Community forestry and rural livelihoods : a case study of the contribution of natural resources to livelihoods of rural communities in the Northern Province, South Africa

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The Government of South Africa is faced with a mammoth task of redressing theimbalances of the past apartheid policies in the rural areas of the country. TheGovernment has developed policies and programmes aimed at alleviating poverty inthese areas. The Government has also realised the vital role that natural resources play inthe livelihoods of rural people. The vision of Community Forestry as stated in theForestry White Paper (GOSA, 1996), is to contribute to social and economic upliftmentof all people, especially those in the rural areas, by promoting the sustainable utilisationof natural resources.The study was conducted in three rural villages in the Northern Province of South Africa.The three villages were chosen because of their closeness to the Kruger National Park,their remoteness and lack of infrastructure that could provide employment to thevillagers. The villages were investigated using Rapid Rural Appraisal techniques andsemi structured interviews with households and key-informants.The study reports on the pattern and structure of livelihoods and institutions that governaccess to and control of natural resources in the woodlands that surround the threevillages. It reports on the vital contribution that natural resources generate to livelihoodsof the village communities by providing goods for fuel, shelter, food and medicineswhich are unavailable or unaffordable elsewhere for many households.The study also reports on the decline in the dependency of the communities on naturalresources and the lack of cooperation between village communities and the KrugerNational Park authorities, which may lead to serious management problems in the area.Lastly, recommendations based on the study findings, that may bring about possibleeconomic and social upliftment of the communities in the three villages are put forward.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University