L.A. Sandham

Performance of environmental impact assessment (EIA) screening in South Africa: a comparative analysis between the 1997 and 2006 EIA regimes

Between September 1997 and March 2006, 43,423 environmental impact assessment (EIA) applications were submitted in South Africa. This exceptionally high number reflects a particular weakness in the ability of the EIA system to effectively screen EIA applications. The 2006 EIA Regulations intended to reduce the number of EIA applications by 20%. This paper presents a comparative analysis of screening performance before and following the 2006 EIA Regulations in order to determine the improvement of screening effectiveness (and hence the EIA process) since the interventions introduced in the 2006 EIA Regulations. Changes in the number of EIA applications as well as the types of activities requiring EIA are analysed. The results show that the average number of EIA applications submitted per month reduced by 27% nationally from 1997 to 2006. Although the 20% reduction target has been achieved, the number of EIA applications remains high compared with international trends and considered against the available administrative capacity. Analysis of the Free State Province also shows that, for both periods, very similar types of activities triggered the majority of EIA applications, with transformation of land, construction of masts and storage of fuel being the most common. To improve EIA screening, it is recommended that the reduction target be reconsidered and that additional screening methods such as environmental management frameworks and norms and standards be implemented.

Environmental management frameworks: results and inferences of report quality performance in South Africa

Environmental management frameworks (EMFs) were developed in South Africa as strategic environmental management instruments to map environmental sensitivity in order to aid the screening out of undesired developments and to minimise unnecessary project level environmental impact assessment (EIA) in preferred development areas. This article reports on the quality performance of a sample of seven EMFs conducted in South Africa, in terms of document and procedural quality. To this end, 13 measures (sub-criteria) were developed and classified into five thematic areas (review criteria), against which the EMF documents were appraised using a six-level rating. The review criteria were developed around the validity of sensitivity mapping methodology; the extent to which potential developments were identified as either desired or unfavourable; the effectiveness of EMF outcomes in relation to the broader decision making context; integration of stakeholder engagement inputs into EMF outcomes and the sufficiency of provisions spelling out the implementation of EMF outcomes. Public participation emerged as the weakest component of EMF practice, while certain aspects of sensitivity analysis also performed weaker than other review areas. More focus is required on aligning scales and resolutions of map inputs, mapping methods and general integration of spatial data. The practice of conducting EMF is well established, and can make a valuable contribution to inform strategic planning and to improve the effectiveness of EIA screening in South Africa, provided that appropriate improvements in quality are made, along with proper implementation of the instrument by the authorities, including their formal adoption.

The performance of environmental impact assessment in the explosives manufacturing industry in South Africa

Explosives manufacture in South Africa is a major component of the chemical and mining industry, and as an important producer of hazardous chemicals it is also a potential contributor to significant environmental impacts. Environmental authorisation of explosives manufacturing activities is based primarily upon the quality of information made available in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), but the quality of EIR for explosives manufacturing projects has never been investigated. A modified version of the Lee and Colley review package was used to determine the EIR quality of a sample of four explosives projects. The findings reveal that the EIRs were of a generally satisfactory quality, but with some areas of weakness that are readily linked to potentially significant environmental impacts, pointing to limitations in the EIA process regarding the production of explosives. Recommendations include improved training of EIA practitioners, the use of quality review checklists and external specialist review, development of guidelines and the use of risk assessment as additional tools to the EIA regulations.

Applying a transdisciplinary mixed methods research design to explore sustainable diets in rural South Africa

This article describes a conceptual framework for exploring sustainable diets, using a case study example of ongoing research in the Vaalharts region, a rural setting in South Africa. A qualitative research approach is followed with an integrated transdisciplinary mixed methods research design with multiple concurrent components employed during two sequential phases. A successful application of the framework is achieved through a collaborative team effort of researchers with qualitative and quantitative research expertise transcending different disciplines, as well as participation of community members throughout the research process. We demonstrate that transdisciplinary mixed methods research designs are essential to gain a better understanding of the complex concept of sustainable diets.

SOCIAL ASPECTS OF SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT—A CASE STUDY IN LEPELFONTEIN

ABSTRACT Investigation of domestic water inadequacy on the South African West Coast in 1995 identified Lepelfontein as a settlement with an insufficient supply of fresh water, initiating a pilot study on fog harvesting aimed at improving the fresh water supply and water security. The success of the pilot study suggested its extension into a development initiative where the introduction of more fog collection screens would launch a community gardening project as a form of small-scale agricultural activity to promote socio-economic development. However, experience with rural development initiatives in South Africa and elsewhere has shown that these projects are often compromised by social issues that do not receive due attention during project planning and implementation stages. An extensive social survey indicated that a number of needs exist in the community, of which electricity was the most important, followed by water and a need for community leadership. Specific areas of concern pose challenges to the sustainability of the project and could impact adversely on the success of the development initiative. These included the lack of life-skills training relating to the fog harvesting process, the occurrence of deviant behaviour as a result of the pilot fog screen, the lack of co-operation in the community, and the need to use existing local knowledge in any development initiatives. It offers further evidence that rural sustainability is best attained by well-planned and properly implemented initiatives that address the social, physical and economic facets of the environment in an integrated and participatory approach.

The contribution of Geography to environmental Assessment (EA) practice and research in South Africa

Abstract After 100 years of academic Geography in South Africa, the emerging field of Environmental Assessment (EA) has occupied an important position vis-a-vis Geography. In this paper the contribution of Geography to practice and research in EA is investigated for South Africa. Firstly, Geography core competences are compared to the requirements for training Environmental Assessment practitioners, followed by reflection of the utility of Geography competences for Environmental Assessment research. It is evident that Geography competences are fundamental to EA practice, that EA skills are taught in some Geography curricula, and that the greater part of published EA research is produced by Geographers. We conclude that Geography as a discipline has embraced the environmental sustainability challenges by engaging actively in EA training and research.

The quality of biodiversity inputs to EIA in areas with high biodiversity value: experience from the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa

The quality of biodiversity inputs to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in areas with high biodiversity value was investigated by reviewing the quality of a sample of Biodiversity Impact Assessments (BIAs) in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR), South Africa. The results suggest that while the overall performance was satisfactory, several inadequacies were evident, confirming international trends. Inadequacies relate to consideration of alternatives, public consultation, monitoring programmes, and gathering of biodiversity baseline data during inappropriate seasons and over insufficient time periods. Positive outcomes include the incorporation of ecosystems processes in baseline studies and assessment as well as the wide adoption of a precautionary approach to impact prediction. It is recommended that best practice and biodiversity guidance as developed and implemented in the Western Cape Province, be adopted as widely as possible in other provinces, and that the BIA practitioner community be alerted to revealed weakness of BIA report quality.

Reflecting on GIS-related research in South Africa: 1980–2012

Since the early 1980s, geographic information systems (GIS) have increasingly been applied in research or used to support research in South Africa. The nature and extent of such research has not been investigated, and this paper seeks to address this hiatus. A number of academic databases were consulted to identify South African authored peer-reviewed academic papers and postgraduate dissertations referring to GIS in the title, keywords or abstract. A total of 468 papers and 238 dissertations were identified and analysed for temporal and spatial trends, fields of application and methods and techniques in GIS-related research. This paper shows that the use of GIS as a research technique in South African has increased considerably since the mid-1990s, reflected by continuing growth in peer-reviewed articles, but a decrease in postgraduate writings since 2005. Possible reasons for the observed trends are suggested.

Social impact assessment: practitioner perspectives of the neglected status in South African SIA

ABSTRACT Social Impact Assessment (SIA) in South Africa is still considered to be a neglected component of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), but the perspectives of the practitioners on the status and practice of SIA have never been probed, despite their key role in SIA. This paper explores those perspectives by means of a two-part survey conducted with an availability sample of 11 SIA practitioners in 2012 and 13 practitioners in 2016 following a qualitative Action Research Approach. Four themes emerged (i.e. SIA in practice, Problems in SIA, Effectiveness of SIA and the Future of SIA). It is evident that the practitioners generally agree about the nature and purpose of SIA, that SIA has problems but is healthy and will benefit from some regulation, that SIA is an important and valuable tool, although with limited effectiveness, and the practitioners are optimistic about the future of SIA. The perspectives of the practitioners are aligned with international trends towards enhancement and sustainability assessment, but they must remain committed to best practice in SIA.