Drivers of ecosystem services and sustainable development in a mountain environment at Mariepskop South Africa

Abstract

Mariepskop Mountain is the highest peak on the northern Drakensberg escarpment at an elevation of 1945 m above sea level (asl). The Klaserie River emanates from the Mariepskop in a south-easterly direction whilst the Blyde River flows along the north-western parts of the mountain creating a canyon. The Mariepskop is made up of microclimates forming habitats for a wide range of flora and fauna. This study found that Mariepskop is an important source of useful ecosystem services and livelihoods for the three main local groups. These include, the residents of Acornhoek, Kampersrus and the commercial farmers living in the lowlands of the mountain. This study found that these three communities have major differences in their resource use patterns. In this study, the term Acornhoek was used in reference to the rural villages between the Mariepskop Mountain and the town of Acornhoek. Acornhoek is a high density residential area located on the eastern slopes of the Mariepskop and with a population actively dependent on the mountain for wild edible plants, firewood and water. Kampersrus is a small village on the Northern foothills of the mountain with a population that particularly enjoys the scenery and recreational facilities of the Mariepskop. The commercial farms are located on the Northern and North-Western sides of the mountain and the farmers rely on the water from the Blyde River for irrigation of largely citrus crops. Socio-economic characteristics of these communities were identified to be the primary drivers of resultant mountain natural resource use patterns. A set of international United Nations Millennium Development Goals (UN MDG) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicators, as well as localised sustainability indicators, were assessed for their applicability at the local level and their local and international values compared and ranked to determine the levels of sustainability. An assessment current and future sustainability of Acornhoek resource patterns for water, wild edible plants and firewood using population trajectories, yielded results that show current and medium-term sustainability and long-term unsustainability if resource use remains the same. The study found that though the international indicators had not been developed for application at the local level, they are quite useful when modified or localized to accommodate the local social, economic and environmental landscape. Also we found that, different local areas need to develop their own unique set of sustainability indicators that encompass and address issues specific to that local area in order to adequately monitor sustainability levels.