Building improved transboundary governance and management of the Olifants Catchment of the Limpopo Basin for enhanced resiliency of its people and ecosystems to environmental change through systemic and participatory approaches.
– Derick du Toit and Bigboy Mkhabela (with inputs from Erna Kruger, John Nzira, Cryton Zazu, Sharon Pollard and Ancois de Villiers)
Small-scale farming is an important activity in the middle and lower parts of the Olifants River catchment. Despite this, small-scale farmers farm in a world of challenges which have negatively affected the value and perception attached to agriculture as a viable household livelihood option or contributor to food security. In our experience, there is little sense of pride, collective identity or empowerment which, we argue, is a major constraint to farmers realising their true place in society.
– Bigboy Mkhabela & Dr Cryton Zazu
This is a record of field visits to small scale farmers involved in agroecology in the Olifants catchment
– Bigboy Mkhabela & Dr Crayton Zazu
The AGRI SI project team provides support for local faciltators and young farmers in the Olifants catchment
– Betty Maimela & Erna Kruger
Farmers have analysed the impact of climate change on their livelihoods and developed adaptation strategies to build their capacity to adapt. They have implemented a range of agroecological practices to improve their production capacity and build resilience in their system, to heat and water stress in their gardening and field cropping situations
– Eureta Rosenberg with input from Karen Kotschy, Jane Burt, Vhutshilo Mudau, Derick du Toit & Sharon Pollard
This document describes the approach taken to Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MERL) in the RESILIM-O (Resilience in the Olifants Basin) program which is implemented through a cooperative agreement between USAID Southern Africa and AWARD (the Association for Water and Rural Development). It describes and provides the rationale for the approach to monitoring and evaluation, which was formulated in 2014
– Dr Sharon Pollard, Dr Taryn Kong, and Ancois de Villiers
The project, Embedding climate change in municipal planning and actions, was developed and implemented to address an identified gap in capacity development of local government within the Olifants River Catchment on climate change adaptation. This gap was a concern because, in the current policy and practice of the South African government’s action on climate change, local government is regarded to be at the forefront of implementing plans and strategies.
– Fonda Lewis, Michelle Browne & Sian Oosthuizen Institute of Natural Resources
The RESILIM-O Restoration and Rehabilitation programme has to date highlighted a number of priorities for building resilience in the Olifants Basin, which have highlighted the need to address the negative impact of forestry operations in the catchment on biodiversity and water resources in the Blyde and Klaserie sub-catchments.
– Karen Kotschy, Sarah Findlay & Chris Williams
Since the dawn of democracy in 1994 the South African government has struggled to reconcile the issue of land restitution with two of its other primary concerns, namely widespread poverty and biodiversity conservation. The emerging global discourse on community-centred conservation and co-management, with its strong ties to poverty alleviation and rural economic development, provides a framework within which all three of these seemingly conflicting problems can be addressed, with clear benefits for sustainable development and resilience.
– Karen Kotschy, Brandon Anthony, Samantha Gerber and Kgomotso Thomas
The Olifants River catchment contains many protected areas, especially in the lower portion and along the escarpment. The escarpment is considered high priority in terms of the National Protected Area Expansion Strategy because it supports several rare or important species and vegetation types and is especially important for climate change resilience due to the range in altitude.
– Sharon Pollard; Thabang Mohale
Co-management agreements were outlined in a three-day “Visioning Workshop” held from the 5th to 7th November 2019 at Hoedspruit. Details are provided in this report
– Myles Mander, Jan Graf, Silindile Mtshali, Reuben Thifhulufhelwi, Noxolo Mbebe, Nick Theron & Stephen Holness
The Lowveld Plantations covering the Upper Sand River Catchment has been earmarked for land restitution to communities who were removed from the area in the past. The project employed the EcoFutures participatory modelling process to develop a better understanding of the possible trade-offs by modelling a suite of plausible future land-use scenarios.
– Willem Wegelin & Derick du Toit
This study focuses on the enhancement of long-term water security and protection, climate change adaptation and catchment resilience through the reduction of water losses, non-revenue water and the improvement of water use efficiency
– Willem Wegelin & Derick du Toit
This study focuses on the enhancement of long-term water security and protection, climate change adaptation and catchment resilience through the reduction of water losses, non-revenue water and the improvement of water use efficiency
– Katy Hansen
Based on a literature review, this report explains key concepts and practices associated with wastewater treatment and outlines wastewater management and governance in South Africa. The basic components of wastewater treatment—from collection and transport to treatment and discharge—are described along with major managerial and operational tasks, including planning, operating, monitoring, maintaining, and financing.
– V Munnik, J Burt, D Du Toit. D & L Price
This report emanates from a two-day workshop that brought together current participants in Catchment Management Forums (CMFs) and potential or future participants in CMFs, as well as officials and a limited number of researchers, in order to effect historical redress in the water sector.
– Alison Joubert & Cate Brown Southern Waters Ecological Research and Consulting CC.
The report covers existing determinations of Environmental Water Requirements (EWR) and aquatic ecosystem services, plus relevant information from the livelihoods, ecosystem services, and risks assessments to populate and calibrate a DRIFT (Downstream Response to Imposed Flow Transformations ) Decision Support System (DSS). The DSS is used to predict the likely impacts associated with flow scenarios on the riverine ecosystem, and on people who depend on it for services, livelihoods and other benefits.
– Sharon Pollard & Ariane Laporte
A contextual profile for the Olifants catchment in 2014 covers a broad spectrum of features in this report
– Leigh Price
This technical report describes the discourses surrounding the use of the word “resilience”. It divides these discourses broadly into three groups: naturalistic discourses, anti-naturalistic discourses and discourse hybrids.
– Stephen Holness
This study examines the spatial patterns of poverty and local direct natural resource dependency for the South African portions of the Olifants Catchment. The study also collates basic census data on demographic characteristics for use in other components of the RESILIM project.
– Alan Gardiner, South African Wildlife College
This report focuses on CNRM efforts in Mozambique and includes a comprehensive literature search.
– Clara Bocchino
A summary of natural resource management laws and policies relevant to the Olifants catchment in South Africa and Mozambique.
– Clara Bocchino
A summary of legislation and policy provided in an easy access Excel format.
– AWARD
This easy to access EXCEL worksheet provides a consolidated vision statement for civil society organisations of the Olifants catchment.
– Derick du Toit
This technical report introduces a reflexive learning approach to professional support initiatives for natural resource practitioners.
– Sam Braid, Linda Rossouw & Derick du Toit
As land-use activities directly impact on the environment, the local government must consider these impacts, including water runoff, quantity and quality. The consequences of non- or poor management have impacts on our riverine systems and potential negative impacts on human settlements downstream.
– Sam Braid, Linda Rossouw & Derick du Toit
Local governments are responsible for stormwater management and as such, they are responsible to ensure the quality of the stormwater reaching rivers or a water resource body does not pollute the resource. Here is an introduction.
– Sam Braid, Linda Rossouw & Derick du Toit
These guidelines provide the basic principles for municipal stormwater management.
– Sam Braid, Linda Rossouw & Derick du Toit
These guidelines provide the basic principles for managing riparian zones for spatial planners.
– WA Wegelin & Derick du Toit
Maruleng local municipality has no WCWDM programmes while its water losses and non-revenue water are in excess of 40% and it is unlikely that water services can be sustained unless urgent WCWDM interventions are undertaken. Here is how the RESILIM project approached this challenge.
– WA Wegelin & Derick du Toit
BaPhalaborwa municipality has a non-revenue water profile in excess of 60% and it is unlikely that water services can be sustained unless urgent WCWDM interventions are undertaken. Here is how the RESILIM project approached this challenge.
– WA Wegelin & Derick du Toit
In this technical report, we introduce a pilot study that was launched to understand water loss and its management within local municipalities in the Olifants catchment.
– Sharon Pollard & Ariane Laporte
This document provides a comprehensive overview of the Olifants catchment with facts and figures from 2014.
– Katy Hansen
Based on a literature review, this report explains key concepts and practices associated with wastewater treatment and outlines wastewater management and governance in South Africa.
This report profiles available information on the main NRMPs operating in the Olifants catchment. It includes processes and operations around planning/prioritization, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and feedback.
– Jan Graf & Fonda Lewis
We introduce some resources to assist in the identification of alien and invasive plant species.
– Fonda Lewis, INR
This document explores opportunities and partnerships for the successful transfer of plantations to communities.
– Jan Graf & Fonda Lewis
This document provides an overview of the South African Principles, Criteria, Indicators and Standards [PCI&S] for sustainable forest management, and of national legalisation relevant to sustainable forest management [SMF].
– Fonda Lewis
The law requires the drafting of Invasive Species Monitoring, Control and Eradication Plans. Here we explain the requirements in simple terms.
– Fonda Lewis
In this report we explore opportunities and partnerships for transfer of the Lowveld Plantations to communities.
– Karen Kotschy with Brandon Anthony, Samantha Gerber & Kgomotso Thomas
This technical report provides an overview of the protected areas in the Olifants catchment.
– Karen Kotschy with Sarah Findlay & Chris Williams
In this case report, we look at how land restitution, poverty and biodiversity conservation might be reconciled through co-management agreements.
– Sharon Pollard & Thabang Mohale
This is a workshop report of the “Visioning & Governance for the Co-Management of Legalameetse Nature Reserve” on 4th – 7th November 2019.
– Karen Kotschy & Derick du Toit
This report provides an overview of the assessment of how well municipalities in the Olifants are integrating biodiversity and environment into their planning instruments.
– Deborah Vromans
A methodology for analysing municipal planning instruments for the inclusion of environmental and biodiversity issues is presented.
– Deborah Vromans
A full report on the inclusion of environmental and biodiversity issues municipal planning instruments for the Olifants catchment.
– Alan Gardiner
A partial overview of biodiversity-related literature for the Olifants catchment including South Africa and Mozambique.
– Karen Kotschy with Brandon Anthony, Samantha Gerber & Kgomotso Thomas
This technical report provides an overview of the protected areas in the Olifants Catchment in 2015.
– Shonisani Netshishivhe & Jan Graf
The report documents land use, natural resource use, and governance arrangements in the Ga-Mametja village with potential implications for environmental degradation and livelihoods of people.
– Verde Azul
This document presents an analysis of environmental and social issues arising in the literature related to the Limpopo River Basin in Mozambique.
– Taryn Kong, Ancois de Villiers, Kgomotso Thomas, Sharon Pollard, Coleen Vogel
A comprehensive review of climate change adaption options through a global, national and catchment lens.
– Taryn Kong, Sharon Pollard & Ancois de Villiers with Climate System Analysis Group (CSAG)
Climate change projections per climate region of the Olifants catchment.
– Taryn Kong, Sharon Pollard & Ancois de Villiers with Climate System Analysis Group (CSAG)
Climate change projections for BaPhalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District.
– Taryn Kong, Sharon Pollard & Ancois de Villiers with Climate System Analysis Group (CSAG)
Climate change projections for Maruleng Local Municipality, Mopani District.
– Taryn Kong, Sharon Pollard & Ancois de Villiers with Climate System Analysis Group (CSAG)
Climate change projections for Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality, Mopani District.
– Taryn Kong, Sharon Pollard & Ancois de Villiers with Climate System Analysis Group (CSAG)
Climate change projections for Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality, Mopani District.
– Taryn Kong, Sharon Pollard & Ancois de Villiers with Climate System Analysis Group (CSAG)
Climate change projections for Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality, Mopani District.
– John Nzira, Derick du Toit and Bigboy Mkhabela
Farmers share their stories of how they have experimented with agroecology and permaculture in preparation for climate change scenarios.
– Erna Kruger & Sylvester Selala
This study is a baseline report for the AgriSI Project in Sekororo.
– Crayton Zazu & Bigboy Mkhabela
A tour of farmers busy with agroecology practices is documented in the report.
– Crayton Zazu & Bigboy Mkhabela
A visit to farmers facing the challenges of implementing agroecological approaches.
2018/2019 Financial Year
This annual report covers the seventh year of the RESILIM-O Program from October 2018 to September 2019. It is also the last full year of project-based activities before the programme starts close-out between Oct 2019 and March 2020.
2017/2018 Financial Year
This annual report covers the sixth year of the RESILIM-O Programme from October 2017 to September 2018. This marks a period of significant progress in the implementation of some 25 projects related to water and natural resources management and climate change adaptation in the Olifants River Basin. It embraces a period of deepening work with and institutionalisation of our systemic, social learning…
2016/2017 Financial Year
This annual report, from October 2016 to September 2017, covers the fifth year of the RESILIM-O Programme. This marks a period of significant progress in the implementation of some twenty projects related to water and natural resources management and climate change adaptation in the Olifants River Basin. It embraces a period of deepening work with and institutionalisation of our systemic…
2015/2016 Financial Year
This annual report, from October 2015 to September 2016, marks the transition in our action-research to practice where, based on findings from Phase I, activities that focus on biodiversity and climate change adaptation in the Olifants Basin have started. Phase II is designed to take the outputs of Phase 1 into action through testing, reflexive learning and hence institutionalisation…
2014/2015 Financial Year
This Report covers RESILIM-O’s Implementation Period from October 1st2014 to September 30th2015. It has been written to fulfil the requirements of the Cooperative Agreement between AWARD and USAID Southern Africa. The report provides an overview of project activities undertaken, quantitative and qualitative results, a measure of impact using baseline data and…
2013/2014 Financial Year
This report has been structured for multiple readers and will evolve into an online publication. It includes activities from the last quarter (July to September 2014), in addition to a cumulative annual report from 2014.
October to December 2018
This report covers the period October 2018 to December 2018, the final quarter of the 2018 calendar year and the first quarter of the USAID financial year. The Annual Report for the 2017/2018 financial year was submitted on 1st November. A major focus this quarter was a reflection on the past year and strategic planning for the year ahead, within project teams and also at the level of the whole program during…
January to March 2019
This report covers the period from January to March 2019. The close-out period begins on 1 April 2019. A couple of unexpected events tested the resilience of the team this quarter-firstly the injury of our Assistant Director Derick du Toit in a robbery, from which he has fortunately recovered. Secondly, a “ransomware” attack affected our financial software, resulting in much time spent recapturing financial information from paper records…
April to June 2019
This report covers the period from April to June 2019. With several projects completed and the rest nearing completion within the next six months, we have started to plan for program close-out. This has included a focus on finalising RESILIM-O communications products and planning for evaluative final reports for each project as well as a program-wide synthesis product. The focus of the May“RESILIM-O day” was on communications materials….
October to December 2019
This is the last quarterly report for the RESILIM-O program and it covers the period October to December 2019. This final period of activity and future planning before close-out was a busy one, as can be seen in this report.
Overview of AWARD Resources
Crossroads: A game of decisions and consequences
