Participatory mapping of cultural ecosystem services in the Mountain Zebra National Park, South Africa

Cultural ecosystem services (CES) are an essential part of human well-being. CES characterize the intangible connections that people have with their surrounding environments, and act as vessels to facilitate the understanding of meaningful and respectful relationships between humans and nature, which are necessary for sustainability. However, CES render themselves as complex cultural dimensions that are difficult to connect to specific aspects of an ecosystem, or to measure and manage. Thus, a progressive approach is required for promoting effective management of CES within landscapes. This thesis endeavours to understand human─nature interactions in protected areas, the CES benefits that arise from such interactions, and the links of these to ecosystems, facilities or features within the landscape. Protected areas represent some of the last remaining intact ecological areas that support biodiversity conservation and human─nature experiences. Protected areas, such as the Mountain Zebra National Park, are therefore suitable study sites to cast light on: (a) how human─nature relationships manifest in parks, (b) which CES are experienced by visitors, (c) which landscape features are associated with CES benefits, (d) who visits the Park, and (e) how the delivery and/or accessibility of CES to visitors of the Park could be improved. My research involved qualitative and spatial elements as forms of enquiry over a period of six months of data collection. I used semi-structured interviews (n = 20) paired with a participatory mapping approach. Additionally, I performed a comparative analysis using a peer-reviewed paper that focused on the management perspectives of CES delivery, to seek out similarities and differences between management perspectives and actual visitor experiences. The findings of this study have outlined that the Mountain Zebra National Park offers significant benefits to visitors. Aesthetic, recreational, inspirational value and cultural heritage emerged as the most frequently mapped CES. The findings have also shown that CES benefits are widely distributed across the landscape, with a spatial correlation in hotspot areas. Moreover, amenities or built infrastructure such as picnic iii sites, camping areas and viewpoints within the Park, are crucial for strengthening social relationships among family and friends, as well as in aiding the delivery of CES. This study provides insights into the subjective and diverse ways that human─nature relationships translate into CES benefits. It also sheds light on the importance of adequate planning within protected areas, for the maximization of the benefits from CES to people without compromising the mandate of biodiversity conservation. This study also contributes to a growing body of evidence that documents human─nature interactions in, and non-material benefits acquired from, protected areas within South Africa. I further advocate for improved access, adequate infrastructure, awareness creation and strategies to attract the younger generation to the national parks of South Africa.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Natural Resource Management, 202