A Simplified Method to Assess the Impact of Sediment and Nutrient Inputs on River Water Quality in Two Regions of the Southern Coast of South Africa

Mapping the Loss of Ecosystem Services in a Region Under Intensive Land Use Along the Southern Coast of South Africa

“…The literature on ecosystem services and related criteria specific to the study region and similar regions of South Africa is somewhat limited, but received the most consideration in value assignment [28,30,[35][36][37][38]. For example, Gebel et al [30] identified the land use activities that mostly contribute to sediment and nutrients reaching river networks in the same study region.…”

“…For example, Gebel et al [30] identified the land use activities that mostly contribute to sediment and nutrients reaching river networks in the same study region. For the same study region, Malherbe et al [35] assigned the LULC classes with impact scores to indicate the nutrient, sediment, and chemical inputs from LULC. Such impact scores were also developed by O'Farrell et al [36] for a similar study region situated further east along the southern coast of the WCP.…”

“…The slope was calculated using the Stellenbosch University Digital Elevation Model for South Africa at a resolution of 5 m [45]. Distances to river network (buffer strips), with the same distances as those used by Malherbe et al [35] for the same study region, were created on both sides of each river reach at 0-25, 25-50, 50-125, 125-500, and 500-1000 m. [35] Egoh et al [18] Egoh et al [20] Malherbe et al [35] Egoh et al [18] Egoh et al [20] Scholes and Biggs [38]…”

“…Egoh et al [20] Malherbe et al [35] O'Farrell et al [36] Egoh et al [20] Malherbe et al [35] O'Farrell et al [36] Egoh et al…”

“…Gebel et al [30] Malherbe et al [35] O'Farrell et al [36] Foley et al [39] Foley et al [39] Gebel et al [30] Malherbe et al [35] O'Farrell et al [36] Foley et al [39] Matson et al [40] FAO et al [41] Mills and Fey [37] Matson et al [40] Burkhard et al [3] Scholes and Biggs [38] Matson et al [40]…”