Wetland use and Conservation in Peri-urban Communities: Reflections from Budeli, Mutoti and Mphego near Nandoni Dam, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

The study analysed wetland resource uses and conservation perspectives in peri-urban communities of small towns. Wetland ecosystems provide many services to local communities amid threats of extinction and degradation. Wetland ecosystems are increasingly disappearing and this creates an imbalance in nature. This requires sustainable strategies to enhance conservation amid spatial development in the areas. The research is a phenomenal case study of three villages located in the peri-urban zone of Thohoyandou -a small town located in Limpopo Province of South Africa. The study is informed by the ecosystem services theoretical framework and adopted the mixed methods research approach to guide data collection. A household questionnaire survey was undertaken in Budeli, Mutoti and Mphego peri-urban villages of Thohoyandou town. A study sample of 309 households participated in this study. Descriptive statistics that included frequencies and percentages were used to analyse quantitative data, whereas thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. The research findings reveal that wetland ecosystems support the livelihoods of households living in the peri-urban communities in many ways. Human landuse activities are key drivers of conversion of wetland ecosystems into residential, livestock grazing fields and brick molding areas in villages Budeli, Mutoti and Mphego respectively. From the study findings it was derived that perspectives on wetland use and conservation alone are not adequate to save and protect wetland ecosystems. Collaborative implementation of spatial planning legislations and practices to complement grassroots efforts by local communities to curb the disappearance of wetland ecosystems is greatly needed.