Benefits and costs analysis of soil erosion control using rock pack structures: The case of Mutale Local Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa

摘要

Investment in natural resource restoration contributes to building the resilience of rural livelihoods. Surface soil loss, Gullies and dongas, caused by soil erosion in various landscapes have a negative impact on the production capacity of the land and resilience of the community. This study analyses the benefits and costs of reducing soil erosion using rock pack structures, focusing on the Mutale Local Municipality, Limpopo. A mixed methods approach was applied to determine the impact of soil erosion on land with different land use types, such as grazing areas, croplands, residential and riparian areas as well as roads, which are all important in supporting the livelihoods of the rural community. It was found that a total of 1 470 hectares (ha) was affected by soil erosion, and this negatively affected 1 880 people residing at Mutale. A total cumulative cost of R 7.1 million was invested to control soil erosion in affected areas, using rock pack structures for the period 2010-2016. The investment yields benefits totalling R2.9 million. This, however, excludes other indirect benefits such as jobs that were created and the improvement in livelihoods because of wages. Also, there is no assessment of the increases in the vulnerability of a society in the absence of restoration. This suggests that the cost of degradation is high and it is better to address and prevent early.