The potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on Khoisan peoples’ sense of place: in the case of Karoo Region, South Africa

Hydraulic fracturing is a practical solution to minimising production of fossil fuels and to boost the South African economy. However, this development comes at a cost to the society, environment and heritage of the Karoo, which is home to majority of the Khoisan community. Developments such as hydraulic fracturing are barely understood by local communities therefore this study tried to determine the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on Khoisan people’s sense of place in the Karoo region, to also establish their perceptions, attitudes, opinion and knowledge on hydraulic fracturing, to facilitate and improve understanding. A mixed method approach was employed to gather relevant information from participants. The qualitative data collection used semi structured interviews to gain participants perceptions, attitudes, opinions and knowledge on hydraulic fracturing, whereas quantitative used questionnaire survey which was administrated to gain socio-demographics and sense of place of Khoisan people (N=50) using survey based psychometric approach to examine the relationship between Khoisan people and sense of place on proposed hydraulic fracturing in the Karoo region (Cradock). Primary data was employed to gain in depth raw data directly from participants and secondary data from literature that already exists. The purposive and snowball sampling technique was used to draw Khoisan participants from the Karoo region (Cradock). Data acquired was analysed using SPSS v26 and Microsoft excel. The results concluded that most Khoisan participants (N= 43) are not aware of what hydraulic fracturing is and therefore there is a need to be taught about the development. The (N= 7) of the participants who have an idea of what hydraulic fracturing is had attended a workshop that was facilitated by the AEON research institute, others learnt about it on the internet and others were informed by someone who either learnt from the internet or attend the workshop. The study also concluded that the Khoisan people have a strong positive sense of place (α= 0.922) with the Karoo region therefore going ahead with the proposed hydraulic fracturing will cause massive damage and could possibly lead to solastalgia and loss of sense of place. vi The recommendation of the study was to involve all stakeholders who will be part of the development of hydraulic fracturing from government, research institutes to oil and gas companies to thorough research, educate and inform local communities in the Karoo. Therefore, it is essential for the government to protect the Karoo culture and heritage, local peoples sense of place by communicating with local communities on such development and assist in holding these companies reliable for any misconducts.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Geography, 202

The potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on Khoisan peoples’ sense of place: in the case of Karoo Region, South Africa

Hydraulic fracturing is a practical solution to minimising production of fossil fuels and to boost the South African economy. However, this development comes at a cost to the society, environment and heritage of the Karoo, which is home to majority of the Khoisan community. Developments such as hydraulic fracturing are barely understood by local communities therefore this study tried to determine the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on Khoisan people’s sense of place in the Karoo region, to also establish their perceptions, attitudes, opinion and knowledge on hydraulic fracturing, to facilitate and improve understanding. A mixed method approach was employed to gather relevant information from participants. The qualitative data collection used semi structured interviews to gain participants perceptions, attitudes, opinions and knowledge on hydraulic fracturing, whereas quantitative used questionnaire survey which was administrated to gain socio-demographics and sense of place of Khoisan people (N=50) using survey based psychometric approach to examine the relationship between Khoisan people and sense of place on proposed hydraulic fracturing in the Karoo region (Cradock). Primary data was employed to gain in depth raw data directly from participants and secondary data from literature that already exists. The purposive and snowball sampling technique was used to draw Khoisan participants from the Karoo region (Cradock). Data acquired was analysed using SPSS v26 and Microsoft excel. The results concluded that most Khoisan participants (N= 43) are not aware of what hydraulic fracturing is and therefore there is a need to be taught about the development. The (N= 7) of the participants who have an idea of what hydraulic fracturing is had attended a workshop that was facilitated by the AEON research institute, others learnt about it on the internet and others were informed by someone who either learnt from the internet or attend the workshop. The study also concluded that the Khoisan people have a strong positive sense of place (α= 0.922) with the Karoo region therefore going ahead with the proposed hydraulic fracturing will cause massive damage and could possibly lead to solastalgia and loss of sense of place. vi The recommendation of the study was to involve all stakeholders who will be part of the development of hydraulic fracturing from government, research institutes to oil and gas companies to thorough research, educate and inform local communities in the Karoo. Therefore, it is essential for the government to protect the Karoo culture and heritage, local peoples sense of place by communicating with local communities on such development and assist in holding these companies reliable for any misconducts.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Geography, 202

Earth Stewardship Science—Transdisciplinary Contributions to Quantifying Natural and Cultural Heritage of Southernmost Africa

Evaluating anthropogenic changes to natural systems demand greater quantification through innovative transdisciplinary research focused on adaptation and mitigation across a wide range of thematic sciences. Southernmost Africa is a unique field laboratory to conduct such research linked to earth stewardship, with ‘earth’ as in our Commons. One main focus of the AEON’s Earth Stewardship Science Research Institute (ESSRI) is to quantify the region’s natural and cultural heritage at various scales across land and its flanking oceans, as well as its time-scales ranging from the early Phanerozoic (some 540 million years) to the evolution of the Anthropocene (changes) following the emergence of the first human-culture on the planet some 200 thousand years ago. Here we illustrate the value of this linked research through a number of examples, including: (i) geological field mapping with the aid of drone, satellite and geophysical methods, and geochemical fingerprinting; (ii) regional ground and surface water interaction studies; (iii) monitoring soil erosion, mine tailing dam stability and farming practices linked to food security and development; (iv) ecosystem services through specific biodiversity changes based on spatial logging of marine (oysters and whales) and terrestrial (termites, frogs and monkeys) animals. We find that the history of this margin is highly episodic and complex by, for example, the successful application of ambient noise and groundwater monitoring to assess human-impacted ecosystems. This is also being explored with local Khoisan representatives and rural communities through Citizen Science. Our goal is to publicly share and disseminate the scientific and cultural data, through initiatives like the Africa Alive Corridor 10: ‘Homo Sapiens’ that embraces storytelling along the entire southern coast. It is envisioned that this approach will begin to develop the requisite integrated technological and societal practices that can contribute toward the needs of an ever-evolving and changing global ‘village’