Resilience of peri-urban wetland ecosystems: A case study of Nandoni, Limpopo province, South Africa

Abstract

Human beings tend to encroach on wetlands, particularly in peri-urban areas in developing countries, as they use their rich ecosystem services. Such practices of encroachment lead to the reduction of quality and size of water resources. There is a paucity of policy information on how to effectively manage wetlands in the face of disruption from human settlements adaptation activities. This study examines the resilience of wetland ecosystems in Nandoni’s peri-urban areas in South Africa to provide mitigation strategies to inform policy and praxis on how wetlands can be effectively managed in the face of disruption from human settlements around them. The study adopted a case study research design and used the mixed methods research approach, which includes qualitative and spatial data. Data was collected through key informant interviews with purposively selected spatial planners, environmentalists, and traditional leaders. Photographic and mapping surveys were conducted to determine the impact of development on wetlands. The study found that human activities such as farming, brickmaking, and residential development have impacted on wetlands, resulting in water pollution, wetland degradation or loss of wetlands, and extinction of animal species. Findings also revealed that human extraction activities affect the spatial resilience of Nandoni, while other activities such as recreational pursuits do not have as much effect in terms of the area’s level of resilience. The study recommends that policy makers and wetland users adopt sustainable strategies such as improving post-relocation support, sustainable practices in wetland management, and adaptive co-management to alleviate the impacts of adaptation activities. The latter degrade wetlands in peri-urban areas that support communities and the environment. A holistic inclusivity should be adopted among stakeholders to foster collaborative initiatives that raise awareness and enforce policies.