At the global, regional and national levels our environmental base is being rapidly degraded. Soi... more At the global, regional and national levels our environmental base is being rapidly degraded. Soil, air and water quality, biodiversity, atmospheric carbon loading, pollutant levels and marine habitats are all past or rapidly approaching the point of imminent collapse. This environmental disaster is not just a disaster for conservationists and nature lovers, it is also an economic disaster. As this paper shows, our economy is inextricably linked to and dependent upon our natural resource base, and as such preserving our ecosystem infrastructure is a matter of economic imperative. In the South African context the majority of intact ecosystem infrastructure exists in the Eastern Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo in areas that contain most of the country's small- scale farmers and communal lands. Like the rest of the globe, these areas are under threat from poor land-use practices and as such developing effective strategies for investment in the ecosystem base in these areas is vital to the integrity of the services these ecosystems provide to the economy. It is recognised that the state is putting considerable resource behind preserving our natural capital, but this is proving insufficient. This paper advocates a number of mechanisms that can yield positive returns to private investment by unlocking additional value streams that can be channelled into environmentally sustainable, commercially oriented small-scale agricultural practices
Energy Sector Transformation in South Africa, 2017
This study deals with sustainable energy sector transformation in South Africa. In the context of... more This study deals with sustainable energy sector transformation in South Africa. In the context of climate change, environmental degradation, rising inequality, social injustice and energy access; the current status quo of our energy system must change. Energy issues at a national scale are both extremely complex and inextricably connected to other broad areas including food security, water systems, education, gender, economics and politics. Therefore, this short report is not meant to be exhaustive. It aims to give a high level overview of some of the key aspects that should allow our country to make progressive steps towards an improved energy sector that respects human rights and planetary boundaries. To this end, the study first examines the status quo of our current energy system. This includes the key players and stakeholders along with effects on impoverished and marginalized communities. Chapters 2 and 3 provide negative and positive examples. These reveal areas for of the energy sector that must be improved and positive aspects to build on. Drawing from these first three chapters, key criteria for the transformation process itself are identified in Chapter 4. The main areas of change for energy sector transformation are discussed in Chapter 5 and the study concludes with policy recommendations to allow these changes to occur. The study is structured so that the themes of energy production, supply and use run through the chapters, along with the framework components of governance and finance.
A review of the EU funded two year energy SMART Citizens in action workshop series with recommend... more A review of the EU funded two year energy SMART Citizens in action workshop series with recommendations for energy planners of low-income residential areas in South Africa.
This report examines the potential for private investment in commercial land-use activities to yi... more This report examines the potential for private investment in commercial land-use activities to yield a positive return to capital as well as ecosystem infrastructure in South Africa. Intact ecosystem infrastructure in South Africa is concentrated in the Eastern Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal and Mpumalanga, all of which have a high prevalence of communal land-ownership and small-scale farmers. These areas are under threat of rapid degradation from poor land-use practices including over-grazing, over-harvesting of forestry products, alien encroachment and over-frequent burning resulting in soil erosion and degradation, decreased water retention and quality as well as denudation and biodiversity loss. As such developing effective strategies to respond to the drivers of land degradation is a critical task for ecosystem goods and services preservation. While the majority of existing state led strategies around sustainable land-use, land-reform and rural development in these areas have proven ineffective there are notable exceptions emanating from the state, NGO’s and the private sector. This report analyses these examples in case study format, pointing out the key features of each case with regards to the enabling environment and primary outcomes from both a financial and ecosystem infrastructure returns perspective. Specific attention is also given to the development of effective social processes that have a proven track-record of improving the social base that underlies effective socio-ecological systems. The end goal of the report is to provide a theoretical model designed for real-world application.
This paper is the product of the learning process of a South African NGO called Project 90x2030 a... more This paper is the product of the learning process of a South African NGO called Project 90x2030 and our experiences in introducing a variety of energy, food and water security applications in rural, poor communities in South Africa.
The methodology for the work is based on the principles of participatory community engagement (PCE) and the evolving experiences we have had in practice. The work draws heavily on other Southern African experiences in Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) as well as theoretical methodologies such as Ostrom's "8 design principles" and Cleavers "institutional Bricolage" as well as other practise based concepts such as Mcknights "Assets Based Community Development" (ABCD).
Reports have been produced after each preparatory team and site visit and these in turn have fed into on-going development and refinement of our approach with applying PCE methodology. In essence, the work seeks to describe our theoretical points of departure, the outcomes of following these points of departure, and the adaptive techniques that were required to fit the methodology to the circumstances and secure robust systems. While the work does not aim to be prescriptive in its approach, it does set out to provide a methodology that is replicable.
At the global, regional and national levels our environmental base is being rapidly degraded. Soi... more At the global, regional and national levels our environmental base is being rapidly degraded. Soil, air and water quality, biodiversity, atmospheric carbon loading, pollutant levels and marine habitats are all past or rapidly approaching the point of imminent collapse. This environmental disaster is not just a disaster for conservationists and nature lovers, it is also an economic disaster. As this paper shows, our economy is inextricably linked to and dependent upon our natural resource base, and as such preserving our ecosystem infrastructure is a matter of economic imperative. In the South African context the majority of intact ecosystem infrastructure exists in the Eastern Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo in areas that contain most of the country's small- scale farmers and communal lands. Like the rest of the globe, these areas are under threat from poor land-use practices and as such developing effective strategies for investment in the ecosystem base in these areas is vital to the integrity of the services these ecosystems provide to the economy. It is recognised that the state is putting considerable resource behind preserving our natural capital, but this is proving insufficient. This paper advocates a number of mechanisms that can yield positive returns to private investment by unlocking additional value streams that can be channelled into environmentally sustainable, commercially oriented small-scale agricultural practices
Energy Sector Transformation in South Africa, 2017
This study deals with sustainable energy sector transformation in South Africa. In the context of... more This study deals with sustainable energy sector transformation in South Africa. In the context of climate change, environmental degradation, rising inequality, social injustice and energy access; the current status quo of our energy system must change. Energy issues at a national scale are both extremely complex and inextricably connected to other broad areas including food security, water systems, education, gender, economics and politics. Therefore, this short report is not meant to be exhaustive. It aims to give a high level overview of some of the key aspects that should allow our country to make progressive steps towards an improved energy sector that respects human rights and planetary boundaries. To this end, the study first examines the status quo of our current energy system. This includes the key players and stakeholders along with effects on impoverished and marginalized communities. Chapters 2 and 3 provide negative and positive examples. These reveal areas for of the energy sector that must be improved and positive aspects to build on. Drawing from these first three chapters, key criteria for the transformation process itself are identified in Chapter 4. The main areas of change for energy sector transformation are discussed in Chapter 5 and the study concludes with policy recommendations to allow these changes to occur. The study is structured so that the themes of energy production, supply and use run through the chapters, along with the framework components of governance and finance.
A review of the EU funded two year energy SMART Citizens in action workshop series with recommend... more A review of the EU funded two year energy SMART Citizens in action workshop series with recommendations for energy planners of low-income residential areas in South Africa.
This report examines the potential for private investment in commercial land-use activities to yi... more This report examines the potential for private investment in commercial land-use activities to yield a positive return to capital as well as ecosystem infrastructure in South Africa. Intact ecosystem infrastructure in South Africa is concentrated in the Eastern Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal and Mpumalanga, all of which have a high prevalence of communal land-ownership and small-scale farmers. These areas are under threat of rapid degradation from poor land-use practices including over-grazing, over-harvesting of forestry products, alien encroachment and over-frequent burning resulting in soil erosion and degradation, decreased water retention and quality as well as denudation and biodiversity loss. As such developing effective strategies to respond to the drivers of land degradation is a critical task for ecosystem goods and services preservation. While the majority of existing state led strategies around sustainable land-use, land-reform and rural development in these areas have proven ineffective there are notable exceptions emanating from the state, NGO’s and the private sector. This report analyses these examples in case study format, pointing out the key features of each case with regards to the enabling environment and primary outcomes from both a financial and ecosystem infrastructure returns perspective. Specific attention is also given to the development of effective social processes that have a proven track-record of improving the social base that underlies effective socio-ecological systems. The end goal of the report is to provide a theoretical model designed for real-world application.
This paper is the product of the learning process of a South African NGO called Project 90x2030 a... more This paper is the product of the learning process of a South African NGO called Project 90x2030 and our experiences in introducing a variety of energy, food and water security applications in rural, poor communities in South Africa.
The methodology for the work is based on the principles of participatory community engagement (PCE) and the evolving experiences we have had in practice. The work draws heavily on other Southern African experiences in Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) as well as theoretical methodologies such as Ostrom's "8 design principles" and Cleavers "institutional Bricolage" as well as other practise based concepts such as Mcknights "Assets Based Community Development" (ABCD).
Reports have been produced after each preparatory team and site visit and these in turn have fed into on-going development and refinement of our approach with applying PCE methodology. In essence, the work seeks to describe our theoretical points of departure, the outcomes of following these points of departure, and the adaptive techniques that were required to fit the methodology to the circumstances and secure robust systems. While the work does not aim to be prescriptive in its approach, it does set out to provide a methodology that is replicable.
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degradation, rising inequality, social injustice and energy access; the current status quo of our energy system must change.
Energy issues at a national scale are both extremely complex and inextricably connected to other broad areas including food
security, water systems, education, gender, economics and politics. Therefore, this short report is not meant to be exhaustive. It
aims to give a high level overview of some of the key aspects that should allow our country to make progressive steps towards an
improved energy sector that respects human rights and planetary boundaries.
To this end, the study first examines the status quo of our current energy system. This includes the key players and stakeholders
along with effects on impoverished and marginalized communities. Chapters 2 and 3 provide negative and positive examples.
These reveal areas for of the energy sector that must be improved and positive aspects to build on. Drawing from these first three
chapters, key criteria for the transformation process itself are identified in Chapter 4. The main areas of change for energy sector
transformation are discussed in Chapter 5 and the study concludes with policy recommendations to allow these changes to occur.
The study is structured so that the themes of energy production, supply and use run through the chapters, along with the
framework components of governance and finance.
While the majority of existing state led strategies around sustainable land-use, land-reform and rural development in these areas have proven ineffective there are notable exceptions emanating from the state, NGO’s and the private sector. This report analyses these examples in case study format, pointing out the key features of each case with regards to the enabling environment and primary outcomes from both a financial and ecosystem infrastructure returns perspective. Specific attention is also given to the development of effective social processes that have a proven track-record of improving the social base that underlies effective socio-ecological systems. The end goal of the report is to provide a theoretical model designed for real-world application.
Teaching Documents
The methodology for the work is based on the principles of participatory community engagement (PCE) and the evolving experiences we have had in practice. The work draws heavily on other Southern African experiences in Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) as well as theoretical methodologies such as Ostrom's "8 design principles" and Cleavers "institutional Bricolage" as well as other practise based concepts such as Mcknights "Assets Based Community Development" (ABCD).
Reports have been produced after each preparatory team and site visit and these in turn have fed into on-going development and refinement of our approach with applying PCE methodology. In essence, the work seeks to describe our theoretical points of departure, the outcomes of following these points of departure, and the adaptive techniques that were required to fit the methodology to the circumstances and secure robust systems. While the work does not aim to be prescriptive in its approach, it does set out to provide a methodology that is replicable.
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degradation, rising inequality, social injustice and energy access; the current status quo of our energy system must change.
Energy issues at a national scale are both extremely complex and inextricably connected to other broad areas including food
security, water systems, education, gender, economics and politics. Therefore, this short report is not meant to be exhaustive. It
aims to give a high level overview of some of the key aspects that should allow our country to make progressive steps towards an
improved energy sector that respects human rights and planetary boundaries.
To this end, the study first examines the status quo of our current energy system. This includes the key players and stakeholders
along with effects on impoverished and marginalized communities. Chapters 2 and 3 provide negative and positive examples.
These reveal areas for of the energy sector that must be improved and positive aspects to build on. Drawing from these first three
chapters, key criteria for the transformation process itself are identified in Chapter 4. The main areas of change for energy sector
transformation are discussed in Chapter 5 and the study concludes with policy recommendations to allow these changes to occur.
The study is structured so that the themes of energy production, supply and use run through the chapters, along with the
framework components of governance and finance.
While the majority of existing state led strategies around sustainable land-use, land-reform and rural development in these areas have proven ineffective there are notable exceptions emanating from the state, NGO’s and the private sector. This report analyses these examples in case study format, pointing out the key features of each case with regards to the enabling environment and primary outcomes from both a financial and ecosystem infrastructure returns perspective. Specific attention is also given to the development of effective social processes that have a proven track-record of improving the social base that underlies effective socio-ecological systems. The end goal of the report is to provide a theoretical model designed for real-world application.
The methodology for the work is based on the principles of participatory community engagement (PCE) and the evolving experiences we have had in practice. The work draws heavily on other Southern African experiences in Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) as well as theoretical methodologies such as Ostrom's "8 design principles" and Cleavers "institutional Bricolage" as well as other practise based concepts such as Mcknights "Assets Based Community Development" (ABCD).
Reports have been produced after each preparatory team and site visit and these in turn have fed into on-going development and refinement of our approach with applying PCE methodology. In essence, the work seeks to describe our theoretical points of departure, the outcomes of following these points of departure, and the adaptive techniques that were required to fit the methodology to the circumstances and secure robust systems. While the work does not aim to be prescriptive in its approach, it does set out to provide a methodology that is replicable.