An investigation into the socio-economic factors and community perception in the direction of the conservation and management of the wetland : a case study of Thohoyandou Block F.

Abstract

This study deals with people's perceptions toward conservation of wetlands biodiversity at Thohoyandou. People's perceptions of conservation biodiversity are seen as an important instrument to conserve the remaining portions of the wetlands sites since wetland are disappearing as result of human interventions. About 65 % of South Africa receives an average of less than 500mm of rain a year which makes it a water-scarcity country.

Drought in South Africa leads people to depend on the wetlands to sustain their livelihoods. Indeed the people's perceptions of biodiversity conservation influence the kind of interaction between people and natural resource. Currently in South Africa about 90% of wetlands has been lost or modified through human intervention and it is important to conserve these ecosystems since they provide many services to human being.

The study uses both quantitative and qualitative techniques for data collection and analysis. Qualitative techniques were mostly used in that they provide the researcher with the understanding of people's perceptions toward the conservation of wetlands. Snowballing samplings were used for the selection of sample for the study. Both primary and secondary data were used for analysis in this study. Secondary data were obtained from government publications, research publications, and reports. Primary data were obtained through field observation and questionnaires.

Although the government has committed itself to protect wetland ecosystems, findings of this study indicated that this fundamental principle is still far to be reached particularly in Thohoyandou. This is because people of Thohoyandou still practice various activities on the wetland catchments that lead to the negative effects on the wetland biodiversity.

This study recommends that Building of awareness about the environmental issue and issues connected with the wetlands among the local community can help to conserve wetland biodiversity.