The transformation of the South African national parks with special reference to the role of the Social Ecology Directorate 1994-2004

[摘要] This dissertation critically examines the transformation of the South African National Parks with specialreference to the role of the Social Ecology Directorate during the period 1994-2004. The establishmentof a non-racial democratic social order required a different approach to the conservation of biodiversitywhich involved substantive change. This change included the organisation confronting its role in theapartheid legacy of dispossession, environmental racism and injustice. The Social Ecology Directorateand the concept of Social Ecology were established by the South African National Parks to drive aprocess of transformation. However, it is argued that these ideas and structures were not strong andcohesive enough to do so. Nevertheless the dissertation suggests that during this period, in a series ofcomplex and contested processes, constrained but significant change was achieved in four areas: a shiftto a more people-centred and developmental approach to conservation, restructuring to make theorganisation more representative and to eliminate racism and sexism, land restitution, improvedrelations with neighbouring communities and greater inclusivity and openness to all South Africansthrough the promotion of tourism and cultural heritage. These changes laid the basis potentially formore radical change which links the conservation of biodiversity to social justice.

[发布机构] University of the Witwatersrand