Grasslands as Natural Infrastructure in South Africa

Stanley Liphadzi, PhD

Water Research CommissionSouth Africa

Water Security • “An efficient way to invest

in water security is to protect it at its source through prudent land management”

• The Maloti Drakensburg mountains are the most strategic water resource in the country and region. • The catchments contribute to a number

of major rivers on South African side and Lesotho.

A water scarce country

It is economically justifiable toinvest in water – a limited resource

Precipitation

Evaporation

Roles of the Grasslands • Rainfall infiltrations,

and thus:– Reduce Stormflows – Increase Baseflows– Reduce erosions

• Carbon sequestration• Biodiversity, thus :– Increase tourism, job

opportunities, wealth creation, etc

Scenarios of the two catchments

Upper Thukela• less degraded upper

quinaries• The middle and lower

quinaries were degraded due to:– Overgrazing– Winter wild fires

Upper Umzimvubu• All quinaries were

extremely degraded;– Overgrazing– Winter wild fires

The land use practices and lack of proper management resulted in the degradation of the catchment areas

Legal mandate for a Trade System

There is a legislation supportingDWAF or other designated suppliers to charge Water Users for the enhancement of water services.

DWAF Water Pricing Strategy–Water users can be

charged for resources management (interventions)

AIMS

• To determine if it’s viable and sustainable for the recipients of the benefits from grasslands to pay or compensate land owners/users for their stewardship role.

• How to cost action and Value benefits associated with management.

Tools and InstrumentsHydrological Modeling of Ecosystem Services SUPPLY• Effect of land use and

management on the water services from Ecosystems:– Baseflows– Streamflows– Stormflows– Sediments yield, etc

• Assumption is : services are owned by land owners

Economic modeling of Ecosystem Services TRADE• What are COSTS of change in

land use?– Restoration costs– Management costs

• What is the Economic VALUE OF THE BENEFITS of such change?

• Unit Reference Values (URVs) to determine economic feasibility of a project

Output

Key issues• Implementation of PES is possible in South Africa

• Working for Water and Working for Wetlands programmes have proved that.

• Strong Partnership and collaboration between government depts, land owners, NGOs, Local authorities, and other users (beneficiaries) are important.

• Proper governance structure is needed.• Address the triple bottom line (social justice,

ecological sustainability, and economical feasibility);• Avoid “one size -fit –all”

Acknowledgement

• Mander, M and co- authors of the report : INR, UKZN.

• John Dini – Working for Wetlands / W for Water: SANBI

• Water Research Commission of South Africa• Session Organizers

Thank you