Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Private Nature Reserves'

Capitalism has evolved globally by disciplining its key features to suit new markets and changing socio- economic environments. These features include private property, labour and neoliberalism. Whilst capitalism has managed to become a well-established system, occasionally it is confronted with challenges which expose its callous nature. In South Africa, land restitution calls into question capitalism's operation as it disrupts the conventional process of profit accumulation. This is evident when looking at the manner in which land claims are settled in private nature reserves that are under a land claim. Private nature reserves have been structured to bring together capitalism's key features of property, labour and neoliberalism and therefore become interesting sites on which to study how they react to land restitution. This study uses Mala Mala Game Reserve to investigate how capitalism unfolds in the game reserve. It specifically looks at the conservation business, labour conditions, and the settlement of the land claim in the reserve. It begins by analysing the structuring of the conservation business to fit capitalism's objective of profit accumulation. The emphasis here is on the relationship between capitalism and nature, and how the conservation business is built on the commodification of nature. It traces the business foundation of Mala Mala over time to understand how the reserve became a luxurious safari destination that target a small, select group of wealthy, mainly international tourists. The reserve promises quality wildlife viewing and luxury accommodation for its guests, which it is able to offer through the commercialisation of nature in a manner that is often viewed as ethical to the greater public, yet a closer look at the operation of the reserve shows the unaccounted cost of exclusion, dispossession and exploitation. These impacts are further contextualised in the second part of the study, which documents the structuring of labour as a condition for building the reserve's economic success. Labour is an important necessity for capitalism's operations and its conditions show us the fierce manner in which surplus value is extracted. The creation of the cheap labour system in South Africa played an important role in building conservation areas. The success of conservation business in private nature reserves routinely depends on conservation labour. The study finds that cheap labour in Mala Mala is secured through the adoption of a migrant labour system. Such a system highlights the social ‘cost' (labour) of capital accumulation that takes place in the reserve. While the first two parts of the study explain how capitalism has shaped the conservation business in Mala Mala, the last section investigates what happens when this almost perfectly structured system is challenged through land claims. The study finds that the clash between conservation business and land restitution produce a model of land reform that chime with neoliberalism. Backed by government and landowners, the model separates business ownership from landownership in order to guarantee capital accumulation. This study contributes to our understanding of land restitution in private nature reserves in South Africa and the land restitution model it produces.

Magister Artium - MA
Recent years have seen an upsurge of interest from governments and development organisations in adopting the Public Private Partnership (PPP) approach when developing and operating ecotourism projects. A PPP is a contract between a public sector institution and a private party, in which the private party assumes substantial financial, technical and operational risk in the design, financing, building and operation of a project (South African National Treasury 2004). Countries such as India, China and Kenya have developed numerous projects through PPPs. Protected Areas have followed suit in adopting the PPP approach, to be able to focus on their core business, namely conservation. To date, relevant research on PPP ecotourism projects, specifically pro-poor tourism approach is fragmented, limited in scope, and lacks examples that can assist practitioners in embedding pro-poor tourism principles in the PPP methodology. Academically, studies are largely evaluations that compare progress against projects’ defined objectives or broad based sustainable tourism goals. However, this study is an assessment of a tourism development from a pro-poor tourism perspective. Thus, this study interrogated the extent to which ecotourism PPP at De Hoop is pro-poor. Furthermore, the study sought to establish if rural local communities living in and near De Hoop PPP benefit and how their benefits can be enhanced. Pro-poor tourism indicators are used in this study as a theoretical base to evaluate De Hoop PPP.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 89-98).
Worldwide, nature conservation paradigms have changed markedly since the turn of the 19th century. These changes have affected the way that conservation has been practiced in the eastern lowveld of South Africa. At the same time sociopolitical conditions in South Africa have also undergone enormous shifts which have affected the distribution of rural people and land use practices in the rural lowveld. This study examines private nature conservation and its relationship to local rural people in the lowveld using Londolozi Private Game Reserve as a case study. Various methods of data collection were used. These included focus group interviews with local rural people, a survey questionnaire with lodge staff, informal interviews with land owners, and visits to rural homes and schools. In addition the author drew on eight years of work and research experience on private game reserves in and around the study area. The application of fortress conservation in the lowveld resulted in the removal of black people from Crown and privately owned land, land that they were living on. They were removed to the western borders of the current Sabi Sand Wildtuin (SSW). This complete exclusion of local people from the conservation land in the Kruger National Park (KNP) and SSW remained the status quo until Londolozi, in 1976 and almost at least a decade before the rest of the conservation world began to engage with local black people on its borders. Londolozi paid particular attention to the rural staff working at the lodge. In the 1990's fortress conservation was replaced with community conservation approaches which sought to use market-based strategies to demonstrate the value of conservation to rural people bordering conservation areas. Londolozi retracted from its essentially bottom-up approach and implemented a number of infrastructural, management devised, top-down community projects in the local areas. It did this through the Conservation Corporation Africa (CC Africa) Rural Investment Fund. These projects, although more obvious to the wider community outside the reserve, were inefficient and wasted money in some cases. In 2007, Londolozi returned to focussing on individual rural staff members rather than on infrastructural community development projects. The effect has been very positive for the 200 or so rural staff at Londolozi, but the wider community outside the fences sees little benefit or point to this approach. The community lodged a number of land claims on the SSW and Londolozi. The merits of the only gazetted claim on Londolozi would seem to be tenuous at best.

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) has experienced a drastic decline in numbers over the last 20 years globally and is currently listed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In South Africa, there are only an estimated 763 free-ranging cheetahs and conflict with humans is arguably the most significant reason for this low number. The aim of my study was to determine the population size and demographic characteristics of the cheetah population within the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve (TPNR), South Africa, and to contribute to a better understanding of cheetah space use and habitat selection. The research was conducted on TPNR between November 2009 and June 2011 and I used a photographic survey to assess cheetah population size and demographic characteristics. Location data was obtained by collaring two adult male cheetahs with GPS/GSM collars and ad hoc sightings data from across the reserve for an adult female with cubs and three adolescent females. A relatively high minimum population density of 4.46 cheetahs/100km² was estimated, signifying a relatively healthy cheetah population. The sex ratio data indicated a higher male to female ratio and an average litter size of three cubs. The relatively high cub survival rate and density is promising in terms of the status of species within the area, as the data denote the success and potential persistence of the species. Cheetah home ranges varied between 20.97km² for the female with cubs and 659.65km² for the younger collared male. Season did not appear to be a determining factor in terms of home range sizes for the three social groups within the TPNR. However, the males did show a slight increase in their home range sizes during the dry season when resources where presumably more widespread. My results indicate that the cheetah is an adaptable species, flexible in behaviour and able to tolerate a variety of habitat types. Such knowledge is fundamental for planning and implementing the effective management and conservation of cheetahs in South Africa.

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Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos
The cocoa production region of southern Bahia harbors the largest fragments of Atlantic Forest in the State of Bahia, possessing a high frequency of endemics and species richness, and being presently considered a priority area for biodiversity conservation. Nevertheless, the process of implementing Conservation Units in the region is not keeping up with the rate of change in local land use. Among the strategies of non-governmental organizations to help in the conservation of the Una Biological Reserve (the largest forest fragment in the cocoa production region) is the creation of Private Nature Reserves. In the present work, the process of implementation of the Ecoparque do Una Private Nature Reserve was assessed. The Ecoparque do Una is a 383 ha area contiguous to the Una Biological Reserve (UBR), and is intended to be a model for sustainable development and natural resource utilization. The analysis of the social and economic relations between the Ecoparque and its neighboring properties indicated that both areas lack economic integration. However, employees at the Ecoparque are all native to the region, a situation that contributes for the Ecoparque to be more easily accepted by the local community. The number of visitors to the area is increasing monthly from 1998 to present, but the public is constituted typically by people coming from other regions. This limits the process of comprehension, by people from the cocoa production region, of the importance of the Ecoparque for conservation of natural resources. The cost of the entry ticket to the Ecoparque was pointed by tourism operators as the greatest barrier for marketing the Ecoparque as a product, restricting the aggregate value of tourism in the region. In spite not being yet an economically sustainable touristic product, because its expenditures are higher than the direct incomes from public visitation, this model of development is in process of becoming sustainable. All the environmental factors considered, the Ecoparque is meeting the requisites of a sustainable enterprise with social responsibility, environmental conservation and economic development.
A região cacaueira do Sul da Bahia abriga hoje os maiores fragmentos de Floresta Atlântica no Estado, com elevado endemismo e grande riqueza de espécies, sendo considerada atualmente como uma das áreas prioritárias para a conservação da biodiversidade. Entretanto a implantação de Unidades de Conservação na região não está acompanhando as mudanças atuais na dinâmica do uso da terra. Uma das estratégias utilizadas por organizações não-governamentais para auxiliar a conservação da Reserva Biológica de Una (maior fragmento florestal da região cacaueira) está sendo a criação de reservas privadas em seu entorno. Este trabalho avaliou a dinâmica da implantação de uma Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural, o Ecoparque de Una, área com 383 ha, contígua à Reserva Biológica de Una e que tem por objetivo servir como modelo de desenvolvimento sustentável para a utilização dos recursos naturais. As relações sociais e econômicas entre a Reserva e as propriedades lindeiras foram analisadas, mostrando que ainda não há integração econômica entre estas; porém, todos os funcionários são nativos da região, o que colabora para a aceitação da Reserva pela comunidade local. A visitação pública na área está aumentando em todos os meses, desde 1998 até o momento, porém, ainda com público caracterizado por visitantes de outras regiões, o que limita o processo de compreensão, pelos habitantes da região cacaueira, da importância da conservação de seus recursos naturais. O valor cobrado para ingressar na área da Reserva foi apontado pelas operadoras de turismo como o grande obstáculo para a comercialização do produto Ecoparque , o que restringe a agregação de valor ao turismo da região. Apesar de ainda não ser um produto turístico economicamente sustentável, pois suas despesas não são cobertas pela receita direta da visitação pública, pode-se afirmar que este modelo de desenvolvimento está caminhando para sua sustentabilidade econômica. Considerando-se todos os fatores ambientais analisados, a Reserva está cumprindo as premissas de uma atividade sustentável, com responsabilidade social, conservação ambiental e desenvolvimento econômico.

Thesis (M. Dev.) -- University of Limpopo, 2014
The aim of the study was to examine the public private partnership in Lekgalammetse Nature Reserve, which was championed by the Limpopo Tourism Agency under the banner of Limpopo Economic Development Environment and Tourism Department after the protected land was placed under restitution process. The purpose of the study was to evaluate whether the partnership which was created has the capacity to enhance the socio-economic development of the claimants and the adjacent communities in the area where the nature reserve is situated. Land restitution process in case of an area declared protected area by law; says that there will not be physical occupation by the claimants in terms of section 42 of the Land Restitution Act. Therefore the only way that the claimants can benefit from the land, is to become land owners and partner in terms of activities that take place in the protected area for social and economic benefits. A public private partnership was recognised as a potential vehicle for social, economical and environmental well being of both parties. However the developmental prospects of the partnership were unknown and overestimated. Views from the study as well as the literature review support the assertions that in this type of land claim, a public private partnership is the best way to go about developing the claimants and the adjacent communities. The review also highlighted the importance of a partnership in a protected area and its benefits, especially in developing the adjacent communities. Thus the role of the community in participating in their development and of the protected area was the main focus of this study. The study collected both qualitative and quantitative data using interviews and a questionnaire. The study concluded by providing recommendations to stakeholders of Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve on how to improve their partnership relations. Some of the recommendations proposed are to involve a private partner to enhance development in the area; there should be provided with a coordinated and proper management, develop a capacity building tool to improve the co-management function and create an environment where all partners are equal in the partnership. The correct implementation of the Performance Management System will serve as a means to enhance organizational efficiency, effectiveness and accountability in the use of resources in accelerating access to good quality services and a better life for all. A well balanced partnership has a potential to increase community benefits and maximize the conservation of the biodiversity of the area.

As unidades de conservação da natureza são a forma mais efetiva de proteção da biodiversidade que se conhece. Legalmente as unidades de conservação podem ser divididas em dois grandes grupos: aquelas de uso sustentável e as de proteção integral ou uso indireto. Segundo o Sistema Nacional de Unidades de Conservação (SNUC) instituído pela Lei 9.985 de 18 de julho de 2000, as Reservas Particulares do Patrimônio Natural (RPPN) são consideradas unidades de conservação privadas de uso sustentável. Na Espanha, a conservação em terras privadas é denominado de Custodia del territorio e se dá por meio de parceria privada entre entidades de custódia e o proprietário, diferentemente do Brasil onde ocorre participação pública. Atualmente na Espanha, o processo de criação destas áreas é previsto pela Ley 42 de 13 de dezembro de 2007, que trata do Patrimonio Natural y de la Biodiversidad do país. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo principal elaborar um panorama atual da conservação em terras privadas no estado do Paraná, Brasil, comparando parcialmente com a conservação privada na Catalunha, Espanha, avaliando a efetividade da gestão destas áreas protegidas no Paraná, para que seja possível apontar possíveis melhorias nos meios de desenvolvimento e gerenciamento das RPPN, tendo em conta a atual demanda ambiental existente. Busca-se ainda entender a dinâmica da relação dessas propriedades privadas de proteção da natureza, com os diferentes órgãos de governo e assim apontar melhorias para a legislação e relação já existentes. Para atingir tal objetivo foram aplicados questionários em 132 RPPN distribuídas pelo Paraná e nove áreas protegidas privadas da Catalunha, e ainda, avaliada a efetividade do manejo aplicado às áreas paranaenses com base na adaptação de uma metodologia já existente. Desta relação atual fica clara a ausência de contato entre proprietário privado e órgãos públicos, bem com a insatisfação de parte dos proprietários de RPPN do Paraná, que criaram estas reservas privadas com expectativas diferentes do que na realidade ocorre, mostrando possivelmente a existência de falha no processo de criação das áreas. Para o caso catalão é possível perceber maior proximidade entre entidades de custódia e proprietário o que reflete em uma gestão mais efetiva destas áreas, além disso, é perceptível a maior utilização destas áreas pela população de seu entorno para atividades de lazer. Também se destaca em algumas áreas visitadas a aplicação de programas de pagamentos por serviços ambientais. Avaliando a efetividade de manejo das reservas paranaenses é possível constatar que 78% das áreas estão incluídas em um manejo insatisfatório e pouco satisfatório, somando no máximo 50% da nota a ser atingida nesta análise, confirmando a ideia da dificuldade na gestão de áreas protegidas por seus proprietários.
Nature conservation units are the most effective form of biodiversity protection that is known. Legally conservation units can be divided into two large groups: those of sustainable use and those of integral protection or indirect use. According to the National System of Conservation Units (SNUC) established by Law 9.985 of July 18, 2000, Private Reserves of the Natural Patrimony (RPPN) are considered private conservation units for sustainable use. In Spain, conservation in private lands is called the Custody of the Territory and occurs through a private partnership between custodians and the owner, unlike Brazil where there is public participation. Currently in Spain, the process of creating these areas is provided for by Law 42 of December 13, 2007, which deals with the country\'s Natural Heritage and Biodiversity. This research has as main objective to elaborate a current panorama of the conservation in private lands in the state of Paraná, Brazil, comparing partially with the private conservation in Catalonia, Spain, evaluating the effectiveness of the management of these protected areas in Paraná, so that it is possible to point out possible Improvements in the means of development and management of RPPN, taking into account the existing environmental demand. It also seeks to understand the dynamics of the relationship of these private nature protection properties with the different governing bodies and thus point out improvements to the already existing legislation and relationship. To achieve this objective, questionnaires were applied in 132 RPPN distributed by Paraná and nine private protected areas of Catalonia, and also evaluated the effectiveness of the management applied to the areas of Paraná based on the adaptation of an existing methodology. From this current relationship it is clear the absence of contact between private owner and public agencies, as well as the dissatisfaction of the owners of RPPN of Paraná, who created these private reserves with different expectations of what actually occurs, possibly showing the existence of a failure in the process of creating areas. For the Catalan case, it is possible to perceive a greater proximity between custodial entities and owner, which reflects in a more effective management of these areas, in addition, it is noticeable the greater use of these areas by the population of its surroundings for leisure activities. Also highlighted in some areas visited is the application of payment programs for environmental services. Evaluating the management effectiveness of the Paraná, it is possible to verify that 78% of the areas are included in an unsatisfactory and little quality management, adding a maximum of 50% of the note to be reached in this analysis, confirming the idea of the difficulty in the management of protected areas by their owners.

Os impactos negativos das atividades humanas no ambiente vêm historicamente acelerando a transformação e a degradação das paisagens no mundo. Atualmente, a questão socioambiental vem sendo colocada em pauta diante deste cenário, fazendo com que a implantação de reservas naturais protegidas ganhe importância, pois constituem um dos pilares da proteção da biodiversidade, contribuindo sobremaneira na manutenção dos serviços ecossistêmicos gerados pelos processos naturais. Mesmo com os avanços e benefícios desta estratégia de conservação in situ, há desafios a serem superados. Em linhas gerais, as ameaças às áreas naturais protegidas variam amplamente conforme o contexto, porém, as consequências geralmente conduzem à fragmentação, degradação e perda de hábitat em seu entorno ou podem ainda atingir diretamente as reservas. Nesta direção, a presente pesquisa tem como área de estudo a Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural (RPPN) Sesc Pantanal e seu entorno, sendo esta a mais extensa unidade de conservação do Brasil nesta categoria, localizada no município de Barão de Melgaço, Mato Grosso. O objetivo geral deste estudo visa compreender os elementos da paisagem pantaneira no âmbito da RPPN e seu entorno, para verificar as causas e os efeitos das principais pressões e ameaças à sua conservação, visando identificar áreas vulneráveis e propor mecanismos de monitoramento. Portanto, esta pesquisa, de caráter aplicado, poderá auxiliar no processo de gestão da RPPN contribuindo para o planejamento e conservação da paisagem. Sendo uma pesquisa essencialmente interdisciplinar, os métodos e procedimentos operacionais foram definidos a partir da articulação entre abordagens quantitativas e qualitativas. Com relação à natureza das fontes de informações, foi realizada pesquisa bibliográfica para o levantamento de dados secundários e os dados primários foram obtidos através de pesquisa documental e pesquisa de campo com os sujeitos envolvidos por meio de diferentes técnicas, tais como: observação direta, análise documental, entrevistas não dirigidas e semi-estruturadas e oficinas de planejamento. A análise dos dados teve como apoio os recursos da cartografia digital, da multirreferencialidade, ou triangulação, das observações, escutas (entrevistas) e fala (oficina de planejamento). Como principal base conceitual, esta pesquisa faz uso da noção da paisagem cultural para compreender as dimensões nas quais as áreas naturais protegidas se inserem, incorporando aspectos sociais, ambientais e econômicos. No contexto amplo brasileiro, foram identificados 18 tipos de pressões e ameaças relacionadas às unidades de conservação e seu entorno, dos quais 07 estão presentes na área de estudo, quais sejam: desmatamento; remoção de fauna; pesca predatória; turismo e recreação; deposição de resíduos; incêndios de origem antrópica e narcotráfico. Quanto ao grau de importância de cada aspecto, os levantamentos indicaram a pesca predatória e o narcotráfico como as mais relevantes ameaças à proteção da paisagem em estudo. Portanto, os resultados demonstraram um campo heterogêneo quanto aos pontos de vistas relacionados à conservação da paisagem, possibilitando desvelar aspectos significativos, porém até então obscuros da vulnerabilidade, para a definição das estratégias de conservação efetiva na Reserva, indo além de suas fronteiras espaciais e do alcance de sua capacidade de gestão.
Anthropogenic negative impacts on the environment have catalyzed landscape transformation and degradation over time. In the present time, social-environmental issues have been more and more addressed facing this scenario. Thus the implementation of nature reserves have become more relevant, once it constitutes one of the main pillars of biodiversity protection, and so highly contributing to the maintenance of ecosystem services. Despite all benefits coming from this in situ conservation strategy, there is a range of challenges to be overcome. In general, threats towards nature reserves vary according to the context in which they are inserted. However their consequences usually lead to fragmentation, degradation and habitat loss in its surroundings and within the nature reserve itself. The present work\'s study site was the Sesc Pantanal Private Reserve of Natural Heritage (PRNH, or RPPN - Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural), the largest in Brazil in its category, located in the municipality of Barão de Melgaço, state of Mato Grosso. This work aimed the understanding of landscape elements within the PRNH and its surroundings through the verification of cause-effect mechanisms amongst the main pressures and threats to its conservation, and so identifying vulnerable areas and proposing monitoring strategy suggestions. Therefore, this applied research might assist in the management of the Sesc Pantanal PRNH, specifically concearning planning and landscape conservation. The interdisciplinary character of this work demanded both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Secondary data were accessible through literature consultation. Primary data were acquired through a documentation survey and the field surveys with different stakeholders (e.g., direct observation, unguided interviews, semi structured interviews, and planning workshops). Data analysis has been supported by digital cartography and triangulation of field-acquired data. The adopted conceptual framework is based on the idea of cultural landscape, allowing the comprehension of social, environmental and economic aspects related to the nature reserve. The study has found 18 types of pressures and threats to conservation units in Brazil, from which 07 of them influence the study site: deforestation; fauna suppression; predatory fishing; tourism and recreation; waste disposal; anthropic-related fires; and illegal drug trade. The most relevant impacts in the area were predatory fishing and illegal drug trade. According to the present study, the conservation of this particular landscape relies on heterogeneous elements, what unveils its vulnerability and enables the development of more effective conservation strategies that pervade the PRNH itself and its management capacity.

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The volitional institution of private protected areas is recognized as an important tool for the conservation of biodiversity, complementing the public efforts of environmental protection. In Brazil, such areas are called Private Reserves of Natural Patrimony (RPPNs), which are perpetually created areas, at the initiative of their owners, and are recognized and audited by the Government. The management of the reserve, however, remains the owner of the property. In the State of Goias, there are currently 63 (sixty-three) RPPNs created, and in some parts of the State, as in the South Goiano, there are no such environmental reserves. It can be seen that in the microregions where agribusiness and the sugar and alcohol industry prevails, there is no RPPN. Thus, the dissertation problematizes the imperative necessity of the voluntary institution, by the owners of rural properties, of the Private Reservation of Natural Patrimony on their agrarian properties, especially those located in the South of the State of Goiás. It is highlighted the unique importance of volitional creation of these reserves as a mechanism for the fulfillment and effectiveness of the socio-environmental function of the land and also for the preservation of the Cerrado biome. It is analyzed the growing process of unsustainable expansion of the sugar and alcohol sector, a phenomenon that represents a new cycle of the agricultural frontier, and its social and environmental impacts. In spite of Decree No. 6.961, of September 17, 2009, creating the agroecological zoning of sugarcane, with the general objective of providing technical subsidies for the formulation of public policies aimed at the expansion and sustainable production of sugarcane in Brazilian territory, this does not happen in practice. Several social and environmental implications are already felt on account of this fact. Thus, public environmental policies should be implemented by the Public Power in order to encourage rural landowners to create, register in the competent body and sustainably manage the RPPNs, so that the rural scenarios and the memories of the rural man do not be completely eradicated by the indiscriminate advance of the sugar industry.
A instituição volitiva de áreas protegidas privadas é reconhecida como uma importante ferramenta para a conservação da biodiversidade, complementando os esforços públicos de proteção ambiental. No Brasil, tais áreas são chamadas de Reservas Particulares do Patrimônio Natural (RPPNs), que são áreas instituídas em caráter perpétuo, por iniciativa de seus proprietários, sendo reconhecidas e fiscalizadas pelo Poder Público. A gestão da reserva, entretanto, continua sendo do dono do imóvel. No Estado de Goiás existem, atualmente, 63 (sessenta e três) RPPNs criadas, sendo que, em algumas partes do Estado, como no Sul Goiano, inexistem tais reservas ambientais. Pôde-se perceber que nas microrregiões onde impera o agronegócio e a indústria sucroalcooleira, não existe RPPN. Assim sendo, a dissertação problematiza a imperiosa necessidade da instituição voluntária, por parte dos proprietários de imóveis rurais, da Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural nas suas propriedades agrárias, especialmente naquelas situadas no Sul do Estado de Goiás. É destacada a importância ímpar da criação volitiva dessas reservas como mecanismo para o cumprimento e efetividade da função socioambiental da terra e também para a preservação do bioma Cerrado. É analisado o crescente processo de expansão não sustentável do setor sucroalcooleiro, fenômeno este que representa um novo ciclo da fronteira agrícola, e seus impactos socioambientais. Apesar do Decreto n.° 6.961, de 17 de setembro de 2009, criar o zoneamento agroecológico da cana-de-açúcar, com o objetivo geral de fornecer subsídios técnicos para a formulação de políticas públicas visando a expansão e produção sustentável de cana-de-açúcar no território brasileiro, isto, na prática, não ocorre. Várias implicações socioambientais já são sentidas por conta de tal fato. Destarte, políticas públicas ambientais deverão ser implementadas pelo Poder Público no sentido de estimular os proprietários de imóveis rurais a criar, registrar no órgão competente e manejar, de forma sustentável, as RPPNs, para que os cenários rurais e as memórias do homem do campo não sejam completamente deletados por conta do indiscriminado avanço da indústria canavieira.

A presente tese, constituída por estudo de caso, se inscreve no contexto da questão ambiental que, na atualidade, problematiza a degradação das condições de vida no planeta e as evidências segundo as quais o modelo de crescimento econômico, cuja tendência tem provocado crescente esgotamento e destruição dos recursos naturais e energéticos não-renováveis, é responsável pela perda da biodiversidade e a contaminação dos ecossistemas terrestres. Ao mesmo tempo, favorece uma crise social acentuando as discriminações, as desigualdades socioeconômicas e os processos de exclusão. Estamos vivendo uma crise socioambiental a ser abordada pela reflexão científica e pela revisão dos valores e modelos que inspiram a gestão dos recursos naturais. Os problemas ambientais têm ocupado parte significativa da agenda dos políticos, dos economistas, dos juristas, dos meios de comunicação. Ademais, estão tendo adesão da opinião pública. A cada dia os movimentos ambientalistas se fortalecem e impõem medidas de proteção e de mudanças nos comportamentos em relação aos problemas ambientais, destacando os desafios atuais para alcançarmos um equilíbrio ecológico e uma equidade social. Hoje, a proteção à biodiversidade é uma preocupação. Com esse estudo procuro mostrar como diante das pressões e ameaças advindas do predomínio de formas ambientalmente predatórias de exploração dos recursos naturais, a criação de áreas naturais protegidas está sendo considerada uma estratégia de controle do território, sobretudo por definir limites para o uso e ocupação bem específicos. Mas o estabelecimento, sua existência e gestão têm tido implicações diversas, especialmente para as condições de vida das comunidades circunvizinhas. Este estudo de caso examina o processo de criação da RPPN Serra das Almas, o trabalho desenvolvido na Reserva, as características e repercussões destas atividades nas comunidades localizadas no entorno da área de proteção ambiental. Por meio de uma metodologia qualitativa, exploratória, descritiva e interpretativa, a pesquisa de campo foi direcionada para identificar a percepção da população do entorno acerca da existência da Reserva, e as mudanças decorrentes da implantação de uma área de proteção ambiental. Palavras-chave: Questão Ambiental, Biodiversidade, Bioma Caatinga, Áreas de Proteção Ambiental, Reservas Privadas e Comunidades do Entorno.
La presente tesis, constituida por estudio de caso, se inscribe en el contexto de la cuestión ambiental que en la actualidad problematiza la degradación de las condiciones de vida en el planeta y las evidencias según las cuales el modelo de crecimiento económico, cuya tendencia ha venido provocando un creciente agotamiento y destrucción de los recursos naturales y energéticos no-renovables, es responsable de la pérdida de biodiversidad y de la contaminación de los ecosistemas terrestres. Al mismo tiempo dicho modelo económico favorece una crisis social al acentuar las discriminaciones, las desigualdades socioeconómicas y los procesos de exclusión. La sociedad vive actualmente una crisis socio-ambiental a ser abordada por la reflexión científica y por la revisión de los valores y modelos que inspiran la gestión de los recursos naturales. Los problemas ambientales han venido ocupando parte significativa de la agenda de los políticos, de los economistas, de los juristas, de los medios de comunicación y asimismo, cuentan con la adhesión de la opinión pública. A cada día los movimientos ambientalistas se fortalecen e imponen medidas de protección y de cambios en los comportamientos relacionados a los problemas ambientales, destacando los desafíos actuales que deben vencerse a fin de lograr un equilibrio ecológico y una equidad social. Hoy, la protección a la biodiversidad es una preocupación y a través del presente estudio la autora ha procurado mostrar por qué, ante las presiones y amenazas advenidas del predominio de formas ambientalmente predatorias de explotación de los recursos naturales, la creación de áreas naturales protegidas viene siendo considerada una estrategia de control del territorio, sobre todo porque define una forma de uso y ocupación con límites bien específicos. Sin embargo, el establecimiento, la existencia y la gestión de estas áreas naturales, ha tenido implicaciones diversas en las condiciones de vida de las comunidades circundantes. Este estudio de caso examina el proceso de creación de la RPPN Serra das Almas, el trabajo desarrollado en la Reserva, las características y repercusiones de estas actividades en las comunidades localizadas en el entorno del área de protección ambiental. A través de una metodología cualitativa, exploratoria, descriptiva e interpretativa, la investigación de campo ha sido orientada en el sentido de identificar la percepción de la población del entorno acerca de la existencia de la Reserva, y de los cambios derivados de la implantación de un área de protección ambiental.
This thesis consists by case study, applies in the environmental context issues that in the present, discusses the degradation of the planet’s living conditions and the evidences by which the economic growth model, has caused the growing exhaustion and destruction of natural resources and non-renewable energies, is responsible for the loss of biodiversity and the contamination of terrestrial ecosystems. At the same time, promotes a social crisis emphasizing discrimination, socioeconomic inequalities and exclusion processes. We are living a socio-environmental crisis to be broach by scientific reflection and by revision of values and models that inspire the management of natural resources. Environmental issues have occupied a significant part of the agenda of politicians, economists, lawyers and the media. Moreover, they are having the support of public opinion. Each day, the environmental movements get strengthen and imposes protection actions and also the changing of behavior regarding to environmental issues, highlighting the current challenges to reach an ecological balance and social equity. Today, the protection of biodiversity is a concern. With this study I try to show in front of all pressures and threats from the predominance of environmentally predatory exploration of natural resources, the creation of protected natural areas is considered a strategy of controlling the territory, especially to set limits for the use and a well specific occupation. But the establishment, its existence and management has had several implications, especially for the living conditions of surrounding communities. This case study examines the creating process of the RPPN Serra das Almas, the work developed at the Reserve, the characteristics and repercussions of these activities in the communities located around the area of environmental protection. Through a qualitative methodology, exploratory, descriptive and interpretive, the field research has directed to identify the perception of the surrounding population about the existence of the Reserve, and the changes resulting from an implementation of an environmental protection area.

Eco-tourism activities specifically, sometimes have very negative environmental impacts. One such activity which has been observed to have severe negative impacts is driving in dirt tracks (ungravelled natural soil) by game drive vehicles in private game reserves and some National Parks (Nortjé 2005; Laker 2009). It has also been observed that the severity of the impacts and the resilience (recovery potential) of the affected areas differ widely between different areas. It is strongly linked to the properties and qualities of different soils. This study has shown that off-road driving (ORD) has the same effects, and to a greater extent, if it is not well managed and judiciously controlled. Wild animals tend to concentrate in areas with the most nutritious en most palatable vegetation. Consequently these are also the areas where predators, e.g. lion, leopard and cheetah are most likely to be found. It can be expected that these will be the areas with the highest frequencies of ORD in order to get close to these animals. In many landscapes these are the areas which are the most vulnerable to negative impacts by actions like ORD and have the lowest resilience. It has also been observed during game drives and personal communications at several occasions that there is tremendous ignorance amongst tourists regarding the negative environmental impacts of certain activities. This study proved that ORD have strong negative impacts on vegetation recovery, soil resilience and root density distribution through soil crusting and sub-soil compaction. An important finding is that these negative impacts are during both dry and wet soil conditions. Game drive vehicles driving off-road damages the surface soil structure, which lead to soil crust formation and sub-surface compaction. A highly significant result is that most crusting and sub-soil compaction occurred during the first pass of the game drive vehicle, irrespective of the soil type and tyre pressure, thus rewriting the current guidelines for ORD of the South African National Parks, SANParks. Furthermore, results of this study indicated that a significant area in the flood plains of the Makuleke Contractual Park is impacted by ORD. The impacts are serious if one looks at the amount of land that an ORD vehicle can disturb. One of the recommendations would thus be to drive in the same tracks when driving off-road, and lower the tyre pressures. Driving in the same tracks is known as "controlled-traffic" in the agricultural industry. Controlled traffic is very important to minimize compaction. Driving in the same University of Pretoria etd Nortjé, G.P. (2013) tracks during off-road incidents does not significantly affect the degree of compaction under the tracks, but greatly reduces the compacted area. Further results indicated a strong lateral effect of the vehicle tracks, in most cases the whole area between the two tyre tracks as well as up to a distance outside of the vehicle tracks, thus increasing the total area disturbed by ORD. Comparing these vehicle impacts with animal path resulted in some important findings. Animals only caused a soil crust with soil strength values much lower than that of vehicles. The effects of animals are also much more vertical than lateral as with vehicles. Another important finding is the role that historical human activities play in such study areas and how it may influence results. The results in this study are aggravated by the historical human activities in this study area, as indicated. These historical activities were the main cause of the surface crusting, and the resultant low vegetation growth in the area. This, therefore, explains partially the relatively high control values and also the soil’s higher susceptibility to compaction due to vehicle ORD. The root density trials had very interesting and important results. Significant differences occurred between mean root density fractions across all tyre pressures at all three trial sites. The trend is that an increase in tyre pressure causes a decrease in root density distribution. These results show clearly that even lower tyre pressures are harmful, but are more environmental friendly than higher tyre pressures. Results of the second part of the study with regards to tourists' perceptions on ORD, and the impact of their activities on the environment, showed that the majority of tourists areignorant when it comes to the impacts of their activities on soil and vegetation. Tourists' had significantly variable demographic characteristics. Tourists' environmental perceptions varied, but a significant majority of tourists agreed that ORD has a negative impact on the environment. Contradictions exist between what they know or perceive as being damaging and what they prefer to act on. Results indicate a need for improved visitor education on the possible negative impacts of demands for ORD, and a need for government intervention with regards to the enforcement of legal measures to control ORD. The results also indicate that game guides and tourism operators can play a major role in educating the tourists. The results demonstrate that both an understanding of the chemical and physical factors influencing soil compaction, as well as tourists' environmental views are important in formulating a management strategy to control and manage these impacts.
Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2014.
gm2014
Animal and Wildlife Sciences
unrestricted

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A busca da compreensão da complexidade das florestas tropicais tem relevância cada vez mais reconhecida em políticas de conservação e de recuperação de ecossistemas degradados e qualidade ambiental de paisagens alteradas. A presença humana tornou-se, a partir dos cinco últimos séculos, um fator de destituição da identidade da Floresta Atlântica, tornando-o um dos domínios naturais mais ameaçados do mundo, onde são raros os testemunhos de florestas primitivas. Iniciativas de conservação dos remanescentes florestais representam uma possibilidade de salvaguarda da Floresta Atlântica. Reservas Particulares do Patrimônio Natural (RPPNs) surgem como uma importante instrumento na busca da intermediação de aspectos sociais, econômicos e ambientais. A porção setentrional da Mantiqueira Sul possui poucas Unidades de Conservação e a identidade única e relevância conservacionista de seus ecossistemas florestais ainda não são devidamente reconhecidas. Tal situação provavelmente se deve a uma lacuna no conhecimento desses remanescentes. Visando contribuir para o conhecimento científico dessa região, foram realizados em três RPPNs (Brejo Novo - BN; Mato Limpo - ML; e Fazenda da Serra - FS) inventários fitossociológicos (DAP ≥ 5 cm) de um hectare de floresta em cada uma e análises estratificadas com DAPs ≥ 5, 10 e 30 cm. Foi feita também a comparação de dados obtidos com os de outros levantamentos de trechos da Floresta Atlântica considerados “bem conservados” ou “maduros”. Para a verificação das influências florísticas e fitogeográficas foram compiladas a distribuição geográfica e status de conservação das espécies identificadas e analisados padrões fitogeográficos e influências ambientais dentro de um contexto de 897 áreas da Floresta Atlântica. Foram registrados nas três áreas 5501 indivíduos, pertencentes a 374 espécies. Brejo Novo contabilizou 167 espécies, ML contabilizou 173 espécies e FS contabilizou 227 espécies. O índice de diversidade de espécies (H’) foi, para BN, ML e FS, respectivamente, de 4,36; 4,33; e 4,70 nats.ind-1. A equabilidade (J) foi 0,85; 0,84; e 0,87, respectivamente. A área basal total foi de 32,94; 37,83; e 44,86 m².ha-1, respectivamente. A análise estratificada do componente arbóreo propiciou uma visão menos estática das relações florísticas e estruturais das florestas, favorecendo melhor compreensão do andamento do processo sucessional e demonstrando que interpretações acerca desse processo, baseadas somente no percentual de espécies raras, podem propiciar interpretações equivocadas. Dentro da tendência geral dos dados, conclui-se que os valores percentuais de árvores mortas apresentados pelas três áreas de estudo não se mostraram bons indicadores de seu status de conservação. Os padrões encontrados evidenciam as áreas de estudo como referenciais da variabilidade natural da Floresta Atlântica em seu processo sucessional tardio. A comparação das três áreas com o conjunto das áreas tomadas como referência reforça esse achado. A flora encontrada demonstra forte influência do domínio fitogeográfico atlântico, particularmente da Floresta Ombrófila. O percentual de espécies exclusivas de cada uma das três áreas demonstra o alto valor de substituição de espécies ao longo do gradiente formado entre elas, ao redor do qual se ajuntam influências florísticas variadas. Esse grupo de contribuições exclusivas também é constituído principalmente por espécies pouco representadas em número de indivíduos. Essas características, chave da relevância das áreas de estudo, também apontam para a singularidade dessa porção da Mantiqueira para a conservação da Floresta Atlântica. Assim, também fica evidenciada a importante contribuição das RPPNs como instrumento voluntário, capaz de salvaguardar o que escapa às prioridades estabelecidas pelas políticas públicas de conservação.
The quest to understand the complexity of tropical forests has had its relevance recognized in policies for the conservation and recovery of degraded ecosystems, and of environmental quality in altered landscapes. The presence of man has become, along the past five centuries, a factor of destitution of the identity of the Atlantic Forest, making it one of the most endangered natural domains of the world, where testimonies of primitive forests are rare. Initiatives for the conservation of forest remainders represent an opportunity to safeguard the Atlantic Forest, and the Private Reserves of Natural Heritage (RPPN) emerge as an important tool to pursue intermediation of social, economic, and environmental aspects. The northern portion of the South Mantiqueira has few protected areas, and the unique identity and conservationist importance of its forest ecosystems are not yet duly recognized. This situation is probably due to a lack of knowledge about those forest remainders. In order to contribute to scientific knowledge about the area, phytosociological inventories (DBH ≥ 5 cm) were performed in one hectare of forest in each of the three Private Reserves of Natural Heritage (Brejo Novo - BN, Mato Limpo - ML, and Fazenda da Serra - FS), followed by stratified analyses with DBHs ≥ 5, 10 and 30 cm. A comparison was also made between data thus obtained and data obtained in surveys of other stretches of the Atlantic Forest considered "well-maintained" or "mature". In order to verify the floristic and phytogeographic influences, the geographical distribution and conservation status of the species identified were compiled, then phytogeographic patterns and environmental influences were analyzed within a context of 897 areas of the Atlantic Forest. In the three areas were recorded 5501 individuals belonging to 374 species. BN had 167 species, ML had 173 species and FS had 227 species. The species diversity index (H') was respectively 4.36; 4.33; and 4.70 nats.ind-1 for BN, ML, FS. The evenness (J) was 0.85; 0.84; 0.87, respectively. The total basal area was 32.94; 37.83; and 44.86 m².ha-1, respectively. Stratified analysis of the arboreal component provided a less static view of the floristic and structural relations of forests, fostering a better understanding of the progress of the succession process, and demonstrating that interpretations of this process based only on the percentage of rare species can promote misinterpretations. Within the general trend of data collected, we may conclude that the percentages of dead trees seen in the three areas of study were not good indicators of the conservation status of those areas. The patterns found show that the areas of study are referential of the natural variability of the Atlantic Forest, in their late succession process. The comparison between those three areas and the group of areas taken as a reference reinforces this finding. The flora found shows a strong influence of the Atlantic phytogeographic domain, especially of the Ombrophilous Forest. The percentages of species that are exclusive of each of the three areas demonstrate the high proportion of species replacement along the gradient formed between them, around which varied floristic influences are gathered. This group of unique contributions is also composed mainly of species represented by a small number of individuals. These characteristics, a key of the relevance of the study areas, also point to the uniqueness of this portion of the Mantiqueira for the conservation of the Atlantic Forest. Thus, we hope to highlight the important contribution of private reserves as a voluntary instrument able to safeguard that which is not included in the priorities set by public conservation policies.

A reserva legal, instituída pelo Código Florestal Brasileiro (Lei n° 4.771 de 1965), determina que toda propriedade rural deve manter uma parcela da sua área permanentemente coberta com vegetação nativa. Mesmo reconhecida como importante instrumento para a conservação da biodiversidade no país, suas normas são amplamente desrespeitadas. O presente estudo teve por objetivo analisar os fatores que afetam o cumprimento da reserva legal nos municípios do Estado de São Paulo. Para tanto, a existência de correlação entre medidas de cumprimento à RL, referentes ao número e área de reserva legal averbada, dos municípios e Agências Ambientais do Estado e fatores sócio-econômicos, ecológicos e institucionais obtidos em banco de dados Estaduais e Federais foi investigada por meio de diagramas de dispersão, testes de correlação e análise de regressão linear múltipla. Posteriormente, indicadores quantitativos de estrutura e organização interna das Agências Ambientais, obtidos em questionário aplicado a estes órgãos, foram comparados aos índices de cumprimento da reserva legal. Os dados mostram que 98,2% das propriedades rurais do Estado não respeitam o percentual de 20% de RL preconizado na legislação federal e confirmam a hipótese inicial de que algumas regiões do Estado apresentam déficit menor de áreas protegidas nas propriedades privadas. As análises estatísticas revelam, ao contrário do que era esperado, que o valor de produção de produtos agropecuários e o preço da terra não são os principais determinantes da manutenção de áreas protegidas nas propriedades rurais. Os resultados indicam ainda que índices maiores de vegetação nativa remanescente implicam em cumprimento à reserva legal mais efetivo e que a estrutura e organização com que contam as Agências Ambientais não possuem papel decisivo no êxito dos procedimentos de averbação de reserva legal. A maior contribuição do estudo é apontar que o principal argumento utilizado pelos segmentos produtivos da agropecuária para justificar o descumprimento à Reserva Legal, de que são fatores econômicos, principalmente, que afetam a decisão de manter a RL, não se sustenta. Outros fatores, não tratados neste estudo, podem influenciar o cumprimento da RL, portanto, são necessários mais estudos que abordem, em profundidade, os diferentes aspectos que envolvem a decisão de manter áreas protegidas em terras privadas.
Legal Reserve Forest, instituted by the Brazilian Forest Code (Law 4.471/1965), requires that each rural properties in national territory must have a patch of native vegetation in their land. Despite the importance for nature conservation has been recognized, until today the LR it has not been fully implemented. The present study aim to investigate the factors that interfere in the obey of legal reserve in the municipal districts of the Sao Paulo Stated. The correlations between the indexes of accomplishment of LR across the municipal districts and Environmental Agencies of Sao Paulo Stated and socioeconomic, ecological and institutional factors available on government databases, was explore by bloxplots, correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis Then, quantitative indicators of structure and organization of Environmental Agencies, calculated by the questionnaire applied in this institutions, was compared to the indexes of accomplishment of LR. The first surveying of data show that 98.2% of rural properties dont comply with the percentage of 20% of LR fixed in the Federal Law and sustain the initial hypothesis that some regions of the State present lower deficit of protect areas on private ownerships. The analysis demonstrate, instead of the expected, that Production Value of main agricola products and Land Price were not the main determinants of keep vegetation areas in the rural properties. The results also show that high percentage of forestry remnants significantly imply in compliance more effective and the structure and organization of Environmental Agencies dont appear as an essential role in the outcome of LR proceeds of assigned. The main finding of the study is point that main argument used by farming sector, that economic factors mainly affect the decision to keep protected areas as LR, was not support. Other factors, not discussion on this work can explain the variation of LR so, it is essential that more studies treat deeply different aspects of decision to keep protected areas in private lands.

A Research Report submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Johannesburg, 25 May 2015.
The African elephant, Loxodonta africana displays sexual segregation, a phenomenon which describes males and females of the same species living separately, except during the mating season. Despite it occurring in many sexually dimorphic species, the factors that govern sexual segregation are still poorly understood. The aim of my study was to investigate whether or not African elephants in the 1825 km2 Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR), Limpopo Province were sexually segregated as a result of habitat segregation. I tested the Forage Selection Hypothesis (FSH) which, based on the Jarman-Bell principle, predicts that smaller females are more selective foragers as a result of their high energy demands and poor digestive capabilities in comparison to the larger males. Using the GPS location data of 18 collared adult elephants (12 male and 6 female) from November 2008 to November 2010, I plotted both the total (95% isopleth) and core (50% isopleth) home ranges of individual elephants. I used these home ranges to i) confirm sexual segregation in the APNR, ii) determine whether or not there was a difference in vegetation composition of the home ranges between males and females, and iii) to establish how frequently male and female elephants were associated with each of the vegetation types located within their home ranges. All analyses were done at both the total and core home range level. Home range overlaps were rare between male and female home ranges, particularly at the core home range level, confirming sexual segregation of elephants in the APNR. The vegetation composition data of the home ranges as well as the frequency of association by elephants with each of the available vegetation types (using GPS locations) revealed no significant difference between male and female elephants. Therefore, habitat segregation did not explain sexual segregation by elephants in the APNR. I propose that future studies should consider: i) temporal distribution of elephants to assess how much time each sex spends in each of the available vegetation types; ii) other resources, particularly the availability of water, in addition to the availability of forage, since water limits elephant movements; and iii) social segregation in conjunction with habitat segregation, since elephants display sex-specific differences in social organisation. A comprehensive understanding of the factors that govern sexual segregation of elephants might contribute to conservation management of elephants in the APNR and other small reserves.

A predator-prey study was undertaken to determine the impact of lion Panthera leo predation on the declining populations of large ungulates in the Associated Private Nature Reserves, an open system with the Kruger National Park. The determination of prey population trends and their spatial distribution in relation to predator habitats are fundamental to studying predator-prey relationships. A combination of aerial counting and road strip censusing techniques were used to determine the prey population trends in the Associated Private Nature Reserves. The age and sex structure, habitat selection and seasonal abundance of the most abundant lion prey in the study area were compared with that of ungulate populations elsewhere in African savannas. The population dynamics of the lions in the Associated Private Nature Reserves were investigated by using the call-in counting technique. The total number of lions, mean pride size, lion density, and the age and sex structure of the lions in the study area was compared with that of lions in other African savanna woodland habitats. The range dynamics and habitat selection of four focal lion groups in the Associated Private Nature Reserves were studied. An adult lioness from each of the C, S and M prides, and an adult male from the N coalition were immobilized and then fitted with radio-collars. The range use and habitat selection of the lions in the present study were compared with that of their preferred prey, and with that of lions in other African savannas. In African savanna ecosystems, rainfall is regarded as the key component driving the system. Ecological modelling was therefore used to better understand the interrelationship between rainfall, prey population trends and lion predation in the Associated Private Nature Reserves. The overall conclusions of the ecological modelling were then compared with the results of the present study on lion predation in the Associated Private Nature Reserves. The predation rate and prey selection of the lions in the Associated Private Nature Reserves was determined by using a combination of short-term continual predation observations and historical lion kill data. The prey selection of the lions in the present study was compared with that of historical lion kill data to determine whether the predation pressure shifted from the preferred blue wildebeest and Burchell’s zebra to the more abundant impala, and the larger buffalo and giraffe. The killing and consumption rates of the focal lion groups in the present study were used to determine the impact of lion predation on the large ungulate populations in the Associated Private Nature Reserves. Lion predation data for the present study were compared with that of lions in other African savannas. The results of the present study were used to test the hypothesis that the apparent decrease in the large ungulate populations in the Associated Private Nature Reserves from 1980 to 2003 was due to a combination of lion predation, climatic fluctuation, the change in habitat over time, the removal of the boundary fences between the Associated Private Nature Reserves and the Kruger National Park, and the change in the aerial counting method from 1992 to 1996.
Dissertation (MSc (Wildlife Management))--University of Pretoria, 2007.
Animal and Wildlife Sciences
unrestricted

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science (Environmental Sciences). September 2015.
African elephants (Loxodonta africana) are still being poached and hunted and this could potentially affect their movement. As a keystone species, crucial to maintaining ecosystem function and therefore food webs, it is important to understand the effects hunting may have on their movements. This study was undertaken in the Associated Private Nature Reserves adjacent to the Kruger National Park, where elephants are hunted. I looked at changes in daily displacement distance and distance from hunting and natural mortality events to determine if elephants were affected by hunting events, up to what distance, and to determine whether elephants reacted in the same way to hunting and natural mortality events. I found that elephants are only affected by hunting events when within 1 km of the event, which is consistent with the literature. When considering natural mortality events, they actually diverted movements towards the event location, which is also consistent with literature. These results, however, are based on a very small sample size. In addition, the time of day of the events was not recorded by the wardens of the reserve, and this provided a further limitation for the data analysis and interpretation.

M.A. (Environmental Management)
Reptiles are internationally one of the least studied taxa compared to all other vertebrates, and even less is known about the large arachnids. This proves problematic as the environmental management of reptile and large arachnid species is generally neglected or only partially considered in environmental impact studies and conservation. Consequently, there is a considerable lack of knowledge on the ecological requirements (dietary and habitat requirements) of reptiles and invertebrates. Furthermore, the environmental management of reptiles and large arachnids in the Leeuspruit Private Nature Reserve is restricted as no data exists on the assemblage of these taxa in the study area. A model based approach was used to examine the ecology of species of reptiles and large arachnids (scorpions and baboon spiders) that were found in the Leeuspruit Private Nature Reserve during this study. The study proposes a baseline analysis between the species found in the study area and the suitability and availability of the ecological requirements necessary to their survival. The ecological requirements of each species were noted and utilised as the variable input categories in a scoring model developed for this study. Each species identified in the study area was allocated points from the scoring model based on favourable ecological requirements for that particular species. Field work was conducted in the Leeuspruit Private Nature Reserve in the northern Free State Province (March 2012 – March 2013) to do a survey on reptile and large arachnid diversity and to record the habitats in which they occur. A list of the reptiles and large arachnids found in the Leeuspruit Private Nature Reserve was compiled. One of the significant results which came to light during this study is that the diversity and abundance of reptiles and large arachnids are dependent on the availability and diversity of habitats with the necessary ecological requirements for those species. For example, the distribution of snake species was largely dependent on the abundance of amphibians and birds for food which coincided with a seasonal wetland in the study area; while rocks and detritus proved imperative to the seasonal functionality of the reptiles.

Since the establishment of the first protected area in 1872, the Yellowstone National Park, the concept of protected areas and their management have witnessed several controversies and conflicts. Generally, ownership and management of most of these protected areas has in the past been restricted to state -governments. Other stakeholders and particularly local communities neighbouring these areas were excluded from their management and ownership. Since the last three decades, however, conservation bodies have been trying to encourage various other protected area governance (management) approaches to address failures in the existing management approach (in which state governments almost solely managed and owned these protected areas ) to achieve the conservation goals. Some of these include co-management and private protected area management approaches. In Component A of this study, "Co-management as an option for private protected areas: A case study of the Shongweni Resource Reserve", attempts were made to explore a selection of literature in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the concepts of private protected areas and co-management. Through this documentary review of literature from various sources (internet, libraries, personal communication, etc) the study identified, examined and documented various issues associated with the concepts. It also explored and documented the historical and current perspectives as well as the legal and policy context of these concepts in South Africa. In addition, the study examined the study area and the methods explored in the study. The study concludes in this Component that: 1. Protected area co-management is a pluralistic approach to the management of protected areas. It recognises a variety of stakeholders that are conducive to the achievement of sustainable conservation goals. 2. Private protected areas have tremendously increased in South Africa, with a total of 13% of the land surface under private protected area management. This is more than double the land surface under public protected area management. 3. South Africa has adequate legal and policy framework provisions that encourage comanagement as well as private protected area management.
Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, Johannesburg, South Africa 2017
Concerns exist over the continual decline of marula trees (Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra) as a result of African elephant (Loxodonta africana) impact and a lack of recruitment and regeneration. One strategy of protecting adult marula trees is the usage of elephant mitigation methods. This study took place in Jejane Private Nature Reserve (JPNR), a protected area which recently opened up to the Greater Kruger National Park and had not had elephants in over 100 years. The aim of the study was to investigate the changes to the marula population structure in JPNR three years after the migration of elephants to the area due to fence removal, and to test whether African honeybees (Apis mellifera subsp. scutellata) could be used as a mitigation method for elephant impact on marula trees. A previous size-class survey had been done on a sample of JPNR’s marula population in 2009, prior to the fence removal in 2013. A resurvey of these trees was used to assess the elephant-induced impact and mortality levels on the marula trees and to compare these levels to previously recorded impact and mortality levels on marula trees in the Kruger National Park (KNP). Marula seed predation levels and seedling recruitment were also assessed to address recruitment concerns. The resurveyed marula population had declined by 23.8% post-elephant migration, with the highest annual mortality rates (AMR) and impact scores recorded for trees in the 5 - 11 m height classes. Impact scores on marula trees in JPNR were higher than impact scores recorded on KNP marula trees. Only two marula seedlings were found across all transects, with evidence of high seed predation on marula endocarps. JPNR displayed an adult-dominated marula population with a lack of regeneration, possibly due to a lack of fire which has increased available shelter for seed predators such as small mammals. African honeybees were then used to investigate their effectiveness as an elephant mitigation method and to compare this method against wire-netting (a method experimentally used to prevent ring-barking by elephants). Fifty active beehives were hung from 50 marula trees, with another 50 dummy (inactive) beehives hung from branches on the opposite ends of each beehive tree’s main stem. Fifty additional marula trees were wire-netted and a further 50 were used as control trees. Elephant impact on all 150 trees was measured prior to the addition of treatments and post-treatment addition for nine months. 54% of the control trees received some form of elephant impact, in comparison to 28% of the wire-netted trees and only 2% of the beehive trees. Wire-netting protected marula trees against bark-stripping, but did not prevent elephants from breaking branches. Beehives proved highly efficient at mitigating all forms of elephant impact. The financial cost and maintenance required for the beehive mitigation method is greater than that of wire- netting, but the beehives can provide honey and pollination services as an additional benefit. The results of this study illustrate that African honeybees can be used as an effective non-lethal mitigation method for elephant impact on marula trees and are a viable strategy to reduce human-elephant conflict in South Africa’s protected areas.
MT 2017