Curiosity about a changing environment leads Phumudzo Ragimana to a master’s with distinction

Turning her passion for the environment into an academic career, Phumudzo Ragimana from the People in Nature and Climate (PiNC Lab) has earned a Master of Philosophy in Environment, Society & Sustainability with distinction.

Her dissertation, which investigated values and uses of river and riparian ecosystem services, reflects her talent as an early career researcher and highlights a gap in understanding rural environments that local African researchers can fill. 

“Phumudzo recognised that having roots in a place can help us reflect more meaningfully on  how to restore ecosystems and sustainably manage farming lands in ways that centre diverse community voices.. That awareness paid off with her earning a master’s graduate’s highest marks,” says PiNC Lab Lead Dr Petra Holden, who was Ragimana’s supervisor. 

Perceptions of change

From a young age, Ragimana was curious about the changing environment around her. Living in South Africa’s Limpopo Province, she was part of a rural community that had close connections to the land and river.

That interest carried into academics, where she earned bachelor’s and honours degrees in environmental sciences at the University of Venda. During that time, she watched changes in how people used the land and river in her home village, and knew she wanted to continue studies.

“I was interested in the changes I saw, and wanted to know what was causing it,” Ragimana explains. “I wanted to know how I could be part of the solution instead of the problem, and realised that research was where I could do that.”

Ragimana’s master’s research focused on the Tshiombo Village, an area near her home village along the Mutale River. Carrying out surveys and interviews to examine perceptions of ecosystem change, the aim was to contribute to knowledge on restoration and sustainable management of river and riparian ecosystem services. 

FINDINGS

Ragimana’s results revealed the village community had a high reliance on the Mutale River and its surroundings for various provisioning, cultural, and regulating ecosystem services. The work also revealed that women were the primary users, emphasising the importance of the river for irrigation and non-drinking domestic use. 

Perceived declines in ecosystem services were linked by the data to local use and consumption, as well as land use and cover change. Despite this acknowledgement, however, community members were only aware of grey infrastructure and not nature-based solutions. 

In contrast, local teachers emerged as advocates for restoring and sustainable management of the environment. They also encouraged environmental literacy and inter-generational learning to increase the awareness of nature-based solutions as a way to address declines in ecosystem services such as water supply.

The findings emphasised the diversity of how different social groups use and value ecosystem services, underscoring their collective importance in the community and the need for hybrid approaches to ensure the sustainable delivery of ecosystem services.

“The work is valuable for developing strategies to address the challenges faced by the Tshiombo Village community for safeguarding ecosystem services and enhancing well-being,” Ragimana says.

Community close to heart

Ragimana’s dissertation earned her a distinction, recognition of not only her strong academic performance but also her deep understanding of the subject matter. Indeed, she says the community she worked with is very close to her heart.

“My family would go to this region to buy crops and to get various household goods,” she says. “It was important for me to engage with a community I knew very well and where I understood the value of the river.”

Ragimana suggests other African researchers study their communities as well, especially those who come from remote areas. “There is so little research covering these areas in Africa from our own perspective, it is a gap that needs to be covered.” 

Her advice to those researchers is to find a subject you are passionate about and never give up. Having a supportive network also helps, she says, acknowledging her supervisors Dr Holden, UCT's Professor Sheona Shackleton, and Dr Lutendo Mugwedi from the University of Venda.

“My supervisors always had my back and when I earned a distinction I was honoured and excited,” Ragimana says.

Now, she has her sights set on PhD studies at UCT. “I am proud of myself. There is nothing impossible, you just need to set your mind on what you want to achieve.”