Rirhandzu Marivate *Dr Gina Ziervogel Climate Systems Analysis - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Investigation of Ecological Knowledge

• f Stakeholders on the Provisioning of

Freshwater and its Impacts on the Management of the Berg river

Rirhandzu Marivate

*Dr Gina Ziervogel Climate Systems Analysis Group Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences University of Cape Town

The South African Affiliate of the International Association for Impact Assessment Annual Conference 2014

Outline

• Setting the context
• Research Question
• Study Area: Berg River
• Methods & Approaches
• Results
• Further Exploration

Introduction

• It is apparent that water resources are strained, to the point where

the functioning and the services provided by freshwater ecosystems are threatened (van Jaarsveld, et al., 2005).

• A shift towards integrated water resource management (IWRM) as

described by National Water Act of 1998

• IWRM is where human needs are met without compromising the

sustainability of vital ecosystems (van Jaarsveld, et al., 2005).

Introduction cont.

• Increase in research on freshwater ecosystem

services in the country attempts to move towards sustainable development (Le Maitre, et al., 2007).

• Most studies have focused on:

– Benefits of Ecosystem Goods and Services in Rural Communities – Effects of Policies and Water Management Approaches

• n Delivery of Water-Related Services
• Studies still emerging on:

– Knowledge held by Urban and Agricultural Communities on Decision-making Processes and Water Management Approaches

Research Question

• It is important to understand the views held by different

groups regarding water resource issues.

• Research Question:

– What role does local ecological knowledge held by stakeholders play in the use and management of water provided by the Berg river?

Study Area: Berg River Catchment Area

• Situated in the Western Cape
• Runs from the Drakenstein &

Franschhoek Mountains to exit in St Helena Bay (DWAF, 2007)

• Socially and economically

important (DWAF, 2007)

• Helps supports over 3 million

people in the Western Cape

(DWAF, 2007)

• Supplies bulk water to

households, agricultural commercial and industrial sectors (DWAF, 2007)

• Main land uses are agriculture,

plantations, industries, residential and conservation

(DWAF, 2007)

Figure 1: The orientation and topographic map of the Berg river Catchment Source: Berg river baseline monitoring programme, 2007.

Berg River Stakeholders

• Commercial farmers and

Conservation managers

• Riparian land owners
• Dominant and important land

users (DWAF, 2007)

• Stakeholder groups represent

contrasting land use practices

• Thought to be key in forming Berg

River CMA

• Likely to have different

understanding issues concerning the river system

Figure 2. Areas where individual stakeholders are located in the upper Berg river study area.

Methodology & Approach

• Case Study research design

– Detailed examination of a sample within a population – Research is contextual – Results only apply to group being examined

• Multiple-approach Research Methods

– Cultural Consensus Analysis

• Measures extent of knowledge within a group and degree to which it is

shared

• Allows Recovery of preferred terms to establish knowledge base
• Qualitative: Semi-structured interviews & Group forums used for data

collection, ethnographic analysis.

• Quantitative: Statistical data analysis

– Desktop analysis of scientific information

Methodology & Approach cont.

Phase 1

• Establish a Stakeholder Knowledge Base

Phase 2

• Investigate whether there is Agreement

between Stakeholders

Phase 3

• Investigate Stakeholder Networks

Phase 4

• Explore knowledge held by Stakeholders vs

current Scientific Information

Results: Knowledge Base

Table 1: Items to establish a knowledge base on the main impact and management solutions on water provisioning in the Berg river (ranked according to priority).

Rank Impacts Management Solutions 1

Alien Vegetation Upgrade of Waste Water Treatment Plants

2

Waste Water Treatment Plants Better Alien Vegetation Management

3

Farming (Irrigation & Agricultural Runoff) Government Monetary Support

4

Dams (Abstraction & Interbasin transfer) Effective Stakeholder Engagement

5

Informal Settlements Increase in Environmental Awareness and Education

Results: Consensus Analysis

• Analysing the agreements and disagreements between the

stakeholder groups

• Some agreement on what the main impacts, managements solutions

are/should be in the Berg river.

• Weak agreement because there is disagreement on what solutions

should be made priority

Table 2: Analysis of agreements and disagreements between and within stakeholder groups found some agreement.

Impacts Management Solutions Collective Group (Farmers vs Conservation Managers) Agreement Weak Agreement

Results: Information Networks

• Both Stakeholder groups prescribe to the similar

networks

• Types of organisations:

– Provincial and National Government (Including Programmes & Initiatives) – Local & District Municipalities – Private Institutions and Non-Governmental Organisations – Academic Institutions – Export Markets – Private Consultants – Farmers

LEK vs SEK

Rank

Impacts Management Solutions

Stakeholder Information (LEK) Scientific Information (SEK) Stakeholder Information (LEK) Scientific Information (SEK)

1

Alien Vegetation Farming Upgrade of Waste Water Treatment Plants Improve Waste Water Treatment Plants

2

Waste Water Treatment Plants Dams Better Alien Vegetation Management Better Alien Vegetation Management

3

Farming (Irrigation & Agricultural Runoff) Alien Vegetation Government Monetary Support Increase Frequency of Water Quality Monitoring

4

Dams (Abstraction & Interbasin transfer) Waste Water Treatment Plants Effective Stakeholder Engagement Establishment of a Catchment Management Area

5

Informal Settlements Urban-Industrial Complex Increase in Environmental Awareness and Education Effective Stakeholder Engagement

Discussion

• Each stakeholder relates to the water resource

differently

• The level of engagement with other water users

informs a stakeholder’s perception on how water is utilized and how it should be managed.

• Commercial Farmers and Conservation Managers

are well engaged within catchment management in the Berg river.

• They have similar understanding of issues around

water provisioning and management priorities.

Recommendations and Further Exploration

• Look into how stakeholder engagement can be made

more accessible

– Develop framework approaches to stakeholder engagement – Engagement with more marginalised stakeholders

• Address the gap in science communication

– Awareness in Protection of Freshwater Ecosystem Services – Awareness on Climate change

References

• Department of Water Affairs (DWA), (2009). The Assessment of Water Availability in the Berg Catchment (Wma

19) by means of Water Resource Related Models. Report No. 4. Land Use and Water Requirements. Volume 3. Water Use and Water Requirements. Report No P WMA19/000/00/0409, Department of Water Affairs, Pretoria, South Africa.

• Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF), (2007). Berg River Baseline Monitoring Programme.

Introduction to the Berg River Catchment; Ground Water and Hydrology: Final Report – Volume 1. Ractliffe, G., (editor) Report No. P WMA 19/G10/00/1707. DWAF, Pretoria.

• Holmes, P.M., Esler, K.J., Richardson, D.M. and Witkowski, E.T.F. (2008). Guidelines for improved management of

riparian zones invaded by alien plants in South Africa. South African Journal of Botany 74: 538–552.

• Le Maitre, D. C., O’Farrell, P. J., Reyers, B., (2007). Ecosystems Services in South Africa: a Researcher Theme

that can Engage Environmental, Economic and Social Scientists in the Development of Sustainability Science? South African Journal of Science, vol 103, pp 367-376.

• Olsson, P., Folke, C., (2001). Local Ecological Knowledge and Institutional Dynamics for Ecosystem Management:

a Study of Lake Racken Watershed, Swede. Ecosystem, vol 2, pp 85-104.

• Stone-Jovicich, S. S., Lynam, T., Leitch, A., Jones, N. A., (2011). Using Consensus Analysis to Assess Mental

Models about Water Use and Management in the Crocodile River Catchment, South Africa. Ecology and Society, vol 16(1): 45, pp 1 -25.

• Van Jaarsveld, A. S., Biggs, H. J., Scholes, R. J., Bohensky, E., Reyers, B., Lynam, T., Musvoto, C., Fabricius, C.,

(2005).Measuring Conditions and Trends in Ecosystem Services at Multiple Scales: the Southern African Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (SAfMA) Experience. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B, vol 360, pp 425-441.