Enviromental, rural development, agricultural and land reformed
Partners aim to save the crane
A partnership between the Endangered Wild Life Trust and Eskom Power Lines, is investigating burying problematic spans to save the cranes at Zoetvlei farm. New studies have shown that this will be more cost effective than putting warning devices on the lines to decrease bird mortality. Karoo News, Summer 2011 Nama Karoo Newsletter, states that blue cranes are valued at between R15 000 and R20 000 each and that the cost of cranes killed on high kilowatt power lines in the past two years alone will more than cover the most of burying the lines. Solar-powered warning lights are also being used. These devices are extremely durable, easy to install and have a five-year guarantee. They hold a charge for 36 hours and longer. Ornithologist Richard Dean suggests that white flashing lights might be more effective than coloured ones the HKP spans. So, currently nine white flashing lights are being tried on one span, while non‐flashing units are being tested on another. At this stage the white flashing lights do seem to be the most effective.
© Rose's Roundup, May 2011 (No 210)
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Ongoing Research
Sue Taylor
Implications of climate change for crops
Martin Andreas Wienecke
Environmentally appropriate water and sanitation systems in the drylands of Southern Africa
Arid areas have natural imitations to growth and carrying capacity.
This should be taken into consideration in development efforts. Water and sanitation policies and approaches are evaluated and illustrated with examples from Southern African countries, to explore the potential of alternative technologies and approaches as well as the obstacles that need to be confronted. In arid Southern Africa the use of water-saving technologies are not high on the public agenda.
Unsustainable water-borne sanitation systems are widely promoted and funded. Policies often do not promote alternative technologies, approaches and philosophies, such as ecological sanitation.
Employer: Habitat Research & Development Centre
Position: Director
Country: Namibia
Completed Reports
Sheona Shackleton
"The significance if the local trade in natural resource products for livelihoods and poverty alleviation in South Africa"
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Nic Davenport
"The contribution of municipal commonage to local peoples' livelihoods in small South African towns."
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Claire Martens
"The management of commonage in the Eastern Cape"
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Albertine Iipinge
"Conservancies and livelihoods in southern Namibia"
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Doreen Atkinson
"Oviston Nature Reserve Stakeholder report"
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Chris Imana
"Pastoralism and goat farming in Kenya"
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Anton Cartwright, Trudie Harrison, Anja Benseler
"Municipal Commonage Management in Emthanjeni Municipality, De Aar Area"
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Mark Ingle, Carin van Schalkwyk
"Service delivery in Farming Areas in the Northern Karoo"
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Ntobeko Buso
"Municipal Commonage Administration in the Free State Province: Can Municipalities in the current Local Government Dispensation promote emerging farming?"
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Anja Benseler
"Municipal Commonage Administration in the Northern Cape"
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Doreen Atkinson, Bram Buscher
"Emergent farmers, local knowledge and the implications for land reform: A profile of commonage users in Philippolis, Free State"
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Doreen Atkinson
Going for Broke: The Fate of Farm Workers in Arid South Africa
HSRC Press, 2007
Description:
South African agriculture has always been ideologically contested, because of its relationship with controversial land ownership issues. This book takes the question of farm workers' fortunes beyond the land debate, to consider their current and future livelihoods. The book argues that the question of farm workers needs to be understood as part of a broader spectrum of economic and social questions. Where should farm workers live? Should rural-urban migration be encouraged? What kind of job prospects can be fostered? How can their participation in the rural and peri-urban economy be promoted? Do farm workers need land, or jobs, or municipal services? Who should provide support to this neglected segment of society?
A valuable study of past policy failures and future policy options, the book is primarily aimed at policy-makers and students of rural development. It is explicitly aimed at promoting new approaches, synergies and partnerships amongst stakeholders, including government, commercial farmers, agricultural co-operatives, municipalities, training agencies, and farm worker trade unions.
The book also offers suggestions that transcend the South African rural experience. It can therefore serve as a case study for students and practitioners of rural development elsewhere in the developing world.
The entire book can be downloaded, at no charge, from the HSRC Press.
Weblink: hsrcpress.co.za
Images courtesy of Chris Marais www.karoospace.co.za
