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Policy Briefs

24 April 2012

Policy Brief ASSET Research TIPS 1 - Supporting livelihoods through the protection of natural capital: A case study of the Agulhas Plain

  • Project ASSET Research
  • Year 2012
  • Author(s) Helanya Fourie; David le Maitre
This policy uses the Agulhas Plain as an example to compare two different pos-clearing land-use options that can be used to support livelihoods in the area: restoring natural capital to allow wildflower harvesting, or using the land for bioenergy production. Authors: Helanya Fourie, Western Cape Department of Agriculture and ASSET…
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24 April 2012

Policy Brief ASSET Research TIPS 3 - Market challenges for the restoration of the natural environment

  • Project ASSET Research
  • Year 2012
  • Author(s) DJ Crookes; JN Blignaut
The marketability of the natural environment is influenced by different forms of restoration activities, which in turn has cost implications depending on the different types of ecosystems and the extent of the damage. This brief adopts an economic approach to explore some of the key market challenges. Authors: Douglas J…
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24 April 2012

Policy Brief ASSET Research TIPS 4 - Urban water use

  • Project ASSET Research
  • Year 2012
  • Author(s) Alanna Rebelo; Katie Gull
There has been a global shift in the way that water provision for urban water use is viewed. Governments are increasingly choosing to invest in environmental health. By protecting river systems, governments can reduce management costs. In this brief, examples of international case studies related to such government interventions are…
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24 April 2012

Policy Brief ASSET Research TIPS 2 - Bush thickening and indigenous woody plants as a source of renewable energy

  • Project ASSET Research
  • Year 2012
  • Author(s) Jacques Cloete; Nico Smit
An increase in tree density, or bush thickening, beyond a certain threshold may be detrimental for the ecosystem and reduce the productivity of such rangeland for agriculture and conservation. However, the woody plants in areas where there is bush thickening present at opportunity to harvest the wood as bio-fuel. Authors:…
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29 March 2012

Policy considerations of adopting Geographical Indication protection in South Africa

  • Year 2012
  • Author(s) Dinga Fatman
Geographical Indications are goods that derive the uniqueness of their quality from the region where they originate. Provision for protection of such goods is provided for in the TRIPS Agreement among WTO member countries. This policy brief looks at some international examples where goods have been protected based on a…
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13 March 2012

The policy case for a tailor-made indicator of sustainable development for South Africa

  • Year 2012
  • Author(s) Gaylor Montmasson-Clair; Peet du Plooy
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the main indicator used to measure economic activity. However, GDP is not designed to assess the welfare of a nation. This policy brief recommends the construction of a tailor-made sustainability indicator for South Africa, based on the Adjusted Net Savings methodology that would track the…
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08 March 2012

An alternative perspective on the emigration of highly skilled people from South Africa

  • Year 2012
  • Author(s) Thomas Höppli
Emigration of highly skilled people has become an increasing concern in South Africa. While it is uncontested that such emigration can have detrimental effects in the form of a brain drain, this policy brief argues that South Africa could also draw some benefits from this emigration. It recommends that the…
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08 February 2012

Payment for ecosystem services in South Africa: Prospects for programme development

  • Year 2012
  • Author(s) Graham Sherbut
The need to address sustained economic growth while simultaneously preserving the natural environment presents important policy challenges for countries such as South Africa. Growing concerns about climate change, a loss of biodiversity, and the poor management of natural resources such as forests and water all indicate that the benefits of…
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05 August 2011

SADRN Policy Brief 1: Southern African Development Community: Reaping the benefits of regional economic integration

  • Project SADRN
  • Year 2011
Southern African Development Community (SADC) members signed the Trade Protocol in 1996, however progress in the region to reap the benefits purported to accompany regional economic integration appears limited. Although SADC has adopted a growth and development through trade strategy, indications are that more needs to be done to implement…
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03 August 2011

TIPS Policy Brief: Industrial policy development in the Southern Africa Customs Union: Ideal approaches

  • Year 2012
Countries in Southern Africa have only recently begun considering the possibility of jointly developing comprehensive industrial policies under the auspices of regional integration bodies such as the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Regional co-operation in industrial policy design and implementation has the potential to both identify and capitalise on the…
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