Masters Degrees (The Centre for Sustainability Transitions (CST))

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https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/126539

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Organising for social-ecological resilience : lessons from self-organised groups in Cape Town, South Africa
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2024-03) Doyle, Jeremy; Feront, Cecile; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Centre for Sustainability Transition.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: How can we organise ourselves to better address “wicked” systems problems? Despite increased awareness of the planetary crisis and recognition that organisations need to embrace approaches consistent with social-ecological systems (SES), it remains unclear what this means in practice. Communities who take matters into their own hands to tackle local issues show promise as a type of emergent, organisational assemblage that follows a different set of rules. The self-organising and emergent nature of these groups may hold practical lessons for those who are struggling to translate SES thinking into meaningful strategies and actions. However, what we know about organisational assemblage remains highly abstract, with little insights from empirical research. To gain insights into ways of organising to tackle systems problems, my study investigates the organising principles and practices displayed by local, self-organising groups working on systems problems, such as water security, urban decay, or social segregation in Cape Town. To conduct my investigation, I adopt a grounded theory approach. Using a combination of semi-structured interviews and participant observations, I gather data from fifteen participants and five different groups. I find that people working together on local systems problems have little concern for organisational forms. Groups exhibit circumstantial organising, with highly diverse organisational approaches and structures. Groups paradoxically display both collective motivations showing alignment on the problem to be solved, and personal motivations producing a diversity of ideas, plans and strategies. Groups display ambiguous boundaries, continually scaling, shrinking, or seeding new initiatives, and easily disbanding or re-forming. In addition to these group characteristics, two individual practices appear to hold groups together: valuing relationships, and associative action. Importantly, the “organisations” that emerge from these efforts appear as by-products of temporarily overlapping motivations rather than being shaped by structures. These organisational assemblages are made up of collections of many different intentions (ideas, plans, and strategies), relationships, and actions. Thus, my study suggests that people working on systems problems value intentions over entity, and that groups are held together by the individual practices of valuing relationships with others and associative action at points of alignment. My research contributes to our understanding of how we can organise to address systems problems. First, I contribute to organisational theory in the context of SES by showing that organisations working on systems problems are better conceptualised as sense-making mechanisms rather than intermediaries through which system goals can be reached. Second, I argue that organisations working on systems problems are constituted of assemblages of intentions, relationships, and actions, thereby providing a more granular interpretation of event clustering. Third, I argue that aspects of organisational assemblages can be valuable to explain the dynamics and fluctuating nature of the roles of people working on systems problems. I term role assemblage the temporary configuration of intentions, relationships, and actions that direct how individuals work on systems problems. My findings suggest that leaders, managers, and entrepreneurs who adopt an SES approach should encourage alignment on the understanding of systemic problems rather than on specific solutions, allowing organisational assemblages to emerge and coalesce around individual and collective interests. My research also suggests that those working on systems problems in informal organisational settings should exercise caution when establishing or enforcing formal processes, metrics, or indicators, as they may reproduce mechanistic outcomes and stifle emergent cooperation.
Evaluating the contributions of trophy hunting areas to biodiversity conservation in Zimbabwe
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2024-03) Mhlanga, Irene; Clements, Hayley Susan; Di Minin, Enrico; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Centre for Sustainability Transition.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: Trophy hunting is one of the most debated conservation topics around the world. The debate revolves around the ethical feasibility and usefulness of trophy hunting in terms of wildlife conservation and community development. The argument has been made that if trophy hunting is sustainable and generates revenues it will help support biodiversity conservation. However, there is little research quantifying the role of trophy hunting areas in biodiversity conservation. The aim of this thesis is to evaluate how trophy hunting areas support biodiversity conservation in Zimbabwe. To help achieve this aim, the following specific objectives were set: (i) to assess the representation of species ranges (with a focus on threatened species) within hunting vs non-hunting conservation areas (as a proxy for biodiversity conservation potential); and (ii) to assess the extent of habitat conversion to crops in hunting vs non-hunting areas (as a proxy for biodiversity conservation effectiveness). The study used a quantitative spatial approach through geographic information systems. Species range maps for mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles were overlaid with conservation area maps and percentage calculations for species representation were computed (Chapter 2). Hunting areas (private conservancies and state safari areas) were compared with national parks (state-run, non-hunting areas). Global cropland data were used in a counterfactual analysis to assess the extent of habitat modification (Chapter 3). Points within hunting and non-hunting conservation areas were matched with unprotected control points to test the prediction that if conservation areas offer effective protection, habitat conversion to cropland would be significantly lower within their conservation areas than in unprotected controls exposed to same environmental conditions. Regarding biodiversity conservation potential, I find in Chapter 2 that national parks and the two types of hunting areas are not strategically located to conserve most species. Private conservancies tend to be more strategic than state-run areas, though they only cover 2% of the land area while the latter collectively cover 13%. Encouragingly, Zimbabwe’s conservation areas generally perform slightly better in representing threatened species than nonthreatened species (except for poorly represented Critically Endangered species). This holds particularly true for safari areas. The conservation areas where hunting takes place generally do not notably complement national parks in terms of representing unique species, however, they do contribute by considerably increasing the area under conservation. In terms of conservation effectiveness, results in Chapter 3 show that national parks and safari conservation areas were significantly more effective at preventing crop encroachment compared to environmentally similar unprotected areas. However, high crop encroachment was observed in the private conservancies, likely because of Zimbabwe’s Fast Track Land Reform Program. Since both national parks and safari areas are state-run, while conservancies are privately owned and run, this suggests effectiveness was determined by land tenure (state vs private) as opposed to whether or not trophy hunting occurred. In conclusion, this study provides an understanding of how hunting areas complement national parks in terms of representing threatened species and ensuring habitat protection, which is important in assessing the biodiversity conservation efforts of Zimbabwe. It highlights the complex relationship between trophy hunting areas and biodiversity conservation, demonstrating that while hunting areas notably increase area under conservation, they do not always do so in ways that are optimal for representing threatened species. To ensure that Zimbabwean conservation areas are effective at biodiversity conservation, conservation planning is a crucial activity that needs to be prioritized.
Tropical forest fragmentation : a global review and African insights
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-12) Timms, Millie; Clements, Hayley; Biggs, Oonsie; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Centre for Sustainability Transition.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: As biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation continue to intensify, addressing the challenges created by humans' impact on nature is the zeitgeist, at the forefront of global political conferences and popular culture. One of the most concerning impacts is the fragmentation, and subsequent degradation and habitat loss, of tropical forests; the breaking up of large continuous forest into a mosaic of patches separated by human-modified land. This has been driven by activities including agriculture, logging, and urbanisation, and is having major impacts on biodiversity and people. Tropical forests host an extraordinary array of biodiversity and are vital to a safe, stable, and functioning planet. These forests are complex social-ecological systems with context-specific patterns of behaviour. This means that to explore sustainable and just ways of addressing tropical forest fragmentation, place-based understandings that incorporate local knowledge must be a priority in research. However, there is a lack of research on African tropical forests led or informed by African expertise. This thesis aims to explore tropical forest fragmentation through a qualitative research lens and ways to address the phenomenon from an African perspective. In doing so it aims to offer narrative insight and human experience to better understand the social-ecological interactions that occur to drive fragmentation in African tropical forests, the impacts, and what experts with local knowledge and experience believe are the most effective ways to address the phenomenon. This thesis is grounded in a literature review that aims to synthesise existing understandings of tropical forest fragmentation to provide an informed foundation from which to ask what possible, effective, inclusive and equitable solutions to this challenge might be. The literature review offers a largely ecological perspective and understanding of tropical forest fragmentation. Building from this, the empirical study was based on a set of semi-structured interviews that aimed to shed light on unique, individual stories and experiences of tropical forest fragmentation in Africa. Eight biodiversity experts from a range of African tropical countries were identified and interviewed online. The experts discussed drivers, impacts, and, most critically, solutions. The solutions discussed were coded into (1) protection, (2) mitigation, and (3) restoration. Protection, specifically of protected areas, was outlined as the most effective way to address fragmentation, the “last hope” in preserving intact tropical forests. However, the experts emphasised that often protected areas are harmful to local communities and to achieve long-term success, both in terms of reducing drivers of fragmentation and promoting human well-being, communities must be involved throughout the decision-making and implementation process. Importantly, the results offered an important perspective, that socio-political context, in this case dysfunctional political systems and population growth intertwined with poverty, is central to this conversation. That context both defines and underpins the dynamics of tropical forest fragmentation and thus the effective implementation of solutions. For these eight biodiversity experts, it seemed that although biodiversity by definition pertains to the variety of biological life, preventing fragmentation and protecting tropical forests is very much a social-ecological challenge that cannot be addressed without examining the current extractive and unequal status quo driving human societies.
An exploration into why South Africa does not grow organic cotton
(2023-12) May, Jacqueline; Selomane, Odirilwe; Jhetam, Tasneem; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Centre for Sustainability Transition.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: Cotton is an important fibre in the textile industry, an industry that has a massive environmental impact, much of which is accounted for by the production process. Although polyester is currently the most used fibre in the textile industry, cotton is still the most used natural fibre. Cotton production contributes significantly to the industry’s environmental impact through land and water use. Typically, it is farmed in high-input conventional farming using chemicals and industrial practices that deprive large swathes of land of their nutrients and accelerate the collapse of biodiversity. About 1 500 farmers (both small and large) grow cotton in South Africa. Most of the cotton is produced by about 120 large-scale commercial farmers. None of the cotton grown in the country is organically farmed. This study partially fills the gap in research about perceptions of cotton growing and use in South Africa. The objectives of this research are to provide an overview of cotton farming in South Africa; to explore the perceptions of cotton supply chain actors on their preferences and attitudes towards organic versus Bt cotton; and provide a set of recommendations to the cotton industry for transition towards sustainable practices. A qualitative research methodology was used that consisted of 9 key informant interviews (after an exploratory survey was conducted). As a preparation, a literature review informed a framework for the primary research, guiding the questions for the survey and informant interviews. Overall, the findings of this research show that the arguments for and against growing organic cotton are binary, and the conclusion is not clear cut in terms of what whether organic cotton is better for the environment than the genetically modified cotton that is grown in South Africa. From a business perspective, it emerged that while business is grappling with its contribution to the sustainability agenda, it has the influence and the financial leeway to facilitate and support a transition, yet it is not necessarily doing this to its maximum capacity. A key constraint for business is the pricing mechanism. Adjusting its ‘buy low, sell high’ model, could support a transition to organic. For retailers, buying organic cotton is not cost effective as their businesses are stuck in a “buy low, sell high” model. Currently farmers have no incentive for sustainability transitions. For farmers to transition, business models will need to change so they get the value from farming sustainably. The research also shows that interest in stewardship and care for the planet is not just scholarly - it has wide appeal. The research can contribute to policymaking and to corporate retail strategy. It is also useful for all points of the supply chain to understand that there is a demand for, and interest in, organic. Instead, what emerges from the research is that information and education about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) need to be made more widely available, and that regular and official studies on GMO’s environmental impact should be conducted and made publicly available so that both the industry and the public have a full understanding of the impact of Bt cotton. Some practical recommendations emerging from this research include the need for further investment and commitment to developing organic cotton trials in order to understand the long-term benefits of growing organic cotton.
Investigating how climate change adaptation can be incorporated into mine closure and rehabilitation strategies to strengthen social-ecological resilience
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-12) Schulze, Megan; Waddell, Joy; Selomane, Odirilwe; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Centre for Sustainability Transition.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: Mines have a set lifespan, which means that their closure is inevitable. However, the research suggests that mining companies, historically, do not plan their operations with closure in mind. This is supported by the fact that mine closure and rehabilitation strategies have not been very successful in South Africa to date, resulting in thousands of abandoned mines across the country. Unsuccessful mine closure perpetuates social-ecological vulnerability within surrounding communities, particularly to climate change impacts. Mine closure presents an opportunity to increase the social-ecological resilience of the surrounding community to projected climate change impacts, post life-of-mine. Although there is a lot of literature on projected climate change impacts in South Africa, there are limited studies exploring the extent to which mine closure and rehabilitation strategies incorporate climate change considerations. This research aims to address this gap in the literature. Using a qualitative approach, this study explores how mining companies in South Africa can strengthen the social-ecological resilience of surrounding communities to climate change impacts through the adoption of climate change adaptation in mine closure and rehabilitation strategies. Data was collected from semi-structured interviews with mining experts, from policy scoping, and from a structured review of mining companies’ annual and sustainability reports. Findings from this research highlight three key aspects to adopting climate change adaptation in mine closure and rehabilitation strategies: (1) best practice guidelines significantly influence mine closure and rehabilitation activities; (2) the South African regulations governing mine closure play a crucial role in guiding the change required in industry; and (3) the mining industry must place an increased focus on the value of stakeholder engagements when planning for closure and rehabilitation. This thesis also assesses the benefits and challenges of incorporating climate change adaptation in mine closure and rehabilitation strategies. Findings highlight how the rise in integrated mine closure and progressive rehabilitation is providing early indications of successful and sustainable mine closure in South Africa, and globally. Finally, the insights gained from this research are used to develop practical recommendations to assist mining companies in adopting and implementing climate adaptation responses as part of their closure and rehabilitation strategies, as well as suggest alternative climate adaptation solutions focused on nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation.

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