Browsing by Author "Van der Merwe, Wehncke"
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- ItemExploring the possibility of taking an ecosystems approach to spatial planning at local government level(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-03) Van der Merwe, Wehncke; Muller, Kobus; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.ENGLISH SUMMARY : With 60% of the world’s ecosystems degraded and under increasing pressure from land use changes, it has become essential to better manage the connections between development and ecosystems protection These ecosystems (directly and indirectly) provide the entirety of the human race with ecosystem services free of charge, with the estimated benefits that ecosystems provide humans calculated at approximately $125-$145 trillion a year. Through rapid land use changes and over exploitation, these benefits are decreasing rapidly. In order to better manage land use changes and ensure that this is done in a way that optimises development without compromising the provision of ecosystem services, a stronger focus needs to be placed on ecosystems within land use and spatial planning practices. In the South African context local municipalities are the mandated parties responsible for land use planning, management and development. For stronger consideration of ecosystems and the services they provide people, local municipalities have thus been pinpointed as a key component of the governance system for intervention. As is frequently the case with regard to municipalities in rural South Africa, these ecosystem services provide a safety net without which poor rural communities would battle to make ends meet. Through a case study of Maruleng Local Municipality, this thesis will explore the possibility of the municipality playing an increased role in protecting ecosystems and the services they provide through their spatial land use planning systems by analysing the legislative and contextual structure of the municipality, underpinned by a socio-ecological systems framework.