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The last days of plenty: Prof Mukwada delivers his inaugural lecture

26 August 2022 | Story NONSINDISO QWABE | Photo Boitumelo Molefe

South Africa is generally regarded as a thirsty country due to water scarcity nationally. Even a rise of 0,5 °C in climate temperatures could have devastating effects on the environment.

Delivering his inaugural lecture on 22 August 2022 – a first for the Qwaqwa Campus in many years – Prof Geofrey Mukwada of the Department of Geography at the University of the Free State (UFS) Qwaqwa Campus painted a picture of the long-term effects of climate change on ecological, social, and economic aspects of the environment. The effects of climate change are being felt in all regions of the world, and the Drakensberg region in particular is beginning to bear the brunt.

Elevation-dependent warming a threat to socio-ecological systems

Introducing his topic, The last days of plenty: an assessment of elevation-dependent warming in the Drakensberg Mountain region between 1980 and 2018 and its potential implications for social-ecological systems in the region and downstream communities, Prof Mukwada said ‘last days’ was a euphemism used figuratively to imply the impending loss of environmental resources in the mountains because of climate change.

According to Prof Mukwada, elevation-dependent warming in the Drakensberg would pose serious implications for the overall rural livelihoods, regional trade, and biodiversity conservation.

“The Drakensberg Mountains is made up of a chain of several mountains and is home to a lot of activities. It is important for rural livelihood, including agriculture, cultivation of different forms, fisheries, and tourism, and if the climate is therefore changing and elevation-dependent warming is taking place, we see a threat to socio-ecological systems in many ways.”

In his lecture, Prof Mukwada discussed the three-decade-long investigation to determine if elevation-dependent warming is taking place at several points of the mountains, and to assess its environmental implications for the region and downstream communities. Using a time-series analysis standardised precipitation and evaporation index (SPEI) and monthly maximum temperature and locational and elevation data, the investigation monitored climate change trends between 1980 and 2018.

Development of research-based solutions

He said results did not confirm the existence of elevation-dependent warming in the Drakensberg Mountain region, but statistically significant evidence has shown that the region is becoming warmer and facing increasing aridity.

“It is worrisome in the sense that even such a small change can have devastating effects on the environment.”

In order to avert these problems, Prof Mukwada said a special climate adaptation plan for the region was necessary. The university plays a key role in this, as it can provide guidance on the process of redefining knowledge, scientific understanding and truth, in order to promote sound mountain development interventions and programmes. “We need to shift towards research-based solutions.”

Prof Mukwada is a C2 NRF-rated researcher with expertise in the application of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) in integrated scientific and multidisciplinary environmental research.

News Archive

Research conducted on economic impact of recent international soccer and rugby matches for Bloemfontein

2004-09-09

The Centre for Development Support at the University of the Free State (UFS) recently conducted a survey on the economic impact of the international soccer and rugby games that were played in Bloemfontein earlier this year.

The research focused on the soccer match between Bafana Bafana and the Cape Verdic Isle and the rugby match between the Springboks and Ireland .

“The survey was done as a result of a research agenda about local economic development in Bloemfontein ,” said Dr Lochner Marais, researcher at the centre.

“We conducted the research by doing 402 interviews with soccer supporters and 376 interviews with rugby supporters from outside Bloemfontein ,” said Dr Marais.

The centre distributed questionnaires, collecting the following information on the soccer and rugby supporters: their age, gender and origin, the number of nights spend in Bloemfontein , their household expenditure in Bloemfontein and their rating on the quality of service.

“It is estimated that 10 800 soccer supporters and 27 000 rugby supporters came from outside Bloemfontein . Of the rugby supporters 14,4% were female and 85,6% were men. For the soccer international the percentage was 33% females and 67% males,” said Dr Marais.

The highest number of people who came to watch the soccer game in Bloemfontein (35,8%) was from the Northern Free State . The rugby supporters mainly came from Gauteng (21,8%) and the Northern Free State (18%).

When visiting Bloemfontein soccer supporters spend R912 per household, whilst rugby supporters reached deeper in their pockets and spent R1 807 per household.

“The survey indicated that the two international matches resulted in approximately R58 million been spent in Bloemfontein . Rugby supporters were accountable for the largest part (R48 787 205) spent. The largest chunk of the money spent was on accommodation (R14 593 279). On average soccer and rugby supporters from outside Bloemfontein spent 1,4 and 1,9 nights in Bloemfontein ,” said Dr Marais.

Rugby and soccer supporters were also asked to rate the quality of service received from amongst others hotels, guest houses, restaurants, and transport and entertainment facilities. Soccer supporters rated their satisfaction with services higher as rugby supporters. The rugby supporters gave the services at hotels a 3,9 rating, whilst soccer supporters awarded 4,6 rating out of a possible five.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
9 September 2004

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