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