A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Education in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Department of Mathematics' Masters of Environmental Education. I thank GOD, Umvelinqangi, for giving me the courage and strength to withstand the pressures and obstacles I faced in the completion of this program.
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Most wetlands face extinction or severe losses, mainly due to the inactivity of the population, but also due to the various animals that inhabit the wetlands. This obviously threatens the sustainability of wetlands and, in turn, the wildlife that lives in the wetlands.
![Figure 1.1: Map of Richards Bay and Mandlazini Area [Source: www.richemp.org, (2008)]](https://thumb-ap.123doks.com/thumbv2/pubpdfnet/10393868.0/17.892.136.785.133.636/figure-map-richards-bay-mandlazini-area-source-richemp.webp)
MOTIVATION OF THE STUDY
Studies in several large catchment areas show that between 35% and 60% of the wetlands and the benefits they offer have already been lost (Lande, 2008). Some local community members plant crops in the wetlands and depend on the sale of these crops to earn money for livelihood purposes.
THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The study also takes into account other human activities that have an impact on the wetlands. This study also aims to raise awareness of the dangers of alien plants commonly found in the wetlands and to raise awareness of the importance of wetlands among the local youth.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study also shows that it is important for community leaders (izinduna) and councilors to be environmentally literate, especially to prevent the allocation of housing near or within wetlands. The study also hopes to alert policymakers and curriculum developers to the importance of engaging in education for the wise use and protection of wetlands in this country.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The study focuses on promoting the role of environmental education so that all forms of education play a vital role in increasing citizens' environmental literacy regarding the value of wetlands. Finally, the importance of this study revolves around the fact that it would contribute to wetland research, but also to the literature on biodiversity and wetland conservation.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
- Wetlands
- Wetlands’ restoration
- Restoration
- Environmental education
- Education for sustainability
- Environmental Education Policy
- Sustainability
- Non-formal education
This requires understanding the need to achieve a balance between the environment and social and economic impacts for development. Sustainability is the approach that encourages society to meet the needs of the present generation without sacrificing the ability to meet the needs of future generations.
ORGANISATION OF THE STUDY
This includes the ability to meet the needs of the world's current population without negative environmental effects or incurring impossibly high costs for all involved. Chapter four provides a data analysis and an interpretation of the study's findings, while.
CONCLUSION
The second chapter provides a review of the literature on wetland management and restoration and describes the importance of wetlands, their sustainable use, rehabilitation of damaged wetlands, public participation, and the role played by indigenous knowledge in ensuring wetland management for pertains to legal and political implications. . Such improvement can be achieved through the involvement and participation of the Mandlanzini people in the decision-making processes on issues related to wetlands in their area.
INTRODUCTION
In this regard, literary sources associated with the principles and philosophies of wetland development and utilization are explored and described in this section.
HISTORY OF WETLANDS CONSERVATION
Such a strategy should be based on an understanding of the type and distribution of wetlands in South Africa and the development of a national policy (Cowan, 1995). Collective action is important for wetland restoration both because of the physical interactions between landowners and because of the cost savings and enhanced environmental benefit that can be achieved on a large scale (Hodge and McNally, 2000).
IMPORTANCE OF WETLANDS
According to Lande (2008), the wetlands of the Umhlathuze area are of international importance as they are the southern destination of many migratory birds. A socio-economic survey of five villages in the Songkhram Valley in the lower basin of the Mokong River in Thailand shows that the main sources of protein are fish (61%) and wildlife in the main floodplain of Huai Nam Un.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN WETLANDS MANAGEMENT
Environmental Education and Wetlands Restoration
Although "knowledge acquisition" may meet the strictest definition of environmental education, in most cases the real goal is to develop responsible environmental behavior and improved environmental quality. Public awareness of the value of botanical conservatories, arboretums, parks, reserves and gardens needs to be raised to develop an appreciation of their role and to develop a conservation ethic amongst our communities (http://conserveafrica.org.uk/natafrica products.html).
The Value of conservation of wetlands
However, if the value of conserving wetlands is lower than the opportunity cost, conserving the wetlands should be considered further. For example, the water storage value of wetlands cannot be considered to be included in the value of conservation.
LEGAL AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS ON WETLANDS MANAGEMENT
- Agenda 21 and Sustainable Development
- The Ramsar Convention
- National Environmental Management Act
- Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act
The National Ministry of Environment and Tourism is responsible for the implementation of the Convention (Cowan, 1995). Accordingly, CARA considers land, water and related aspects of the field and vegetation as important resources.
SOUTHERN AFRICAN EXPERIENCES
Some activities, such as farming, fishing, and harvesting wild foods, are clearly economic in nature and provide a means of earning income for the household. This research was expected to demonstrate the role that the wetlands at Mandlanzini play in the lives of the rural inhabitants of this area.
ECONOMIC APPROACHES TO WETLANDS MANAGEMENT
(c) the social and economic costs of wetland degradation, and (d) the quantitative relationships between different agricultural practices within wetlands and the resulting environmental, social and economic impacts. The next section of this study examines the characteristics of wetland goods and services from an economic point of view and reviews the approaches proposed by economic science to solve the problems related to these characteristics. regulatory environmental functions) and the economic category of resource stocks or goods (resource flows or services) (Barbier et al., 1997).
CONNECTIONS AMONG WETLANDS FUNCTIONS, USES AND VALUES
The total economic value of wetlands
In addition, option value, which is related to utility values, refers to the benefits an individual derives from ensuring that a resource will be available for future use (Turner et al., 2000; Barbier et al., 1997). Turner et al., (2000) point out that to avoid double counting, it is important to value the functions performed by wetlands, rather than individual goods and services, as one function can contribute to several goods and services.
Costs-Benefit Analysis (CBA)
As emphasized by Turner et al., (2000), it can be concluded that a judicious use of CBA is needed. It also often omits outputs whose effects cannot be quantified (Barbier et al., 1997).
THE ROLE OF WETLANDS IN CONTROLLING EROSION
INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE, ADAPTATION AND SUSTAINABILITY
By responding to environmental changes, each farmer contributes to the complexity of the knowledge system, so that a critical level of individuality is found in the farmers' knowledge base. Rhoades and Bebbington (1995) in their survey of Andean farmers' experiments in potato cultivation found the existence of three types of experiments.
CONCLUSION
Their importance in promoting the ability to adapt, i.e. the socially sustainable management of natural resources through the exchange of information, is therefore the most important. As the study is conducted in the developing world, it makes a significant contribution to natural resource management.
INTRODUCTION
FIELD SURVEY DELIMITATION
RESEARCH DESIGN
- Quantitative research
- Experimental design
- Quasi-experimental design
- Descriptive design
Through qualitative research, the researcher determined the socio-economic impact of informal education on the sustainable use of wetlands. In this study, we used a quantitative method to generalize the age of people who use wetlands and analyze the gender of wetland users.
RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION
Since the majority of the local community could not read and write, the researcher asked some questions directly and wrote the answers on the questionnaire sheet. During the data collection observation process, the researcher asked the respondents to indicate what methods they used for planting in the wetlands.
THE INTERVIEW TECHNIQUE
The race, age, gender, religion, vocabulary, accent, ethical background or social class of the interviewer can change the answers of the respondents. Since many people in the Mandlazini area cannot read and write, the researcher used the vernacular (Isizulu) to facilitate understanding of the questions.
METHOD OF DATA PRESENTATION
Interviewers' opinions and attitudes and their expectations of respondents' opinions and attitudes can influence whether and/or which answers are given, as well as whether and how they are recorded. Most of the pamphlets from these two departments were helpful as they specialized in wetland use.
SAMPLING PROCEDURE
In this study, the researcher chose to use the face-to-face approach as it helped to resolve the language barrier and gave the researcher a better chance to help the participants understand the purpose of the study (see Appendix A and B). ). In addition to these sources, the research also used information from archives.
THE ANALYSIS OF DATA
If the entire group is selected, each participant, group or other source of relevant information should be reviewed.
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Participants were also informed that the information collected from them would be held in the University of Zululand library as a resource. The researcher explained to respondents who wanted to know how the information would be used, that it would be kept in the libraries for future use.
PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN THE STUDY
CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS
Age structure
This observation implies the need for a greater effort to plan the sustainable use of the wetlands' resources, as they must be used by future generations represented by 37 percent of the population living in the area. Furthermore, a proper management plan must be drawn up to take account of the sustainable use of the wetlands.
Education levels of the respondents
There is an urgent need for an inventory of existing biodiversity and wetland resources and for appropriate strategies to conserve these resources. This has serious implications for the overall use and management of wetland biodiversity in the area as almost 74% of respondents reported that they depend entirely on wetland resources for their livelihoods.
Households income earned from wetlands products
Furthermore, it is clear in all the surveyed zones that almost 90 percent of the respondents earn less than R2500 per month. Education in the use of modern methods of agriculture to increase their yield will improve the economic status of the respondents.
THE ROLE OF THE WETLANDS FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
South Africa has seen a resurgence of interest in indigenous knowledge since democratic governance was achieved in 1994. The Government recognizes the importance of recognizing and developing indigenous knowledge in South Africa to ensure that indigenous knowledge continues to play an important and developmental role. role in society.
LIVELIHOOD ON WETLANDS RESOURCES
The researcher realized how sad it is that our educational institutions neglect indigenous knowledge that has been passed down from generation to generation since time immemorial. The development of the process of their adaptation to this type of survival is usually supported by traditional and indigenous knowledge.
CROP CULTIVATION IN THE WETLANDS
- Crafts and woven construction from plants
- Sleeping mats
- Beer strainers
- Thatching grass for houses
The positive words from the majority of the women in the area attest to the value and satisfaction that local people derive from the crafts they produce. Fifty-one percent (51%) of households in Mandlanzini were involved in harvesting grass for thatching.
Thatching the roof of a circular hut using material from the wetlands
Reed harvesting
The bundles of reeds are placed under the grass of the roof as a foundation (Plate 4.2). Members of the younger generation help their fathers and mothers during thatching and it is during this hands-on learning experience that skills are passed from one generation to the next.
LIVESTOCK GRAZING IN THE WETLANDS
Most of the women agreed that cows graze in the wetlands where ikhwani and incema are harvested and that this reduces the resources used for handicrafts. Most of the elders said that they were taught by their parents not to allow cows to graze in areas where women harvested wetland resources and also during harvest time.
COLLECTION OF WATER FROM THE WETLANDS SWAMPS
Most of the old men said that as herd boys they were told not to let the cattle graze in a watery area for too long. They should allow periods of rest during which the wetlands can recover from the damage caused by grazing.
The collection of water in the wetlands at Mandlanzini
MEDICINAL PLANTS
Most of the communities around Mandlanzini depend on traditional healers to deal with certain ailments. One of the medicinal plants, iphuzolomlambo (also known as river gourd or Genera (Perpen), is.
ATTITUDE OF THE COMMUNITY TOWARDS WETLANDS RESOURCES
Most of the youth among the respondents stated that such a case study would help them access information about the use of the wetlands and provide them with ways to restore wetlands. Today, the willingness to appreciate the wetlands is very poor because of the modern ways people have adopted to accumulate wealth and not use the natural resources for survival.
INVOLVEMENT OF TRADITIONAL HEALERS
Some refused to answer, saying that there is no such thing as wetlands being degraded because they are God's creation. This research study includes an investigation into how some wetland areas have been wrongly assigned as residential areas.
INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AS PRACTICED IN THE WETLANDS
Most respondents said they received little technical support from the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism or from the Department of Agriculture on how to initially cultivate the wetlands. In some of the responses, the recognition of dry and wet periods seems to have triggered desperate measures on when and how to drain a wetland for successful planting.
CONCLUSION
Monyatsi and Nleya (2004) in describing the nature of Indigenous Education (IE) in Botswana state that the aims of Indigenous Education are to preserve the cultural heritage of the extended family, clan and tribe. Further, IE helps members of the new generation to adapt to their physical environment and teach them how to control and use it in a sustainable way.
INTRODUCTION
The following aspects are addressed as identified below: i) Identifying the socio-economic status of the people living: in phase 6. ii) The range of wetland resources that people use: in Phase 6 (iii).
THE PRESENT SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF PEOPLE LIVING IN PHASE SIX
In stage one, people use sleeping mats to decorate the walls of their homes to reflect traditional culture and to keep as gifts for girls about to get married. The study found that Phase 1 households use more resources from the wetlands to meet their food demand, which is greater than that of Phase 1 households.
THE RANGE OF THE WETLANDS RESOURCES USED BY PEOPLE IN PHASE SIX
It was also seen as an accepted practice to rest parts of the land, thus working with nature to help preserve the wetlands. It is clear that, as people get more and more livestock, the sustainable use of the wetlands is at risk.
In addition to planting amadumba or harvesting ikhwan, people from Phase Six use wetlands as a source for water used for various purposes. Water is collected from springs around the wetlands, and communities must protect it from pollution by fencing.
INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE UTILISATION ON WETLANDS
RECOMMENDATIONS
The study also highlights the fact that a higher level of education allows for reduced use of the wetlands as a source of income. Different ethnic groups share their ideas about using and restoring the wetlands for future use.
CONCLUSION
Society's attitude towards wetland resources shows that most people act positively in bringing sustainability to the wetlands so that the future generation will benefit from what they had done. Practices based on indigenous knowledge may work to some extent, but there is a great need to integrate indigenous knowledge with modern technology to support increased food production. much publicized water scarcity in South Africa means that issues of wetland care need to be emphasized and pursued by government to ensure that all citizens act responsibly towards wetlands.
Activities
