Curiosity about climate change 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 give us important insights into climate change impacts.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 the changes in average temperatures and rainfall patterns at home 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. 

Supporting community livelihoods

Survey and interview results revealed the village community had a high reliance on the Mutale River and its surroundings for various provisioning, cultural, and regulating ecosystem services. In particular, freshwater delivered through a concrete canal for non-drinking domestic use and crop irrigation, emerged as the most vital ecosystem service supporting community livelihoods. 

Perceived declines in ecosystem services were linked by the data to local use and consumption, as well as land use and cover change. While respondents showed limited awareness of nature-based actions, they expressed high awareness and preference for grey infrastructure options.

The findings emphasised the diversity of how different social groups use and value ecosystem services, underscoring their collective importance in the community. It also revealed a necessity for hybrid approaches, combining grey and natural infrastructure for example, to ensure the sustainable delivery of ecosystem services in this rural community, which is more commonly found in urban literature on nature-based approaches. 

“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.”