Perceiving the value of ecosystems
and how this affects conservation strategy:
the Ithala case study.
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Conservative (7.2%) Literature (8.2%) High growth rate (9.4%) Ithala (7.8%)
Projected number of elephant at Ithala
Game Reserve
Literature value from: Slotow, R., Garai, E.M., Reilly, B., Page, B. and Carr, D. C. (2005). Population dynamics of elephants re-introduced to small fences reserves in South Africa. S. A. Journal of Wildlife Research 35(1):23-32.
The Numbers Game…
• Current Ithala Population = 149 on 30 000 ha
• Current known growth rate = 7%
• Contraception starts in 2014
• Three year lag effect before contraception takes effect = IGR population in 2017 = 179
• Contraception implemented to allow 3% growth= after 5 years population = 189
• Literature recommends 0.35 elephant per square km
• Currently Ithala = 0.49 animals per square km
• If expansion happens in 5 years the area will = 50 000 ha
• With contraception the total population in 5 years = 189 in a 50 000 ha = 0.37 animals per square km
• Literature recommends 0.35 elephant per square km
• Currently Ithala = 0.49 animals per square km
• If expansion happens in 5 years the area will = 50 000 ha
• With contraception the total population in 5 years = 189 in a 50 000 ha = 0.37 animals per square km
• Literature recommends 0.35 elephant per square km
• Currently Ithala = 0.49 animals per square km
• If expansion happens in 5 years the area will = 50 000 ha
• With contraception the total population in 5 years = 189 in a 50 000 ha = 0.37 animals per square km
Participatory Rural Appraisal
What
did the
people
want??
Sustainability
= self
determination:
• Food security
• Social security
• Environmental care
Sustainability
= self
determination:
• Food security
• Social security
• Environmental care
Social Component
Agricultural Component
Protected Area
Component
Sustainability
= self
determination:
• Food security
• Social security
• Environmental care
Social Component
Agricultural Component
Protected Area
Component
Re-opens the protected area concept from the communities perspective
ITHALA
Social Component
Agricultural Component
Protected Area
Component
Diverse socio-economic strategies for sustainability
ITHALA
Social Component
Agricultural Component
Protected Area
Component
Diverse socio-economic strategies for sustainability
- including the potential for conservation based land uses within those strategies
Way Forward
Utilise Payment for Ecosystem Services as a means of underpinning co-management of
the Greater Ithala Complex
Identify ecosystem services to assess their social, agricultural, economic, recreational and spiritual values Determine whether those services are valued at a local, regional, national or international level. Seek ongoing methods for payment for ecosystem services that will contribute towards the environmental and socioeconomic sustainability of the Greater Ithala Complex.
Way Forward
Utilise Payment for Ecosystem Services as a means of underpinning co-management of
the Greater Ithala Complex
Identify ecosystem services to assess their social, agricultural, economic, recreational and spiritual values
Way Forward
Utilise Payment for Ecosystem Services as a means of underpinning co-management of
the Greater Ithala Complex
Identify ecosystem services to assess their social, agricultural, economic, recreational and spiritual values
Defining
Way Forward
Utilise Payment for Ecosystem Services as a means of underpinning co-management of
the Greater Ithala Complex
Identify ecosystem services to assess their social, agricultural, economic, recreational and spiritual values
Defining
Ecosystem Services Survey: • Identifies the ecological infrastructure that provide the valued services • can be integrated into the planning and expenditure of a range of formal governance structures • Inspires accountability within the private sector and society as a whole
Way Forward
Utilise Payment for Ecosystem Services as a means of underpinning co-management of
the Greater Ithala Complex
Identify ecosystem services to assess their social, agricultural, economic, recreational and spiritual values
Defining
Ecosystem Services Survey: • Identifies the ecological infrastructure that provide the valued services • can be integrated into the planning and expenditure of a range of formal governance structures • Inspires accountability within the private sector and society as a whole
Investment in ecological
infrastructure
defined benefits and outcome focus on
spatially strategic areas
Trans-disciplinary approach
Integrated and participatory
Aligned with government and other user’ aims
Way Forward
Utilise Payment for Ecosystem Services as a means of underpinning co-management of
the Greater Ithala Complex
Identify ecosystem services to assess their social, agricultural, economic, recreational and spiritual values Determine whether those services are valued at a local, regional, national or international level.
Defining
Local – water, fire wood, grazing, building materials, cultural, spiritual.
Regional – water, flood attenuation, pollination, pest control
National – biodiversity, climate change, water, pollination, pest control
International – biodiversity, climate change, carbon sequestration, experiential
Way Forward
Utilise Payment for Ecosystem Services as a means of underpinning co-management of
the Greater Ithala Complex
Identify ecosystem services to assess their social, agricultural, economic, recreational and spiritual values Determine whether those services are valued at a local, regional, national or international level. Seek ongoing methods for payment for ecosystem services that will contribute towards the environmental and socioeconomic sustainability of the Greater Ithala Complex.
Defining
government
Way Forward
Utilise Payment for Ecosystem Services as a means of underpinning co-management of
the Greater Ithala Complex
Identify ecosystem services to assess their social, agricultural, economic, recreational and spiritual values Determine whether those services are valued at a local, regional, national or international level. Seek ongoing methods for payment for ecosystem services that will contribute towards the environmental and socioeconomic sustainability of the Greater Ithala Complex.
Defining
Unsustainable
So... There are organisations within the circles of economics and law that are attempting to
mainstream the internalisation of social and environmental costs
Unsustainable
So... There are organisations within the circles of economics and law that are attempting to
mainstream the internalisation of social and environmental costs
Way Forward
Utilise Payment for Ecosystem Services as a means of underpinning co-management of
the Greater Ithala Complex
Identify ecosystem services to assess their social, agricultural, economic, recreational and spiritual values Determine whether those services are valued at a local, regional, national or international level. Seek ongoing methods for payment for ecosystem services that will contribute towards the environmental and socioeconomic sustainability of the Greater Ithala Complex.
Defining
government
Way Forward
Utilise Payment for Ecosystem Services as a means of underpinning co-management of
the Greater Ithala Complex
Identify ecosystem services to assess their social, agricultural, economic, recreational and spiritual values Determine whether those services are valued at a local, regional, national or international level. Seek ongoing methods for payment for ecosystem services that will contribute towards the environmental and socioeconomic sustainability of the Greater Ithala Complex.
Way Forward
Utilise Payment for Ecosystem Services as a means of underpinning co-management of
the Greater Ithala Complex
Identify ecosystem services to assess their social, agricultural, economic, recreational and spiritual values Determine whether those services are valued at a local, regional, national or international level. Seek ongoing methods for payment for ecosystem services that will contribute towards the environmental and socioeconomic sustainability of the Greater Ithala Complex.
Way Forward – a summary
Utilise Payment for Ecosystem Services as a means of underpinning co-management of
the Greater Ithala Complex
Local Communities South African Formal Governance Structures
Recognition of globally significant ecosystem services
Local Communities South African Formal Governance Structures
Recognition of globally significant ecosystem services
•Sustainable livelihoods •“ecological agriculture” •Job creation from investments in ecological infrastructure
Participatory Rural Appraisal
What
did the
people
want??
Sustainability
= self
determination:
• Food security
• Social security
• Environmental care
Community driven land use planning
Way Forward – a summary
Utilise Payment for Ecosystem Services as a means of underpinning co-management of
the Greater Ithala Complex
Local Communities South African Formal Governance Structures
Recognition of globally significant ecosystem services
•Sustainable livelihoods •“ecological agriculture” •Job creation from investments in ecological infrastructure
PES through recognition of
Participatory Rural Appraisal
What
did the
people
want??
Sustainability
= self
determination:
• Food security
• Social security
• Environmental care
Community driven land use planning
Way Forward – a summary
Utilise Payment for Ecosystem Services as a means of underpinning co-management of
the Greater Ithala Complex
Local Communities South African Formal Governance Structures
Recognition of globally significant ecosystem services
•Sustainable livelihoods •“ecological agriculture” •Job creation from investments in ecological infrastructure
PES through recognition of Partnerships with organisations that mainstream the internalisation of social and environmental costs
Participatory Rural Appraisal
What
did the
people
want??
Sustainability
= self
determination:
• Food security
• Social security
• Environmental care
Community driven land use planning
Way Forward – a summary
Utilise Payment for Ecosystem Services as a means of underpinning co-management of
the Greater Ithala Complex