By Dr.Chris Dickens

1. Photo:DavidBrazier/IWMIPhoto:TomvanCakenberghe/IWMI
Ecosystem services mapping as a framework
for integrated natural resource management
Dr. Chris Dickens
15th June 2015

2. Photo:DavidBrazier/IWMIPhoto:TomvanCakenberghe/IWMI
South
African
Key legislation
governing natural
resources
Compendium of
Environmental Law
(2006):
67 Acts and 500 pages
in 2006!

3. Photo:DavidBrazier/IWMIPhoto:TomvanCakenberghe/IWMI
The Status Quo – An Unsustainable Future?
The 2006 South Africa Environmental Outlook (SAEO) document acknowledged
that the “comprehensive and generally sound environmental regulatory
regime is in place” and that “there has been a steady increase in the budget
allocation for environmental management at both the national and
provincial levels”.
Yet…..:
National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment (NSBA):
Terrestrial systems, 34% of all 440 ecosystems are threatened
Rivers - 82% of the main river signatures classified as threatened,
44% are critically endangered.

4. Photo:DavidBrazier/IWMIPhoto:TomvanCakenberghe/IWMI
The Status Quo – An Unsustainable Future?
Failure is due to:
• No holistic approach
• No acknowledgement of the value of natural resources in development
planning
• Poor coordination
• Increased delegation of responsibility to the local level, without the necessary
capacity and support

5. Meso-scale management
Social simulation and complex systems
Ecosystem services approach
Matching interventions with economic
incentives
Scenario analysis
1
4
5
2
3
The Afromaison Approach

6. /6
uThukela District case
study

8. Photo:DavidBrazier/IWMIPhoto:TomvanCakenberghe/IWMI
Understanding the value of natural systems
Ecosystem services emerge as useful mechanism for integration of natural
systems, people and economy
Environmental
Quality
Social Well
Being
Economic
Prosperity
Governance
Figure 11: Sustainability model in South Africa

9. Water regulating services: Supply
/9

10. Water regulating services: Demand
/10

11. Water regulating services: Prioritisation
/11

12. Optimise resources: Remedial intervention
/12
Low supply
High demand

13. Optimise resources: Preservation
/13
High supply
High demand

14. Photo:DavidBrazier/IWMIPhoto:TomvanCakenberghe/IWMI

15. Photo:DavidBrazier/IWMIPhoto:TomvanCakenberghe/IWMI
Economic instruments
• multiple groups of instruments.
• Price based instruments (7)
• Rights based instruments (2)
• Legal, voluntary and information based
instruments (5)
DRIVERS IMPACT MANAGEMENT ACTION ECONOMIC /Other
INSTRUMENT

16. Photo:DavidBrazier/IWMIPhoto:TomvanCakenberghe/IWMI
Indicators of INRM
• Linked to key issues related to the drivers and symptoms of change in NR
• e.g. grass cover, soil runoff etc
• also Governance indicators – e.g. participation in governance
INRM SUCCESS INDICATORS
System Criteria Indicator Target Measure Data Source & Method
Natural Systems
Water
Resource
Quality
Capacity of
large
storage
impoundm
ents.
Decrease
in the rate
of
reduction
in dam
capacity
Rate of decline in
dam capacity
measured as % of
total capacity/per
year. Change
measured at
frequency of 5
years (annual too
small a period to
note changes).
Hydrographic survey undertaken by
DWA Directorate: Spatial and Land
Information Management
(Reference:
http://www.dwaf.gov.za/bi/service
s.htm)
Turbidity
levels
Decrease
in annual
average
turbidity
levels.
Change in average
annual turbidity
levels (NTU).
Change measured
at 5 yearly interval
(annual too short a
period to account
for natural
variation)
Measurement at inflow points to
large dams using a clarity tube and
measured in cm. Undertaken by
DWA officials as part of daily
management (this may be too
onerous). Alternatively, a local
resident living at the inflow is
employed to take record.

17. Effective
stakeholder
consultation

18. Photo:DavidBrazier/IWMIPhoto:TomvanCakenberghe/IWMI
Effective stakeholder consultation

19. Photo:DavidBrazier/IWMIPhoto:TomvanCakenberghe/IWMI
Effective Institutional Coordination
Socio-political factors
• Competing political parties, traditional leaders

20. Photo:DavidBrazier/IWMIPhoto:TomvanCakenberghe/IWMI
Appropriate Institutional Structure - proposed
Figure 1 Proposed institutional structure for INRM at the District scale

21. Photo:DavidBrazier/IWMIPhoto:TomvanCakenberghe/IWMI
The End!