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A DPSIR-based assessment of Plett's marine and coastal environment

Pressures and Responses

The Natures Valley Trust study investigated the socio-ecological dynamics of Plettenberg Bay, a coastal region extending from the Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area (MPA) to Kranshoek, including the area up to the high-water mark and its associated estuaries. Using the Drivers–Pressures–State–Impact–Response (DPSIR) framework, the research assessed how human activities and broader environmental changes are influencing the ecological condition of the Bay. A mixed-methods approach was employed, incorporating observational fieldwork, stakeholder interviews, and the analysis of secondary ecological and socio-economic data.

Coastal users were categorised into extractive and non-extractive user groups to evaluate differential pressures on marine and estuarine systems. Estuarine health assessments drew on existing ecological indicators and management reports, focusing on the Piesang, Keurbooms, Sout, and Groot River estuaries. The findings highlight the cumulative impacts of diverse user groups on the bay’s ecological functioning, with specific concerns including habitat degradation, declining fish stocks, user conflict, and the erosion of cultural ecosystem services.

The estuarine systems exhibited varied levels of ecological integrity. The Keurbooms and Sout estuaries were found to be in relatively good condition, while the Piesang Estuary showed signs of moderate degradation due to urbanisation and altered hydrological regimes. The Groot River Estuary remains largely intact, attributed to minimal upstream development and its proximity to the Tsitsikamma MPA. These findings highlight the need for targeted protection and restoration interventions based on site-specific threats and vulnerabilities.

In response, the study proposes a set of adaptive management strategies and locally grounded co-management models, to be guided by ongoing ecological and social monitoring. The approach is designed to embed stakeholder engagement and behavioural change through education, dialogue, and collaborative governance. The DPSIR framework proved instrumental in identifying leverage points for intervention and aligning ecological conservation with long-term social and ecological resilience.

Each session consists of 20-minute presentations, followed by a joint Q&A session of 15 minutes.

ABOUT DR SANDRA DU PLESSIS

Sandra du Plessis is a conservationist and environmental sociologist specialising in environmental governance and the human dimensions of conservation. Her expertise lies in the intersection of social systems and environmental management, with a strong focus on community-based natural resource management (CBNRM), participatory governance, and transboundary conservation.

She holds a doctorate in protected area governance, with an emphasis on social-ecological systems, sustainable resource use, and the governance challenges facing conservation in multi-use landscapes. With 30 years of experience, Sandra has contributed to numerous conservation initiatives across Southern and Central Africa, working in protected areas such as Bwabwata National Park, Chobe National Park, Kruger National Park, Limpopo National Park, Lope National Park, and the Okavango Delta.

Her work spans a wide range of themes including stakeholder engagement, social vulnerability, institutional dynamics, human-wildlife conflict, and equitable access to natural resources - particularly in contexts where conservation intersects with rural livelihoods. Sandra currently serves as the Behavioural Change Programme Manager for Natures Valley Trust (NVT). She previously lectured at the Southern African Wildlife College for five years, and holds an extraordinary senior lecturer appointment at Stellenbosch University’s School of Public Leadership, where she contributes to research and teaching on environmental governance and sustainability.

Sun, 13 Jul - Sun, 13 Jul

R300.00

100 Tickets Available