Investigation of Ecological Knowledge of 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 on 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 Figure 1: The orientation and topographic map of the Berg river Catchment (DWAF, 2007) 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. • Establish a Stakeholder Knowledge Base Phase 1 • Investigate whether there is Agreement between Stakeholders Phase 2 • Investigate Stakeholder Networks Phase 3 • Explore knowledge held by Stakeholders vs current Scientific Information Phase 4
Results: Knowledge Base Management Rank Impacts Solutions Upgrade of Waste Water 1 Alien Vegetation Treatment Plants Waste Water Treatment Better Alien Vegetation 2 Plants Management Farming (Irrigation & Government Monetary 3 Agricultural Runoff) Support Dams (Abstraction & Effective Stakeholder 4 Interbasin transfer) Engagement Increase in Environmental 5 Informal Settlements Awareness and Education 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).
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 Management Impacts Solutions Collective Group (Farmers vs Agreement Weak Agreement Conservation Managers) Table 2: Analysis of agreements and disagreements between and within stakeholder groups found some 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 Impacts Management Solutions Rank Stakeholder Stakeholder Scientific Scientific Information (LEK) Information (LEK) Information (SEK) Information (SEK) Upgrade of Waste Water Improve Waste Water 1 Alien Vegetation Farming Treatment Plants Treatment Plants Better Alien Vegetation Waste Water Treatment Better Alien Vegetation 2 Dams Management Plants Management Increase Frequency of Farming (Irrigation & Government Monetary 3 Alien Vegetation Water Quality Agricultural Runoff) Support Monitoring Waste Water Treatment Establishment of a Dams (Abstraction & Effective Stakeholder 4 Plants Catchment Interbasin transfer) Engagement Management Area Urban-Industrial Increase in Environmental Effective Stakeholder 5 Informal Settlements Complex Awareness and Education 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.
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