Browsing by Author "Malgas, Rhoda Ronette"

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    “A social-ecological systems approach to sustainable production of endemic rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and honeybush (Cyclopia spp.) species amongst agrarian communities in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR)”
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-12) Malgas, Rhoda Ronette; Esler, Karen J.; Jacobs, Shayne Martin; Schaminee, Joop Hendrik Jacque; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Conservation Ecology and Entomology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: How do we ensure sustainable biomass production of Fynbos endemic plant species to support the livelihoods of small-scale producers in geographically delimited production areas of the Cape Floristic Region (CFR)? This research aims to address that question for the South African small-scale rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and honeybush (Cyclopia spp.) sectors by applying a systems approach. Social-ecological (SE) variables and their interactions were described and mapped using Ostrom’s Social Ecological Systems Framework (SESF), a novel undertaking for Fynbos-based sectors. The SESF is a conceptual tool designed to describe, characterize, and analyse social-ecological systems (SES). It is used to diagnose problems and to elicit principles for improved SES outcomes, such as sustainable harvesting, agroecological production, sustainable livelihoods and maintaining the ecological integrity of wild rooibos and honeybush populations in natural Cape Fynbos plant communities. Pitfalls and pathways to sustainability were identified by analysing SE variables and their interactions. Variable identification was achieved through three inter-related studies. First, to anchor the conceptual work in a real-life focal action situation, the historical practice of wild-harvesting and contemporary production of honeybush at Genadendal (The Overberg, Western Cape) was used as a case. Interviews with 32 local ecological knowledge (LEK) holders formed the basis for a) collation of LEK to understand the mental models¹ or local perceptions resource-users have of local honeybush species and b) characterisation of LEK in the context of the SESF and potential sustainability outcomes in contemporary harvest systems of honeybush, and sister species, rooibos. Correlations between knowledge-bearer biographies and LEK, and details of knowledge transfer and LEK valuation were amongst the emerging themes. Findings from LEK also included details of species habitats, harvest sites, morphological features, and the status of local wild honeybush. Secondly, barriers that local land-users at Genadendal face in adopting honeybush production as a viable livelihood option were explored in comparison with accounts from rooibos and honeybush small-scale farmers elsewhere in the CFR to formulate a composite framework. Research outcomes highlight biophysical, institutional, and interpersonal barriers that these actors face in deciding whether to adopt indigenous rooibos or honeybush crops into their livelihood strategies. Thirdly, sets of ecological variables were identified from literature on Fynbos ecological research. Phytosocialogical data were used to highlight how conserving wild rooibos and honeybush habitats inadvertently conserve the habitats of co-occurring Fynbos species and concomitant ecological processes across a range of Fynbos vegetation types. A review of published research pointed to guides and recommendations for sustainable ¹ In the language of Ostrom’s Social Ecological Systems Framework, mental models refer to the conceptual ideas people commonly hold of the natural resource and how they interact with it. For instance, Sarah Ives (2014) describes this extensively for rooibos tea amongst different farmer groups. In her paper, she reflects on how the plants are associated with land and patriotism, whereas coloured producers consider the tea part of their heritage as First Nations descendants. biomass production, helping to identify plant functional traits and ecological parameters explicit in biomass production. Abstraction of ecological drivers in rooibos and honeybush sectors highlighted the “ecological rules” implicit in Fynbos-based production systems, but that are often neglected in previous iterations of the SESF. The study thus also addresses the theoretical gap of the “missing E” in SES previously reported in SES research by emphasising how foundational ecological factors are in endemic Fynbos production systems. Pathways to sustainability outcomes were devised by reviewing findings from the studies with conceptual constructs and principles theoretically associated with sustainability outcomes. Ostrom’s SESF has been widely applied to diverse SES across the world, but has rarely been used in South Africa, and to date, has not been operationalised for any of the Fynbos-based sectors, despite their apparent eligibility for its application. This research adds to SESF theory with a unique contribution from the Cape Fynbos and its unique ecology. A grounded approach to SES variable identification focused attention on two entities often neglected in mainstream research: Fynbos genetic crop wild relatives and the small- scale producers who rely on them for their livelihoods. The dissertation concludes with a sector-specific SESF refined for application in the rooibos and honeybush sectors. Ultimately, the result is a revised SESF that may find application in other Fynbos-based SES where sustainable wild-harvesting and sustainable agricultural production are desired outcomes.