Spatial analysis of the impact of human activities on the marine environment in Algoa Bay, South Africa
- Authors: Maphoto, Tidimalo Mary Anne
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: Marine resources conservation Algoa Bay South Africa , Spatial analysis (Statistics) , Human ecology , Nature Effect of human beings on , Marine ecology Algoa Bay South Africa , Integrated coastal zone management Algoa Bay South Africa , Marine spatial planning Algoa Bay South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/192086 , vital:45194
- Description: Background: Humans have a long history of using the marine environment in multiple ways and continued use has led to a decline in the ecosystem services provided by marine systems in many places. In addition, human activities have steadily increased with time and advances in technology, further increasing impacts on marine systems. To understand and manage these impacts, we need to assess the spatial distribution and intensity of human activities in the marine environment, and quantify, where possible, their cumulative impacts on marine ecosystems. The spatial consideration of human activities and their associated impacts is important for conservation planning, Integrated Ocean Management and Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) initiatives. The main deliverable of this research study was to develop a cumulative impacts layer of human activities in Algoa Bay, South Africa, to support the Algoa Bay Marine Spatial Planning Project. Objective and Relevance: This research analyses the spatial impacts of human activities on the Algoa Bay marine environment (excluding the seashore). Algoa Bay is located on the south coast of South Africa in the Eastern Cape. The research explores stakeholders' perceptions of their knowledge of the human activities that take place in the bay. This research is informed by an expert-based geographical information systems (GIS) approach and cumulative impact assessment in order to map the spatial impacts of the activities as part of marine spatial planning. "Experts" were defined as stakeholders that contributed valuable knowledge of the human activities and their impacts; this definition of expert included "professional" and "non-professional" contributors to knowledge. The spatial aspect of the research is a significant contribution to the field as it will help inform decision-making in the Algoa Bay Marine Spatial Planning Project. Design and Methods: A mixed-method approach was used to generate data. A snowball sampling approach was used to identify research participants from key informants. Primary data were collected through questionnaire surveys, interviews and a focus group. Secondary data sources consisted of GIS data and reports from scientific organizations. Findings and Conclusion: The research findings indicate that the top three pressures that cause the greatest impact on the Algoa Bay marine environment are fishing, pollution and shipping. The cumulative impact of these activities was highest near harbours in Algoa Bay. The marine ecosystems that were most impacted by pressures were the Agulhas Island and the Agulhas Mixed Shore. The Warm Temperate marine ecosystems had fairly low cumulative impacts. The research findings indicate that there is a complex mix of human activities that impact the marine environment. This research supports the findings of other researchers that reveal that the highest cumulative impact is in areas closer to the coast and harbours owing to high population densities. Value of Study: This study builds onto the existing data by expanding the knowledge base and including more stakeholders to integrate as many human activities as possible and bring a holistic picture of the ocean's uses to inform MSP in Algoa Bay. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Geography, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-10-29
- Authors: Maphoto, Tidimalo Mary Anne
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: Marine resources conservation Algoa Bay South Africa , Spatial analysis (Statistics) , Human ecology , Nature Effect of human beings on , Marine ecology Algoa Bay South Africa , Integrated coastal zone management Algoa Bay South Africa , Marine spatial planning Algoa Bay South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/192086 , vital:45194
- Description: Background: Humans have a long history of using the marine environment in multiple ways and continued use has led to a decline in the ecosystem services provided by marine systems in many places. In addition, human activities have steadily increased with time and advances in technology, further increasing impacts on marine systems. To understand and manage these impacts, we need to assess the spatial distribution and intensity of human activities in the marine environment, and quantify, where possible, their cumulative impacts on marine ecosystems. The spatial consideration of human activities and their associated impacts is important for conservation planning, Integrated Ocean Management and Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) initiatives. The main deliverable of this research study was to develop a cumulative impacts layer of human activities in Algoa Bay, South Africa, to support the Algoa Bay Marine Spatial Planning Project. Objective and Relevance: This research analyses the spatial impacts of human activities on the Algoa Bay marine environment (excluding the seashore). Algoa Bay is located on the south coast of South Africa in the Eastern Cape. The research explores stakeholders' perceptions of their knowledge of the human activities that take place in the bay. This research is informed by an expert-based geographical information systems (GIS) approach and cumulative impact assessment in order to map the spatial impacts of the activities as part of marine spatial planning. "Experts" were defined as stakeholders that contributed valuable knowledge of the human activities and their impacts; this definition of expert included "professional" and "non-professional" contributors to knowledge. The spatial aspect of the research is a significant contribution to the field as it will help inform decision-making in the Algoa Bay Marine Spatial Planning Project. Design and Methods: A mixed-method approach was used to generate data. A snowball sampling approach was used to identify research participants from key informants. Primary data were collected through questionnaire surveys, interviews and a focus group. Secondary data sources consisted of GIS data and reports from scientific organizations. Findings and Conclusion: The research findings indicate that the top three pressures that cause the greatest impact on the Algoa Bay marine environment are fishing, pollution and shipping. The cumulative impact of these activities was highest near harbours in Algoa Bay. The marine ecosystems that were most impacted by pressures were the Agulhas Island and the Agulhas Mixed Shore. The Warm Temperate marine ecosystems had fairly low cumulative impacts. The research findings indicate that there is a complex mix of human activities that impact the marine environment. This research supports the findings of other researchers that reveal that the highest cumulative impact is in areas closer to the coast and harbours owing to high population densities. Value of Study: This study builds onto the existing data by expanding the knowledge base and including more stakeholders to integrate as many human activities as possible and bring a holistic picture of the ocean's uses to inform MSP in Algoa Bay. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Geography, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-10-29
Exploring "DIGITAL ECOLOGY" as a tool for environmental conservation through : The design of a virtual eco-pack for Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Edmayr, Alexandra Charlotte
- Date: 2020-09
- Subjects: Conservation of natural resources -- Port Elizabeth , Human ecology
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59018 , vital:60256
- Description: This treatise deals with the design of a new Virtual Eco-Park and humankind's relationship to the natural world. The cultural institution of captivity has been positive and negative for the study and conservative approaches of fauna and flora. While this has had benefits, it has resulted in a dominated mindset over the 'other'. This treatise looks at the zoo and aquarium as an outdated educational platform and proposes a new perspective. This treatise explores 'digital ecology' as a tool of theoretical application. The intention is to provide environmental conservation. The design will use the virtual medium for a new immersive experience instead of the 'live exhibit'. The 'digital ecology' is also seen as spatial stacking of layers. Using Timothy Lukes theories on the three natures, this thesis applies this theory in a post-anthropocentric way by its role in generating the Virtual Eco-Park. The layers are terrestrial as an ecosystem, the territorial as the built environment and the digital as the immersive experience. These components form the skeleton of the application to the site. The Port Elizabeth manganese ore and tank farm and the surrounding area has been a dump and polluted landscape for forty years. This treatise, in its entirety, has set up an urban framework that promotes a reconnection to the ecological systems in Port Elizabeth. The 'digital ecology' and the Virtual Eco Park as a 'building' intends to regenerate/ reestablish an old industrial landscape into a new park. The building is designed to become a component of the landscape and not an object on the landscape. The result of this research will result in a final design that hosts immersive experience—bringing the 'true wild' into the urban landscape by replacing the 'tamed natural'—thereby solving the Anthropocene of the Zoo building type by reframing it as the virtual eco-park of nature. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-09
- Authors: Edmayr, Alexandra Charlotte
- Date: 2020-09
- Subjects: Conservation of natural resources -- Port Elizabeth , Human ecology
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59018 , vital:60256
- Description: This treatise deals with the design of a new Virtual Eco-Park and humankind's relationship to the natural world. The cultural institution of captivity has been positive and negative for the study and conservative approaches of fauna and flora. While this has had benefits, it has resulted in a dominated mindset over the 'other'. This treatise looks at the zoo and aquarium as an outdated educational platform and proposes a new perspective. This treatise explores 'digital ecology' as a tool of theoretical application. The intention is to provide environmental conservation. The design will use the virtual medium for a new immersive experience instead of the 'live exhibit'. The 'digital ecology' is also seen as spatial stacking of layers. Using Timothy Lukes theories on the three natures, this thesis applies this theory in a post-anthropocentric way by its role in generating the Virtual Eco-Park. The layers are terrestrial as an ecosystem, the territorial as the built environment and the digital as the immersive experience. These components form the skeleton of the application to the site. The Port Elizabeth manganese ore and tank farm and the surrounding area has been a dump and polluted landscape for forty years. This treatise, in its entirety, has set up an urban framework that promotes a reconnection to the ecological systems in Port Elizabeth. The 'digital ecology' and the Virtual Eco Park as a 'building' intends to regenerate/ reestablish an old industrial landscape into a new park. The building is designed to become a component of the landscape and not an object on the landscape. The result of this research will result in a final design that hosts immersive experience—bringing the 'true wild' into the urban landscape by replacing the 'tamed natural'—thereby solving the Anthropocene of the Zoo building type by reframing it as the virtual eco-park of nature. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-09
The influence of the environment on nature-based adventure tourism
- Authors: Giddy, Julia K
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Human ecology , Tourism -- Environmental aspects , Adventure travel
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9296 , vital:26561
- Description: Adventure tourism (AT) is a rapidly growing subsector of the tourism industry. With the recent increase in AT, the nature of the industry is undergoing major changes. Originally a small and relatively specialized sector of tourism, AT is now expanding to include ommercialized and larger scale operations. This creates a need to re-evaluate the AT industry in the context of these new, highly commercialized and often “manufactured” adventure experiences. Although there are many definitions and conceptualizations of what onstitutes AT, it is most often referred to as tourism experiences that involve some element of risk and typically take place in outdoor natural environments. Inherent in the definition of AT is the natural environment, however very little research has focused on the role of the environment in AT. The interaction between humans and the environment is one of the most fundamental relationships of human existence. Within this context, existing research largely focuses on the influence of humans on the environment. However, it is important to also understand how the environment influences human behaviour. This thesis, therefore, seeks to examine the influence of the environment on humans in the AT context. It does so by analyzing three primary aspects of human-environment interaction in AT participation. The first is participants’ ‘value system’including their general perspectives of the environment and previous experience with AT. The second focuses on the relative strength and nature of environmental influences on AT motivations. The final aspect delves into the role of the environment in enhancing AT experiences and satisfaction. These assessments were done by analyzing questionnaires collected from participants in eight commercial AT operations along the Cape South Coast of South Africa. Data was primarily based on responses to statements using a 5 point Likert Scale. The responses were analyzed and discussions utilized results based on descriptive statistics, significance levels based on onesample t-tests, frequency distributions and analysis of variance (ANOVAs) which divided the data based on activity type. In addition Pearson’s Product Moment Correlations were conducted to assess linkages between different components of the thesis. The results that emerged from this thesis show that the environment plays an important role in AT participation. The value system of commercial AT participants demonstrated a level of general experience with AT as well as moderate environmental values. The strength of the environment in the motivations to participate in AT emerged quite substantially. Reflective interactions with nature (i.e. learning about the environment, and appreciating nature’s beauty) were found to be amongst the most significant internal motivation factors for participation. Interestingly, although the vast majority of research focuses on the Risk/Thrill element of AT motivations, it was not found to be an important motivation factor amongst the vast majority of AT participants. The environmental aspects of the destination were found to be, by far, the most significant external motivation factor, implying that the selection of destination for AT participation is largely based on the environment in which the activity takes place. Participants were also found to have strong, positive emotional experiences as a result of AT participation,which were significantly enhanced by the environment in which the activities took place. In addition, as a result of these positive experiences, emotionally and with the environment, participants were highly satisfied with the AT experiences. The culmination of the results discussed above was the development of a modified, empirically-tested framework for human-environment interaction in the AT context. The final framework demonstrated links between various components of human-environment interaction. Strong links were found between motivations, experiences and satisfaction while relatively weak links were found between the value system of participants and their subsequent motivations. The framework was developed for the possibility of applying it to other contexts. The findings in this thesis demonstrate that the environment does, in fact, play an important role in the interaction between humans and the environment in AT. They emphasize the relatively significant influence that the environment has on the motivations and experiences of AT participants.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Giddy, Julia K
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Human ecology , Tourism -- Environmental aspects , Adventure travel
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9296 , vital:26561
- Description: Adventure tourism (AT) is a rapidly growing subsector of the tourism industry. With the recent increase in AT, the nature of the industry is undergoing major changes. Originally a small and relatively specialized sector of tourism, AT is now expanding to include ommercialized and larger scale operations. This creates a need to re-evaluate the AT industry in the context of these new, highly commercialized and often “manufactured” adventure experiences. Although there are many definitions and conceptualizations of what onstitutes AT, it is most often referred to as tourism experiences that involve some element of risk and typically take place in outdoor natural environments. Inherent in the definition of AT is the natural environment, however very little research has focused on the role of the environment in AT. The interaction between humans and the environment is one of the most fundamental relationships of human existence. Within this context, existing research largely focuses on the influence of humans on the environment. However, it is important to also understand how the environment influences human behaviour. This thesis, therefore, seeks to examine the influence of the environment on humans in the AT context. It does so by analyzing three primary aspects of human-environment interaction in AT participation. The first is participants’ ‘value system’including their general perspectives of the environment and previous experience with AT. The second focuses on the relative strength and nature of environmental influences on AT motivations. The final aspect delves into the role of the environment in enhancing AT experiences and satisfaction. These assessments were done by analyzing questionnaires collected from participants in eight commercial AT operations along the Cape South Coast of South Africa. Data was primarily based on responses to statements using a 5 point Likert Scale. The responses were analyzed and discussions utilized results based on descriptive statistics, significance levels based on onesample t-tests, frequency distributions and analysis of variance (ANOVAs) which divided the data based on activity type. In addition Pearson’s Product Moment Correlations were conducted to assess linkages between different components of the thesis. The results that emerged from this thesis show that the environment plays an important role in AT participation. The value system of commercial AT participants demonstrated a level of general experience with AT as well as moderate environmental values. The strength of the environment in the motivations to participate in AT emerged quite substantially. Reflective interactions with nature (i.e. learning about the environment, and appreciating nature’s beauty) were found to be amongst the most significant internal motivation factors for participation. Interestingly, although the vast majority of research focuses on the Risk/Thrill element of AT motivations, it was not found to be an important motivation factor amongst the vast majority of AT participants. The environmental aspects of the destination were found to be, by far, the most significant external motivation factor, implying that the selection of destination for AT participation is largely based on the environment in which the activity takes place. Participants were also found to have strong, positive emotional experiences as a result of AT participation,which were significantly enhanced by the environment in which the activities took place. In addition, as a result of these positive experiences, emotionally and with the environment, participants were highly satisfied with the AT experiences. The culmination of the results discussed above was the development of a modified, empirically-tested framework for human-environment interaction in the AT context. The final framework demonstrated links between various components of human-environment interaction. Strong links were found between motivations, experiences and satisfaction while relatively weak links were found between the value system of participants and their subsequent motivations. The framework was developed for the possibility of applying it to other contexts. The findings in this thesis demonstrate that the environment does, in fact, play an important role in the interaction between humans and the environment in AT. They emphasize the relatively significant influence that the environment has on the motivations and experiences of AT participants.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
The influence of persons and marketing related variables on consumers purchasing of environmentally-friendly products
- Authors: Jonas, Altouise Glowdean
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Consumer behavior , Marketing research , Natural resources , Human ecology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9368 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011098 , Consumer behavior , Marketing research , Natural resources , Human ecology
- Description: The human environment is under serious threat as natural resources such as air, water and forests are being overused. Worldwide, people have become more aware of the threatening situation and consequently many more individuals are showing concern for the environment. Often this concern is not displayed in consumers’ purchasing behaviour, as consumers who claim to be concerned about the environment are not necessarily consuming or showing a preference for environmentally–friendly products. This study examined two sets of variables, namely, person related and marketing related factors, and determined the extent to which these factors influence consumers’ behaviour when buying environmentallyfriendly products. The empirical data was collected by means of a survey, using self-administered questionnaires distributed to adult employed consumers residing in Port Elizabeth. Two hundred usable questionnaires were received. Three person related factors, namely, norms, environmental concern and environmental knowledge, and four marketing related factors, namely, price, product, place and promotion - were found to influence respondents’ behaviour when purchasing environmentally-friendly products. Environmental concern explained the largest portion of variation in purchase behaviour, while promotion explained the smallest portion of variation. Significant differences in the influence of age were found for norms, nvironmental concern, environmental knowledge and price. It is recommended that suppliers of environmentally-friendly products should ensure that these products are located at outlets which are convenient to consumers; more should be done by the relevant stakeholders to increase environmental knowledge and educate South Africans about the benefits of leading a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle; marketers find more innovative methods to convince consumers to act on their environmental concern; further attempts be made to minimise the price difference between environmentally-friendly products and traditional products; marketers should pay more attention to advertisements promoting environmentally-friendly products to ensure that these appeal to their target markets; and the performance of environmentally-friendly products should be on a par with the performance of traditional products.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Jonas, Altouise Glowdean
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Consumer behavior , Marketing research , Natural resources , Human ecology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9368 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011098 , Consumer behavior , Marketing research , Natural resources , Human ecology
- Description: The human environment is under serious threat as natural resources such as air, water and forests are being overused. Worldwide, people have become more aware of the threatening situation and consequently many more individuals are showing concern for the environment. Often this concern is not displayed in consumers’ purchasing behaviour, as consumers who claim to be concerned about the environment are not necessarily consuming or showing a preference for environmentally–friendly products. This study examined two sets of variables, namely, person related and marketing related factors, and determined the extent to which these factors influence consumers’ behaviour when buying environmentallyfriendly products. The empirical data was collected by means of a survey, using self-administered questionnaires distributed to adult employed consumers residing in Port Elizabeth. Two hundred usable questionnaires were received. Three person related factors, namely, norms, environmental concern and environmental knowledge, and four marketing related factors, namely, price, product, place and promotion - were found to influence respondents’ behaviour when purchasing environmentally-friendly products. Environmental concern explained the largest portion of variation in purchase behaviour, while promotion explained the smallest portion of variation. Significant differences in the influence of age were found for norms, nvironmental concern, environmental knowledge and price. It is recommended that suppliers of environmentally-friendly products should ensure that these products are located at outlets which are convenient to consumers; more should be done by the relevant stakeholders to increase environmental knowledge and educate South Africans about the benefits of leading a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle; marketers find more innovative methods to convince consumers to act on their environmental concern; further attempts be made to minimise the price difference between environmentally-friendly products and traditional products; marketers should pay more attention to advertisements promoting environmentally-friendly products to ensure that these appeal to their target markets; and the performance of environmentally-friendly products should be on a par with the performance of traditional products.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Environmental literacy: a needs analysis
- Authors: Lillah, Riyaadh
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Environmental education , Environmental sciences , Human ecology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:9290 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011029 , Environmental education , Environmental sciences , Human ecology
- Description: An impending environmental crisis has been predicted by many which has led to an increased awareness and concern regarding the ability of the planet to sustain human development. Furthermore, organisations expected to be leaders in society, such as businesses and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), have been identified as some of the main drivers behind the ever increasing rate of destruction of the natural environment. Business schools have even been singled out as some of the main drivers behind the degradation of the natural environment by not addressing the knowledge gap of managers in this regard. Given this, the problem statement of this research is to determine how effective existing NMMU curricula are at shaping environmentally literate business graduates. The problem will be investigated from two perspectives. Firstly, from a supply side perspective - investigating the pro-environmental behaviours, ecological and business knowledge, „green‟ management skills and environmental values that students registered in the Business and Economics Sciences faculty at NMMU exhibit. Secondly, the problem will be investigated from a demand side perspective – investigating the pro-environmental behaviours, ecological and business knowledge, "green‟ management skills and environmental values that potential employers of NMMU students require. The focus will be on prospective employers in the mining and automotive industries. To address the problem to be investigated in this study a theoretical framework was developed and tested. This theoretical framework was based on the assumption that environmental literacy is measurable in terms of the behaviours of individuals towards the natural environment and that these behaviours are in turn dependent upon the ecological and business knowledge, "green‟ management skills and environmental values that the individual possesses. To test the theoretical framework an online survey was conducted amongst students registered in the Business and Economic Sciences Faculty at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), while semi-structured personal interviews were used to assess the demand for environmentally literate business graduates in the mining and automotive industries. In total 308 business students participated in the online survey. The findings suggest that students are highly sensitive to moral issues pertaining to the natural environment and have a better understanding of traditional ecological concepts than "green‟ business concepts. It was also found that ecological and business knowledge had the greatest influence on pro-environmental behaviours followed by environmental values and "green‟ management skills. The findings of this study will be used to enhance environmental literacy in the faculty. In terms of the semi-structured personal interviews, the views of eight environmental experts in the South African mining industries were obtained. The general analytical procedure was applied to identify prominent themes which existed in the qualitative data. This involved developing codes and identifying data which related to those specific codes in order to provide a description of and provide some dimension to these codes. Codes were categorised according to their similarity to each other. The different categories identified were ecology, legal compliance, technology, environmental management, sustainable development, pollution and waste management, financial implications and corporate citizenship. Some of these themes were not entirely expected based on the literature review. These additional insights add depth to the analysis of environmental education in South Africa and highlight the gaps in environmental literacy literature. In terms of environmental literacy, these categories had implications for the knowledge, skills, values and behaviours of business graduates. From the findings of this study the researcher concluded that a certain level of enthusiasm for environmental education exists among NMMU students, as well as individuals in the mining and automotive industries in South Africa. However, the level of environmental literacy exhibited by students registered in the Business and Economic Sciences Faculty at NMMU (between nominal and functional) was not considered to be sufficient to operate effectively in the mining and automotive industries.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Lillah, Riyaadh
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Environmental education , Environmental sciences , Human ecology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:9290 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011029 , Environmental education , Environmental sciences , Human ecology
- Description: An impending environmental crisis has been predicted by many which has led to an increased awareness and concern regarding the ability of the planet to sustain human development. Furthermore, organisations expected to be leaders in society, such as businesses and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), have been identified as some of the main drivers behind the ever increasing rate of destruction of the natural environment. Business schools have even been singled out as some of the main drivers behind the degradation of the natural environment by not addressing the knowledge gap of managers in this regard. Given this, the problem statement of this research is to determine how effective existing NMMU curricula are at shaping environmentally literate business graduates. The problem will be investigated from two perspectives. Firstly, from a supply side perspective - investigating the pro-environmental behaviours, ecological and business knowledge, „green‟ management skills and environmental values that students registered in the Business and Economics Sciences faculty at NMMU exhibit. Secondly, the problem will be investigated from a demand side perspective – investigating the pro-environmental behaviours, ecological and business knowledge, "green‟ management skills and environmental values that potential employers of NMMU students require. The focus will be on prospective employers in the mining and automotive industries. To address the problem to be investigated in this study a theoretical framework was developed and tested. This theoretical framework was based on the assumption that environmental literacy is measurable in terms of the behaviours of individuals towards the natural environment and that these behaviours are in turn dependent upon the ecological and business knowledge, "green‟ management skills and environmental values that the individual possesses. To test the theoretical framework an online survey was conducted amongst students registered in the Business and Economic Sciences Faculty at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), while semi-structured personal interviews were used to assess the demand for environmentally literate business graduates in the mining and automotive industries. In total 308 business students participated in the online survey. The findings suggest that students are highly sensitive to moral issues pertaining to the natural environment and have a better understanding of traditional ecological concepts than "green‟ business concepts. It was also found that ecological and business knowledge had the greatest influence on pro-environmental behaviours followed by environmental values and "green‟ management skills. The findings of this study will be used to enhance environmental literacy in the faculty. In terms of the semi-structured personal interviews, the views of eight environmental experts in the South African mining industries were obtained. The general analytical procedure was applied to identify prominent themes which existed in the qualitative data. This involved developing codes and identifying data which related to those specific codes in order to provide a description of and provide some dimension to these codes. Codes were categorised according to their similarity to each other. The different categories identified were ecology, legal compliance, technology, environmental management, sustainable development, pollution and waste management, financial implications and corporate citizenship. Some of these themes were not entirely expected based on the literature review. These additional insights add depth to the analysis of environmental education in South Africa and highlight the gaps in environmental literacy literature. In terms of environmental literacy, these categories had implications for the knowledge, skills, values and behaviours of business graduates. From the findings of this study the researcher concluded that a certain level of enthusiasm for environmental education exists among NMMU students, as well as individuals in the mining and automotive industries in South Africa. However, the level of environmental literacy exhibited by students registered in the Business and Economic Sciences Faculty at NMMU (between nominal and functional) was not considered to be sufficient to operate effectively in the mining and automotive industries.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
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