Grasslands as Natural Infrastructure in South Africa Stanley Liphadzi, PhD Water Research Commission South Africa
Jan 05, 2016
Grasslands as Natural Infrastructure in South Africa
Stanley Liphadzi, PhD
Water Research CommissionSouth Africa
Water Security • “An efficient way to invest
in water security is to protect it at its source through prudent land management”
• The Maloti Drakensburg mountains are the most strategic water resource in the country and region. • The catchments contribute to a number
of major rivers on South African side and Lesotho.
A water scarce country
It is economically justifiable toinvest in water – a limited resource
Precipitation
Evaporation
Roles of the Grasslands • Rainfall infiltrations,
and thus:– Reduce Stormflows – Increase Baseflows– Reduce erosions
• Carbon sequestration• Biodiversity, thus :– Increase tourism, job
opportunities, wealth creation, etc
Scenarios of the two catchments
Upper Thukela• less degraded upper
quinaries• The middle and lower
quinaries were degraded due to:– Overgrazing– Winter wild fires
Upper Umzimvubu• All quinaries were
extremely degraded;– Overgrazing– Winter wild fires
The land use practices and lack of proper management resulted in the degradation of the catchment areas
Legal mandate for a Trade System
There is a legislation supportingDWAF or other designated suppliers to charge Water Users for the enhancement of water services.
DWAF Water Pricing Strategy–Water users can be
charged for resources management (interventions)
AIMS
• To determine if it’s viable and sustainable for the recipients of the benefits from grasslands to pay or compensate land owners/users for their stewardship role.
• How to cost action and Value benefits associated with management.
Tools and InstrumentsHydrological Modeling of Ecosystem Services SUPPLY• Effect of land use and
management on the water services from Ecosystems:– Baseflows– Streamflows– Stormflows– Sediments yield, etc
• Assumption is : services are owned by land owners
Economic modeling of Ecosystem Services TRADE• What are COSTS of change
in land use?– Restoration costs– Management costs
• What is the Economic VALUE OF THE BENEFITS of such change?
• Unit Reference Values (URVs) to determine economic feasibility of a project
Output
Key issues• Implementation of PES is possible in South Africa
• Working for Water and Working for Wetlands programmes have proved that.
• Strong Partnership and collaboration between government depts, land owners, NGOs, Local authorities, and other users (beneficiaries) are important.
• Proper governance structure is needed.• Address the triple bottom line (social justice,
ecological sustainability, and economical feasibility);• Avoid “one size -fit –all”
Acknowledgement
• Mander, M and co- authors of the report : INR, UKZN.
• John Dini – Working for Wetlands / W for Water: SANBI
• Water Research Commission of South Africa• Session Organizers
Thank you