People and parks: implications for sustainable development in the Thukela biosphere reserve, KwaZulu/Natal

[摘要] South Africa has recently begun a number of conservation Initiativeswhich link conservation with the development of people This follows aworldwide trend in which it is acknowledged that conservation cannot beundertaker without the participation of local communities who are mostaffected by the establishment of protected areas The Thukela BiosphereReserve In KwaZulu/Natal South Africa iS such an Initiative Theresearch provides an assessment of the potential of the TBR tosuccessfully introduce a sustainable land use strategy in the region Thisassessment is achieved through an investigation of the historical situationas well as local communities perceptions and attitudes toward the TBRand environmental degradation These attitudes are compared to a morescientific analysis of land degradation The research made use ofparticipatory methodologies to assess these perceptions Findingsindicate that local Afrrcan communities are intensely aware ofenvironmental degradation in the TBR A number of factors howeverprevent them from accepting the TBR as an effective land use optionThese include oppressive historical polices leading[Abbreviated [ Abstract. Open document to view full version]

[发布机构] University of the Witwatersrand