Towards sustainable and equitable management of water resources:
Understanding the interlinkages between water, ecosystems and
society through spatial mapping of ecosystem services and livelihood benefits.
WRC 2019/2020-00150
Rebecka Henriksson, Mdoda Ngwenya, MicheleToucher, Sachin Doarswamy, Erna Kruger and Michael Malinga
Content
1. Innovation produced/envisaged
2. Progress –towards New Knowledge
3. Work programme
4. Capacity Building
5. Community/Institutional Empowerment
6. KnowledgeDissemination
1. Conceptual Framework:
-Water-Ecosystem-Society
-Transdisciplinary
-Co-learning
1. Innovation
1. Conceptual Framework:
-Water-Ecosystem-Society
-Transdisciplinary
-Co-learning
2. Methodology:
Established disciplinary
methods + cutting-edge
sustainability science
methods
â
Expert led, participatory
mixed-method approach
for analysis of water
resource management,
communities use &
dependency, and decision
making processes
1. Innovation
1. Conceptual Framework:
-Water-Ecosystem-Society
-Transdisciplinary
-Co-learning
2. Methodology:
Established disciplinary
methods + cutting-edge
sustainability science
methods
â
Expert led, participatory
mixed-method approach
for analysis of water
resource management,
communities use &
dependency, and decision
making processes
3. Power dynamics:
-Power imbalances in
decision-making
-Inequitable access to
resources
1. Innovation
Year1Year2Year3
Apr 2020
-Sep 2020
Oct 2020
-Mar 2021
Apr 2021
-Sep 2021
Oct 2021
-Mar 2022
Apr 2022
-Sep 2022
Oct 2022
-Mar 2023
Aim 1. Rainfall and water quantity
Aim 2. Map layers of land use, ecosystem services and livelihoods
Aim 3. Ecosystem health and functioning
Aim 4. Decisions and social
-cultural factors
Aim 5. Co
-learning for sustainable management of land and water
2. Progress –towards New Knowledge
Main outcomes:
i) Increased understanding, by scientists and community stakeholders, of the natural resource
base (water resources and ecosystems) from which the communities derive ecosystem services
they depend on for their well-being and livelihoods
ii) Creation of a comprehensive, transdisciplinary, GIS tool to support local and regional decision
making, including map layers of fine-scale land uses (social-ecological patches) and the spatial
distribution of associated ecosystem services and livelihood benefits
iii) Through co-learning between scientists and community stakeholders: increased understanding
of management and decision making, design and testing of sustainable natural resources
management innovations
Aim 1. Rainfall
and water quantity
Understanding of the
water resource (changes
of water quality, quantity,
streamflow, recharge
potential, sediment load)
Aim 2. Map layers of land use,
ecosystem services and livelihoods
Map of locally
redefined land
use ”social-
ecological
patches”
Map of
ecosystem
services
and
livelihoods
Under-
standing
of gaps
and
priorities
Overview of
current
management
strategies and
limitations
Identification of
power
dynamics and
inequitable
access
Aim 3. Ecosystem
health and functioning
Map of
ecosystem
health and
functioning
Knowledge
support of
management
options
Aim 4. Decisions and
social-cultural factors
Understanding of
local decision
making (individual
& communal)
Aim 5. Co-learning for sustainable
management of land and water
Historical and current
monitoring of climatic and
hydrological observations,
hydrological modelling.
Methods OutcomesAims
Transect
walks
Participatory mapping
Focus-group
discussions/
interviews
Focus-group
discussions
In-depth
interviews Expert led
survey and
mapping
Series of
workshops
(Aim 5)
Focus-
group
discussions
/ interviews
Participatory
games
Testingofinnovations (incl. technical
training and providing equipment)
Co-designed framework for
sustainable resource use
Evaluation of sustainable
management of resources (scoring
of sustainability indicators)
Cross-study visits
between different
participating groups
Series of meetings/
workshops
2community groups:
developing decisions &
planning innovation
Methods OutcomesAims
Spatial analysis
3 meteorological station (and a high altitude station
outside this area)
36 Raingauges
6 Streamflow gauges
3 ISCO water sampler
2 Spectral probes (WQuality)
1 Eddy Covariance flux tower (includes CO2)
2 Surface renewal systems
Warmingchambers
Fire disturbance records
Repeatvegetationsurveysplots
Monthly Leaf Area Index
Cosmic Ray Probe
3 pits of TDR soil water probes to 1.6 m
Monthly Diviner readings at 18 points through
catchment
LiCor-8100 Soil Respiration System
Monthly manual gas extraction collars
Progress: Aim 1. Rainfall and water quantity
Aim 1. Rainfall
and water quantity
Understanding of the
water resource (changes
of water quality, quantity,
streamflow, recharge
potential, sediment load)
Historical and current
monitoring of climatic and
hydrological observations,
hydrological modelling.
Methods OutcomesAims
Annual (hydrological years) rainfall anomaly for the Mike’s Pass meteorological station
Rainfall monitoring
2012/2013 –2020/2021
Historical mean 1392mm
(1951-1980)
Only 2020/2021 was
wetter than the historical
mean, by 200mm
Monthly rainfall anomaly for the Mike’s Pass meteorological station
Rainfall monitoring
2020/2021: Wetter only
during the start of the
season
Annual mean temperature anomaly for the Mike’s Pass meteorologicalstation
Temperature monitoring
Historical mean (1951-
1980)
0,5 to more than 1,5
degrees warmer than the
historical mean every
year
Monthly mean temperature anomaly for the Mike’s Pass meteorological station
Temperature monitoring
Winter months often
more than 2 degrees
warmer than the historial
means
Streamflow monitoring
Monthly streamflow anomaly for Catchment VI, Cathedral Peak
Above normal flows in
January and February
2021
Wayforward
-Trendanalysisstreamflow
-Mahlathini weather stations included and assessed
-Community interests to determine how data will be communicated
-Other indeces will be available (e.g. fire risk)
-ACRU agrohydrological model
Progress: Aim 3. Ecosystem health and functioning
• Field based surveys
-water sources (springs and
wetlands)
-erosion and invasive alien
species
- woody encroachment
-E. coli testing (Aim 5)
• Land cover satellite imagery and
terrain maps
• Veld Condition Assessment
Aim 3. Ecosystem
health and functioning
Map of
ecosystem
health and
functioning
Knowledge
support of
management
options
Expert led
survey and
mapping
Series of
workshops
(Aim 5)
Ezibomvini Village
The areas of significant erosion in the
Ezibomvini Community.
Images of erosion within the Ezibomvini village.
Results from the E.coli testing.
Ezibomvini village boundary with the streams,
wetlands and springs and locations ofE.Coli tests,
as well as the known points of water extraction
A wetland area where clay has been harvested
from to be made into bricks.
The woody vegetation components in the upper
region of the community.
A Poplar stand growing within the wetland area
adjacent to a stream
Costone Village
Rivers, springs and points of water extraction shown
as well as locations of sampling for E.Coli
Lower portion of Costone Village with rivers, springs and
points of water extraction shown as well as locations of
sampling for E.Coli, erosion areas and invasive species.
Upper portion of Costone Village with rivers, springs and
points of water extraction shown as well as locations of
sampling for E.Coli, erosion areas and invasive species.
Images showing the erosion and presence of wattle near a spring
Erosion downstream of the eye of the first
Spring
VeldCondition Assessment
•Grass species diversity –200 points per village
•Grass and Forb cover–1 m quadrat
•Grass Biomass –Disc Pasture Meter
Sampling showing line transect, quadrate estimating cover, measuring grass biomass and dominant
grass species (Paspalum notatum )
VCA-Results
Ezibomvini
Costone
Vegetation type
Open
Grassland
Open
Grassland
Grass diversity
16
species
10
species
Palatable Grass %
(High graving value)
Themedra
triandra 2.5%
Digitaria
tricholaenoides 7%
Tristachya
leucothrix 4.5%
Tristachya
leucothrix 1%
Heterpogon
contortus 6%
Dominant Grass
Grazing value
Paspalum
notatum - Average 50
%
Sporobolus
pyramidalis- Low 13.5%
Paspalum
notatum- Average 62%
Eragrostis
plana –Low 13%
Grass cover
Bare
soil
93
%
4
.5%
93
%
5
.4%
Grass Biomass
Low
Low
Ve l d
Score
Poor
- Moderately degraded
Poor
– Moderately degraded
Invaders
Lantana
Lantana
and Wattle
Summary of the Veld Condition Assessment data
Conclusion
•Overgrazing
•Loss of diversity and palatable species
•Rangeland dominated by single species
Recommendations
•Resting
•Fire
Progress: Aim 2. Map layers of land use, ecosystem services and livelihoods
Aim 2. Map layers of land use,
ecosystem services and livelihoods
Map of locally
redefined land
use ”social-
ecological
patches”
Map of
ecosystem
services
and
livelihoods
Under-
standing
of gaps
and
priorities
Identification of
power
dynamics and
inequitable
access
Transect
walks
Focus-group
discussions/
interviews
Focus-group
discussions
In-depth
interviews
Spatial analysis
Overview of
current
management
strategies and
limitations
Participatory mapping
Methods OutcomesAims
Map of
ecosystem
health and
functioning
Expert led
survey and
mapping
Participatory mapping and analysis of social-ecological patches,
ecosystem services and livelihoods in the Drakensberg,
KwaZulu-Natal
MSc Student: Mdoda ‘Nduna’ Ngwenya
Supervisor: Dr Rebecka Henriksson
Co-supervisor: Ms Erna Kruger
Date: 24 May 2022
How can mapping and analysis of land uses, ecosystem service and
livelihoods guide sustainable and equitable management of land and
water resources.
This study aims to guide sustainable and equitable management of land and water
resources through mapping locally relevant land uses and ecosystem services.
Identify and
map different
social-
ecological
patches found
across the
village
landscape.
Identify how
these patches
are used by the
community in
terms of
ecosystem
services and
livelihood
benefits.
Identify
ecosystem
services and
livelihood
needs of the
community
that are
insufficiently
met by the
social-
ecological
patches.
Identify power
dynamics and
inequalities
that cause
inequitable
access to
ecosystem
services and
livelihood
benefits within
the
communities.
Assess how
the land and
water
resources can
be managed in
the community
for more
sustainable
and equitable
outcomes.
Research question
Aim
Objectives
Study area
Mixed
Methods
Participatory
mapping
Village
transect walks
In-depth
interviews
Participants:
§Decisionmakers (e.g.
water committee
group)
§Men
§Women
Equipment:
•Google Earth
images (A3 papers)
§Flip chart
§Markers
Methods
Results
Step
Women(n=9)
Men (n=8)
Decision makers (n=7)
Identify natural
resources and land
use
-
Livestock also graze within the
homestead
-
No specific area allocated as
cemetery but bury around their
homestead
-
No specific place for medicinal plants collection -
everywhere on the landscape Many do cropping
-
No specific place for medicinal plants collection -
everywhere on the landscape
-
Thatch grass is only found along the edges of the
cropping fields but when fields are cultivated
Identify areas of
inadequate supply
-
Some women used to collect
firewood from KwaKhanyile forest
but restricted now
-
The road to ehlathini elimpunga is eroded, they
can no longer go and collect firewoods, poles for
funerals and construction
-
They only get water from springs and no taps
-
Watersourcesthatnolongerhavewaterorinshortsupply
Identify restricted
areas and unequal
access to resources
-
The forest called
UMntwana and
KwaKhanyile
are restricted for
only collecting poles that are used
in funerals
-
The forest called UMntwana is restricted for only
collecting poles that are used in funerals.
-
Livestock grazing is communal
-
The forest called UMntwana is restricted. Only for
collecting poles for funerals.
Priorities/needs of
community on land
use and natural
resources
-
Water is essential to them
-
Fence the cropping fields
-
Fence cropping area
-
Maintain the springs
-
Some of the springs are drying up on winter and
dug out in summer
-
The need a cropping field area to be fenced to prevent
livestock and begin to cultivate again
-
They also want a fence along the main road to prevent
livestock from entering the homestead
Suggestions for
managing land and
water resources
sustainably and
equitably
-
Need laws to manage
resources equally and
sustainably
-
Work together
-
Community members should be an eye to
everything
-
Community should work together.
-
Decisions should be taken together. Agree together as
community on things that help them the community
A selection of reflections and comments gathered during three participatory workshops in
Costone, with women, men and decision-makers respectively.
Results
•Additional data through Village transact walks and interviews.
•Analyze SE patches in terms of ES and livelihoods opportunities.
Wayforward
Siyabonga!Thank you!
Costone
2 focus groups in
Costone
1focus group in
Ezibomvini
20 community members
(17 women and 3 men)
5 participants
representing water and
diptank committees
22 community members
(not in committees) (20
women and 2 men) Topics:
-Understanding of natural resource management
-Land use priorities and access to resources
-Land use practices in the past, present and future.
-Decisionmakers and decision making (community, local chiefs
and councillors)
-Impact of climate change on natural resources
Progress: Aim 4. Decisions and social-cultural factorsAim 4. Decisions and
social-cultural factors
Participatory
games
Understanding of
local decision
making (individual
& communal)
Focus-
group
discussions
/ interviews
Progress: Aim 5. Co-learning for sustainable management of land and water
Aim 5. Co-learning for sustainable
management of land and water
Testingofinnovations (incl. technical
training and providing equipment)
Co-designed framework for
sustainable resource use
Evaluation of sustainable
management of resources (scoring
of sustainability indicators)
Cross-study visits
between different
participating groups
Series of meetings/
workshops
2community groups:
developing decisions &
planning innovation
Methods OutcomesAims
Ezibomvini
Costone
Multi-stakeholder
engagements
Community engagements
(innovations)
Youthlearning:
EcoChamps
Activities:
E.Coli
testing
Multi-stakeholder engagements
Stakeholder mapping
Community visits 2nd SANBI
Catchment based Indaba
November 2021
•SH categories (local communities and leaders, local organizations and government, non-
governmenal organizations, academia, other land owners/users)
•Roles in community (resource users, decision makers, land owners and representatives, service
delivery, learning, training and capacity building, biodiversity conservation, food and water
security, development)
•Sources of information and insights
Meeting with
Uthukela District
Municipality Water
Service Division
March 2022
Stakeholder meeting
(SANBI LCP)
May 2021
Okhahlamba Local
Municipality
manager visiting
Stulwane/Costone
Spring Protection
site May 2022
WWF; WSA division –
field visit for
collaboration in water
conservation activities
April 2022
Costone
Community engagements (innovations)
“Water village walks”
Nov 2021
Water committee meetings
from Jan 2022
Community meetings
from Jan 2022
Designing &
constructing
from March 2022
Costone
Community engagements (innovations)
Costone
Community engagements
“Water village walks”
Nov 2021
Community Water meeting
March 2022
Community meeting
May 2022
Ezibomvini
E.Coli testing
Resultsfrom the E.coli testing. A green colour
indicates the sample is positive for E.coli, a
yellow sample indicates Coliforms Bacteria
Youthtraining:EcoChamps –from both communities
4-day Training in Bulwer and
cross-visit to sites led by INR
TrainingbySAEONon
MiniSASS and Alien
Invasive Species
Activities:
-River Ecology(Clarity
tubes, MiniSASS,
Velocityplank)
-ClearingAlien plants
-Building check dams
-Brush packs
-Planting on bare lands
-Spring protection
-Ad hoc work in
communities
Wayforward
Upper Thukela Multi-stakeholder workshop: Adaptive Planning Process (concerns, shared vision, values, STEEP,
objectives hierarchy) 14 June 2022
Feedback/co-learning workshops (rainfall & water quality, resources mapping and veld assessment, ppt mapping &
transect walks, decision-making and equity)
For extended learning exchange: cross-study visits between the participating communities
Sustainability and co-learning evaluation
Spring protection Ezibomvini
Del.
No.
Del.
Title
Deliverable and Tasks
Due date and Status
3
Second
Annual
Progress
Report
Report on progress to date including findings and reporting back on
community engagement
Deliverable due: 30 June 2022
Field work by MSc student M
Ngwenya: village walks and in-depth interviews
June
-September 2022
Series of community engagements: spring protection innovations, focus group
discussions
June 2022 onwards
Multi
-stakeholder co-learning workshop.Adaptive Planning Process.
Co
-hosted with the INR (uThukela SANBI Living catchment Project co-learning
conveners
)
14
June 2022
3. Work programme
Del.
No.
Del.
Title
Deliverable and Tasks
Due date and Status
4
Interim
Report:
Policy
Brief
Policy recommendations based on methodological advancements and
findings
Deliverable due: 15 November
2022
Policy user needs assessment: Consult stakeholders (decision and policy makers)
on format and content of policy brief
July
2022
Field work by MSc student M
Ngwenya: village walks and in-depth interviews
June
-September 2022
Finalize community engagement (focus group discussions and
thematic co-
learning workshops,
participatory games, interviews)
July
-October 2022
Development of GIS decision tool: combining maps
August
–September 2022
Cross
-study visits between communities for enhanced co-learning
October
2022
Develop policy brief according to user needs
September
-October 2022
4. Capacity Building
•Communities (Costone and Ezibombini):
•increased understanding of the natural resource base
•increased the awareness of their surrounding landscapes and the use and management of these resources
•technical and financial support for spring protection and reticulation
•Eco-champs
•Organization
•strengthened capacity to address complex issues from an inter-and transdisciplinary approach
•incoporation into the teaching and learning at UKZN
•increased understanding among the project team of the natural resource base and the processes that influence community
decision making and management of resources
•Postgrad students
•TwoMScstudents:MdodaNgwenyaandSachinDoarswamy,bothwithincreasedinsightandskilldevelopmentintoworking
in a transdisciplinary project to address complex sustainability challenges
5. Community/Institutional Empowerment
•Communities empowered to
•Plan, design and test innovation
•Make informed sustainable management decisions
•Address issues of power imbalances and inequity
•Institutions empowered to
•Co-design transdiciplinary action research projects
•Address complex sustainablility challenges together with local
stakeholders
6. Knowledge Dissemination
-Presentation Southern African Mountain Conference (SAMC)in March
2022 “Communitybased climate change adaptation in the Central
Drakensberg improves resilience of smallholder farmers”
(authors: E Kruger, R Henriksson and M Toucher)
-Non-academic knowledge product: Brief information video during
SANBI 2nd Catchment-based Indaba, field visit. Innovation presentation
in communities.
Planned Knowledge Dissemination:
-MSc thesis
-Academic journal articles
-Policy brief
-Learning workshop /feedback sessions in communities
-Information/learning material for communities (isiZulu)
-Ongoing updates in CWRR and SAEON newsletters
-CWRR Research on Tap Webinar
-International/national conferences
Siyabonga!
Thank you!