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Environmental dimensions of land reform

Environmental dimensions of land reform
The EEU has been engaged in research to investigate the environmental dimensions of land reform for many years, commencing with work in the 1990s about land-use options that would yield outcomes of environmental, social and economic sustainability; research in 1995 to set in place a system to monitor the environmental impacts arising from land reform; and an investigation in 1999/2000 about land reform and protected areas.

More recently, we have participated in a training initiative, in collaboration with Phuhlisani Solutions and Developmental Services, to strengthen environmental capacity amongst those involved in implementing the Department of Land Affair’s Policy and Guidelines for the Integration of Environmental Planning into Land Reform and Land Development.
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Environmental training at Mtakatye, Eastern Cape. Photo: R. Wynberg
The EEU has also been involved in developing and piloting an Environmental Sustainability Assessment Tool as part of this process, with the intention to develop a simple field-based environmental assessment tool that can be easily integrated into existing land reform planning and decision-making processes..

Aims and Objectives

The overall purpose of the project is:
  • To establish capacity within the DLA and other role players to integrate environmental concerns into land reform and land development through the implementation of existing Policy and Guidelines
  • To effectively implement and monitor the Policy and Guidelines in all the provinces.
Publications and Reports
  • Phuhlisani Solutions and Developmental Services (2005). Final report, 15 December, 2005, Tender DLA 05/02/C (2004/5) Appointment of a service provider to provide training (capacity building) and facilitate the implementation of the Departmental Policy and Guidelines on the Integration of Environmental Planning into Land Reform.
  • Sustainable Development Consortium (2006) Learning on the ground: Dwesa Cwebe. Towards the delivery of effective settlement and Implementation Support. Workshop manual for a five day field-based session.
  • Wynberg, R. & Sowman, M. (2005) An environmental assessment tool for land reform projects, December 2005 (Environmental Evaluation Unit, University of Cape Town).
  • Wynberg, R. and Sowman, M. 2007. Environmental sustainability and land reform in South Africa: a neglected dimension. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 50(6), 783-802.
Other Relevant Resources
Department of Land Affairs (2003). Environmental Policy and Guidelines for Land Reform and Environmental Planning (Department of Land Affairs, Pretoria).

Hall, R, Jacobs, P & Lahiff, E. (2003) Final report, Evaluating Land and Agrarian Reform in South Africa, 10 (Programme for Land and Agrarian Studies, University of the Western Cape). http://www.plaas.uwc.ac.za

Turner, S.D. (1997) Environment and Land Reform in South Africa, (Programme for Land and Agrarian Studies, University of the Western Cape).

Turner, S. (2002) Land and agrarian reform in South Africa: A status report, 2002, Research report.12 (Programme for Land and Agrarian Studies, University of the Western Cape). http://www.plaas.uwc.ac.za

Wynberg, R. (1995) Proposals for a process to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the Land Reform Programme (Environmental Evaluation Unit, University of Cape Town).

Wynberg, R. & Kepe, T. (1999) Land Reform and Conservation Areas in South Africa. Towards a Mutually Beneficial Approach. (IUCN, South Africa).
Project Team
EEU Researchers:

Rachel Wynberg
Merle Sowman
Sandy Rippon

Key Partners:

Phuhlisani Solutions
Developmental Services link
Client
Department of Land Affairs link
Timeframe
2004 – 2005, with training components of the project ongoing