CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2025
| Author | Wilson, Georgina Victoria Ellis |
|---|---|
| Title | Protected Area Management Effectiveness Evaluation in Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region, South Africa |
| Summary | Effective protected areas are imperative for the protection of biodiversity. Protected Areas Management Effectiveness (PAME) assessments assist managers in evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of management in protected areas, thereby supporting adaptive management. Using online questionnaires, one-on-one semi-structured interviews and focus groups, underpinned by the theories of resilience, strategic adaptive management, and the social-ecological systems framework, this study aimed to explore PAME assessment tools and methods utilised by protected areas in the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region (K2C), South Africa. The third version of the South African Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool is the most widely utilised tool in the K2C, however, refinement of its social-economic elements may improve its usefulness for managers. There is an opportunity to develop a new tool for use by managers in new or under-resourced protected areas in the K2C, which may also be useful for managers in similar contexts across the country. Managers in the region acknowledged the importance of communication for learning, and learning is a key step in the adaptive management process. There are several communication networks between protected areas in the K2C, however, protected areas that are geographically isolated or are not part of formalised systems such as the Associated Private Nature Reserves or the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, may miss out on learning opportunities. Through supporting and facilitating PAME processes, the K2C team may also create more opportunities for isolated or disconnected protected area managers to communicate with and learn from other protected areas. The proposed Management Effectiveness Evaluation Readiness Assessment tool is a simplified and condensed version of the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool, which may be useful for newly declared or resource-constrained protected areas in the K2C, or other biosphere reserves across South Africa. The K2C organisation is a cornerstone of the landscape and is well-placed to facilitate improved PAME and communication between protected areas within its boundaries. Improved PAME supports the adaptive management process and will create long-term resilience for protected areas in the biosphere region’s core and buffer zones, thereby underpinning resilience of the biosphere region itself. |
| Supervisor | Anthony, Brandon Patrick |
| Department | Environment Sciences and Policy PhD |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2025/wilson_georgina.pdf |
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