approximately 30% slower than trees in gardens.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: De Lacy, Peter J G , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180943 , vital:43672 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2014.02.007"
- Description: Urban forestry is advocated worldwide as a means of enhancing the liveability of towns and cities, and mitigating some of the anticipated impacts of climate change. Optimisation of the benefits of trees in urban areas is dependent upon knowledge of tree form, growth, and the products and benefits that trees provide. Growth rates are a vital variable for modelling benefits, yet there is a significant gap in knowledge pertaining to growth rates of trees in urban areas, especially indigenous species in developing world countries. Here we report on growth rates of indigenous street and garden trees in Grahamstown, South Africa, using two approaches; tree ring counts on increment cores and mean rates from trees of known planting age. Growth equations for both street and garden trees were derived. There was no significant difference in mean growth rates determined via the two methods. For both methods street trees grew approximately 30% slower than trees in gardens.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Paper recycling patterns and potential interventions in the education sector: A case study of paper streams at Rhodes University, South Africa
- Amutenya, N, Shackleton, Charlie M, Whittington-Jones, Kevin J
- Authors: Amutenya, N , Shackleton, Charlie M , Whittington-Jones, Kevin J
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/181180 , vital:43705 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2008.12.001"
- Description: This paper considers the use of paper by academics and student computer laboratories at Rhodes University as a basis for identifying areas to reduce the amounts used and increase rates of recycling. A sample of 50 academic staff monitored the volume and purpose of the paper they used over 5 months, and the procurement officers in all the academic departments were interviewed regarding the total amount of paper used per academic department. Mean use was 34 ± 20 new sheets of paper per working day, of which 3% were trashed, 15% were kept for later use (as scrap or printed on the opposite side) and 79% were given out as notes to students, filed as records or posted out as mail to other departments or institutions. There was a significant relationship between number of students served by a department and the overall demand for paper, as well the number of staff per department and the number of recycling bins. The university could save approximately US$ 7000 per year for every 10% reduction in current use of paper (12,784 reams/year). Reduction in paper usage could be achieved through an increase in re-use of paper, printing handouts for students on both sides of each sheet of paper and by investing in printers that are capable of printing on both sides of a sheet of paper. Double-sided printers are only 20–25% more expensive than single-sided ones, but will potentially reduce paper usage by half. A 40% reduction would save the university approximately US $ 20,000 per year in direct costs, and more in reduced waste streams, as well as help promote the environmental image of the university. On a per unit basis, the higher costs for a double-sided printer in offices would be repaid in 9 months or less through reduced paper use.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Amutenya, N , Shackleton, Charlie M , Whittington-Jones, Kevin J
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/181180 , vital:43705 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2008.12.001"
- Description: This paper considers the use of paper by academics and student computer laboratories at Rhodes University as a basis for identifying areas to reduce the amounts used and increase rates of recycling. A sample of 50 academic staff monitored the volume and purpose of the paper they used over 5 months, and the procurement officers in all the academic departments were interviewed regarding the total amount of paper used per academic department. Mean use was 34 ± 20 new sheets of paper per working day, of which 3% were trashed, 15% were kept for later use (as scrap or printed on the opposite side) and 79% were given out as notes to students, filed as records or posted out as mail to other departments or institutions. There was a significant relationship between number of students served by a department and the overall demand for paper, as well the number of staff per department and the number of recycling bins. The university could save approximately US$ 7000 per year for every 10% reduction in current use of paper (12,784 reams/year). Reduction in paper usage could be achieved through an increase in re-use of paper, printing handouts for students on both sides of each sheet of paper and by investing in printers that are capable of printing on both sides of a sheet of paper. Double-sided printers are only 20–25% more expensive than single-sided ones, but will potentially reduce paper usage by half. A 40% reduction would save the university approximately US $ 20,000 per year in direct costs, and more in reduced waste streams, as well as help promote the environmental image of the university. On a per unit basis, the higher costs for a double-sided printer in offices would be repaid in 9 months or less through reduced paper use.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Incorporation of environmental issues in South Africa’s municipal Integrated Development Plans
- Ruwanza, Sheunesu, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: Ruwanza, Sheunesu , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180481 , vital:43393 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2015.1062161"
- Description: The transition to full democracy in South Africa in 1994 saw local government becoming the focal point for dealing with socio-economic development needs of communities. The Integrated Development Plan (IDP) has been used as the tool for guiding local development objectives, balanced against environmental demands within a sustainable development paradigm. Here we examine the extent to which this is being achieved through an analysis of IDPs from 35 different municipalities at three scales. We test the hypothesis that the metropolitan municipalities are better at mainstreaming environmental issues into their IDPs than local and district municipalities. Results indicate that mainstreaming environmental issues in IDPs is still low. The hypothesis that metropoles are better at mainstreaming environmental issues than district and local municipalities was not accepted since there were no significant differences between municipalities. There was low relative budget allocations and inclusion of vision and mission statements that mainstream environmental issues in all municipalities. For mainstreaming of environmental issues to be effective in IDPs, both proactive approaches and multi-faceted bottom-up and top-down approaches are suggested.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Ruwanza, Sheunesu , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180481 , vital:43393 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2015.1062161"
- Description: The transition to full democracy in South Africa in 1994 saw local government becoming the focal point for dealing with socio-economic development needs of communities. The Integrated Development Plan (IDP) has been used as the tool for guiding local development objectives, balanced against environmental demands within a sustainable development paradigm. Here we examine the extent to which this is being achieved through an analysis of IDPs from 35 different municipalities at three scales. We test the hypothesis that the metropolitan municipalities are better at mainstreaming environmental issues into their IDPs than local and district municipalities. Results indicate that mainstreaming environmental issues in IDPs is still low. The hypothesis that metropoles are better at mainstreaming environmental issues than district and local municipalities was not accepted since there were no significant differences between municipalities. There was low relative budget allocations and inclusion of vision and mission statements that mainstream environmental issues in all municipalities. For mainstreaming of environmental issues to be effective in IDPs, both proactive approaches and multi-faceted bottom-up and top-down approaches are suggested.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Children navigating rural poverty: Rural children's use of wild resources to counteract food insecurity in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- McGarry, Dylan K, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: McGarry, Dylan K , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/181191 , vital:43706 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/10796120802677594"
- Description: This paper analyzes the role of natural resources in the lives of rural children experiencing heightened vulnerability to poverty and the impact of HIV/AIDS, a subject that previously has been unexplored. The authors highlight wild-food use by rural children as a regular activity that supplements their domestic diets. Over the course of 18 months in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, the authors used a broad quantitative and qualitative methodology to explore the food acquisition and consumption patterns for 850 children. They found that the quality of children's domestic diets was, on average, 60% lower than the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) guidelines. This occurred in a population where 62% of the children surveyed were supplementing their diets with wild foods; and 30% with over half their diet supplemented in this way. Significantly, dietary diversity increased by 13% when wild food supplementation occurred. Another result was the commercialization of wild foods (observed among 47% of the children), wherein significantly more vulnerable children sold these foods. Considering the heightened nutritional and energy needs of children, combined with the impact of poverty and HIV/AIDS on household food access, wild foods represent the last freely attainable food sources available to them.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: McGarry, Dylan K , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/181191 , vital:43706 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/10796120802677594"
- Description: This paper analyzes the role of natural resources in the lives of rural children experiencing heightened vulnerability to poverty and the impact of HIV/AIDS, a subject that previously has been unexplored. The authors highlight wild-food use by rural children as a regular activity that supplements their domestic diets. Over the course of 18 months in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, the authors used a broad quantitative and qualitative methodology to explore the food acquisition and consumption patterns for 850 children. They found that the quality of children's domestic diets was, on average, 60% lower than the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) guidelines. This occurred in a population where 62% of the children surveyed were supplementing their diets with wild foods; and 30% with over half their diet supplemented in this way. Significantly, dietary diversity increased by 13% when wild food supplementation occurred. Another result was the commercialization of wild foods (observed among 47% of the children), wherein significantly more vulnerable children sold these foods. Considering the heightened nutritional and energy needs of children, combined with the impact of poverty and HIV/AIDS on household food access, wild foods represent the last freely attainable food sources available to them.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009