Abstract
Wetlands play a significant role in maintaining ecological balance, supporting biodiversity and sustaining livelihoods, yet they face severe threats that lead to widespread degradation. Effective conservation efforts rely not only on understanding and incorporating local people's perceptions of wetland management and their willingness to coexist with these ecosystems but also on monitoring environmental changes. The aim of the study was to explore wetland resource benefits and conservation attitudes in peri-urban (Tembisa) vs. rural (Wakkerstroom) areas. The objectives were to investigate how people in these regions use their local wetlands, examine wetland major threats together with Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) changes, and assess local attitudes toward wetland conservation. A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating interviewer-administered questionnaires and satellite imagery acquisition. A total of 450 households (300 in Tembisa and 150 in Wakkerstroom) were surveyed using systematic sampling. Quantitative questionnaire responses were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), while qualitative responses underwent thematic content analysis. The satellite imagery were collected between 1990 and 2022, with an 8-years interval between datasets. Classification was performed in ArcGIS Pro using the maximum likelihood classifier. The study identified a total of five LULC classes in Tembisa (built-up, cultivation, vegetation, water, bare land) and six in Wakkerstroom, with marshy land as an additional class.
Findings indicated that peri-urban wetlands are often undervalued but are recognised for providing services such as sand collection and flood mitigation. In contrast, rural wetlands are highly valued for their contributions in agriculture and reeds collection, among other services. The study revealed that peri-urban wetlands face higher degradation due to intense anthropogenic pressures, while rural wetlands benefit from stronger environmental stewardship. This underscores a positive attitude toward environmental conservation in rural areas. The study further showed significant shifts in land cover patterns. In Tembisa, built-up and bare land areas increased, while cultivated land, vegetation, and open-water declined. In Wakkerstroom, bare land, cultivated land, and marshy land expanded, vegetation fluctuated, while built-up and open-water classes declined. These changes highlight the ongoing transformation of wetlands under different socio-environmental conditions.
The study concludes that peri-urban and rural dwellers have different priorities and that their motivation to conserve their local wetlands are also different. To restore and maintain wetland ecosystems in both peri-urban and rural areas, this study emphasises the importance of efficient
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wetland management plans and conservation techniques. It further highlights the need for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to enhance the resilience of these vital ecosystems in the face of ongoing environmental and human-based challenges.