In the face of growing pressure placed on the natural environment, the study on which this article is based considered the effectiveness of interpretive provision in mitigating the harmful effects of tourism on the environment. The aim of this research was to determine whether guided or non-guided interpretation is most effective in reaching the stated goals of interpretation. The four key goals of interpretation, namely visitor satisfaction, knowledge gain, attitude change and modification of behaviour intent, were used in the assessment of the relative effectiveness of guided and non-guided interpretation in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Through comparing responses to questionnaires from post-visit samples and observing both guided and non-guided interpretation, the research found that guided interpretation was only marginally more effective in reaching the four key goals of interpretation than the non-guided interpretive media. Guided interpretation was found to be more effective in terms of visitor satisfaction, whilst guided and non-guided interpretation had only marginal differences in effectiveness in relation to knowledge gain, attitude change and intent to modify behaviour.Conservation implications: The necessity of implementing an appropriate interpretation programme within protected areas cannot be overemphasised. The interpretation programme should be designed to include elements of both guided and non-guided interpretation in order to achieve a predetermined goal. The effectiveness of the programme should be evaluated periodically and amended where appropriate.

The discharge of untreated hospital and domestic wastewater into receiving water bodies is still a prevalent practice in developing countries. Unfortunately, because of an ever-increasing population of people who are perennially under medication, these wastewaters contain residues of antibiotics and other antimicrobials as well as microbial shedding, the direct and indirect effects of which include the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes and an increase in the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that pose a threat to public and environmental health. This study assessed the taxonomic and functional profiles of bacterial communities, as well as the antibiotic concentrations in untreated domestic wastewater (DWW) and hospital wastewater (HWW), using high-throughput sequencing analysis and solid-phase extraction coupled to Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) analysis, respectively. The physicochemical qualities of both wastewater systems were also determined. The mean concentration of antibiotics and the concentrations of Cl⁻, F⁻ and PO₄³ were higher in HWW samples than in DWW samples. The phylum Firmicutes was dominant in DWW with a sequence coverage of 59.61% while Proteobacteria was dominant in HWW samples with a sequence coverage of 86.32%. At genus level, the genus Exiguobacterium (20.65%) and Roseomonas (67.41%) were predominant in DWW and HWW samples, respectively. Several pathogenic or opportunistic bacterial genera were detected in HWW (Enterococcus, Pseudomonas and Vibrio) and DWW (Clostridium, Klebsiella, Corynebacterium, Bordetella, Staphylocccus and Rhodococcus) samples. Functional prediction analysis indicated the presence of beta-lactam resistance, cationic antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) resistance and vancomycin resistance genes in HWW samples. The presence of these antibiotic resistance genes and cassettes were positively correlated with the presence of pathogens. These findings show the risk posed to public and environmental health by the discharge of untreated domestic and hospital wastewaters into environmental water bodies.

Protected areas are often surrounded by impoverished communities. Biodiversity must be conserved while enabling community members’ livelihoods. Benefit-sharing has been promoted as a means of fostering positive relationships between protected areas and local people, but views differ regarding which benefits have positive results; and which are most valued by communities themselves. This research investigates the attitudes of Khanyayo village towards Mkhambathi Nature Reserve on the Wild Coast of South Africa. A pragmatic, multi-method comparative qualitative approach was followed. Participants were local community members and key staff at Mkhambathi, who work with the community. Individual interviews, focus group interviews and an adapted nominal grouping technique were used, which aided triangulation. Results indicated a range of significant benefits and losses. Tangibles included access to natural resources, employment, infrastructure and training. More intangibles emerged though, such as enjoyment of reserve, involvement in the reserve, communication and environmental education. Losses predominantly related to prohibited or restricted access to natural resources. The comparison between the two participant groups yielded interesting insights. Knowing which benefits are most important to the community and aligning the perceptions of the people and the park staff could improve the relationship as well as enhance successful benefit-sharing.

This manuscript investigates the complexities and challenges in the management of the Ololosokwan community conservation area in Northern Tanzania. The conservation area is adjacent to the Serengeti National Park, just south of the Tanzanian-Kenyan Border where nomadic Maasai Pastoralists are free to cross international borders in search of grazing for their cattle. The Ololosokwan community is faced with the difficulties of managing a number of conflicting land-uses and community aspirations while striving toward the maintenance of a successful and sustainable community conservation area in collaboration with a private tourism operation. Benefit sharing was found to be an effective way in which to heal negative stakeholder engagements of the past, and active participation in the development of community livelihoods was found to be a more meaningful pursuit in this cause than merely sharing money. Despite opportunities for stakeholders to show that they are willing to work together, existing conflict is likely to continue as stakeholders still mistrust each other and often align themselves with groups that share common interests.