The Relationship Between the Agenda of Conservation Authorities and Community Development in Rural Areas of South Africa

Michael Chambwe; Andrea Saayman

doi:10.58683/sp.579

Published : 2023-09-13

Vol. 43 No. 3 (2023)

The Relationship Between the Agenda of Conservation Authorities and Community Development in Rural Areas of South Africa

Michael Chambwe

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1170-2089

Andrea Saayman

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9506-8141

DOI: https://doi.org/10.58683/sp.579

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between the mandate of conservation authorities and the agenda of community development in rural areas and provides recommendations on how to improve the status quo. The analysis is based on qualitative data collected during five interviews with uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park’s (UDP) community liaison officers and traditional leaders of the communities surrounding the UDP. The results reveal disjointed coordination between the conservation authority and the surrounding communities regarding development. Problems include funding constraints, extreme poverty levels, poor communication, and communities’ overreliance on the UDP for material benefits. The authors provide recommendations on how to promote community-based tourism that relies on sustainability practices and argue that development activities cannot be effective without close cooperation between conservation authorities and communities.

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Michael Chambwe, Lisebo Tseane-Gumbi, Walter Wessels, City Tourism Product Development and Marketing: The Case of the Provincial Capital city of Mahikeng , Studia Periegetica: Vol. 44 No. 4 (2023)

Details

References

Statistics

Authors

Download files

manuscript

Citation rules

Chambwe, M., & Saayman, A. (2023). The Relationship Between the Agenda of Conservation Authorities and Community Development in Rural Areas of South Africa. Studia Periegetica, 43(3), 49–64. https://doi.org/10.58683/sp.579

Altmetric indicators

Cited by / Share

Licence

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

References

Abukari, H., & Mwalyosi, R.B. (2018). Comparing Conservation Attitudes of Park-Adjacent Communities: The Case of Mole National Park in Ghana and Tarangire National Park in Tanzania. Tropical Conservation Science, 11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1940082918802757

Anthony, B. (2007). The dual nature of parks: attitudes of neighbouring communities towards Kruger National Park, South Africa. Environmental Conservation, 34, 236–245. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892907004018

Belkayali, N., & Kesimoğlu, M.D. (2015). The stakeholders’ point of view about the impact of recreational and tourism activities on natural protected area: a case study from Kure Mountains National Park, Turkey. Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 29, 1092–1103. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13102818.2015.1072054

Buckley, R., & Mossaz, A. (2018). Private conservation funding from wildlife tourism enterprises in sub-Saharan Africa: Conservation marketing beliefs and practices. Biological Conservation, 218, 57–63. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2017.12.001

Butchart, S.H., Walpole, M., Collen, B., Van Strien, A., Scharlemann, J.P., Almond, R.E., Baillie, J.E., Bomhard, B., Brown, C., & Bruno, J. (2010). Global biodiversity: indicators of recent declines. Science, 328, 1164–1168. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1187512

Chape, S., Blyth S., Fish L., Fox P., & Spalding M. (2003). 2003 United Nations List of Protected Areas. IUCN — The World Conservation Union.

Chikodzi, D., Nhamo, G., Dube, K., & Chapungu, L. (2022). Climate change risk assessment of heritage tourism sites within South African national parks. International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks, 10, 417–434. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgeop.2022.08.007

DAC (2020). Ukhahlamba. http://www.dac.gov.za/content/ukhahlamba

Duim, R.V.D., Lamers, M., & Wijk, J.V. (2014). Institutional arrangements for conservation, development and tourism in Eastern and Southern Africa: a dynamic perspective. Springer.

Ezemvelo-KZN-Wildlife. (2018). Fees & Charges 2018–2019. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Reservations Office.

Giampiccoli, A., & Saayman, M. (2018). Community-based tourism development model and community participation. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 7, 27–38.

Giampiccoli, A., Saayman, M., & Jugmohan, S. (2015). Between Theory and Practice: A Conceptualization of Community Based Tourism and Community Participation. Loyola Journal of Social Sciences, 29, 27–52.

Gilg, A. (2010). Tourism and National Parks: International perspectives on development, histories and change. Tourism Geographies, 12(1), 169–171. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616680903495436 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14616680903495436

Gursoy, D., & Nunkoo, R. (2019). The Routledge handbook of tourism impacts : theoretical and applied perspectives. Routledge.

Imanishimwe, A. (2022). The linkages between Biodiversity Conservation, Ecosystem Services, and Community Development in Tropical Region: A Review. PriMera Scientific Engineering, 1(3), 23–38.

Ingonyama-Trust. (2019). Quick Facts about Ingonyama Trust Land. http://www.ingonyamatrust.org.za

King, B. (2010). Conservation geographies in Sub‐Saharan Africa: The politics of national parks, community conservation and peace parks. Geography Compass, 4, 14–27. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-8198.2009.00288.x

Li, X., Chen, C., Wang, W., Yang, J., Innes, J.L., Ferretti-Gallon, K., & Wang, G. (2021). The contribution of national parks to human health and well-being: Visitors’ perceived benefits of Wuyishan National Park. International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks, 9, 1–12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgeop.2020.12.004

Mnisi, P., & Ramoroka, T. (2020). Sustainable Community Development: A Review on the Socioeconomic Status of Communities Practicing Ecotourism in South Africa. International Journal of Economics and Finance Studies, 12, 505–519.

Mowforth, M., & Munt, I. (2016). Tourism and Sustainability: Development, Globalisation and New Tourism in the Third World. Routledge.

Muhumuza, M., & Balkwill, K. (2013). Factors affecting the success of conserving biodiversity in national parks: A review of case studies from Africa. International Journal of Biodiversity, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/798101 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/798101

Novelli, M., & Scarth, A. (2007). Tourism in protected areas: Integrating conservation and community development in Liwonde National Park (Malawi). Tourism and Hospitality Planning & Development, 4, 47–73. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14790530701289697

Odeniran, P.O., Ademola, I.O., & Jegede, H.O. (2018). A review of wildlife tourism and meta-analysis of parasitism in Africa’s national parks and game reserves. Parasitology Research, 117, 2359–2378. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-018-5958-8

Palmer, N.J., & Chuamuangphan, N. (2018). Governance and local participation in ecotourism: community-level ecotourism stakeholders in Chiang Rai province, Thailand. Journal of Ecotourism, 17, 320–337. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14724049.2018.1502248

Reindrawati, D.Y., Rhama, B., & Hisan, U.F.C. (2022). Threats to Sustainable Tourism in National Parks: Case Studies from Indonesia and South Africa. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 11, 919–937.

Rogerson, J.M., & Rogerson, C. (2014). Maximising the local development potential of Nature Tourism accommodation establishments in South Africa. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 3, 1–20.

Saayman, M., & Saayman, A. (2010). Regional Development and National Parks in South Africa: Lessons Learned. Tourism Economics, 16, 1037–1064. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5367/te.2010.0007

SANParks. (2016). South African National Parks Strategic Plan 2016/17 — 2019/20. South African National Parks.

Shackleton, C.M., Shackleton, S.E., Buiten, E., & Bird, N. (2007). The importance of dry woodlands and forests in rural livelihoods and poverty alleviation in South Africa. Forest Policy and Economics, 9, 558–577. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2006.03.004

Strickland-Munro, J.K., Moore, S.A., & Freitag-Ronaldson, S. (2010). The impacts of tourism on two communities adjacent to the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Development Southern Africa, 27, 663–678. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835X.2010.522829

Tovar, C., & Lockwood, M. (2008). Social impacts of tourism: an Australian regional case study. International Journal of Tourism Research, 10, 365–378. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.667

UNESCO. (2020). Maloti-Drakensberg Park: Description. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/985

Vodouhê, F.G., Coulibaly, O., Adégbidi, A., & Sinsin, B. (2010). Community perception of biodiversity conservation within protected areas in Benin. Forest Policy and Economics, 12, 505–512. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2010.06.008

WTTC. (2019). Travel and Tourism: Global Economic Impact. https://www.wttc.org/about/mediacentre/press-releases/press-releases/2019/travel-tourism-continues-strong-growth-above-global-gdp

Yang, A.-L., Zhang, W.-J., Qi, F.-J., & He, M.-R. (2021). Research Progress of National Park Community Management Based on Web of Science. 7th International Conference on Social Science and Higher Education (ICSSHE 2021) (pp. 372–379). Atlantis Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.211122.119

Zeppel, H. (2009). National parks as cultural landscapes: Indigenous Peoples, Conservation and Tourism. In W. Frost, & C.M. Hall (Eds.), Tourism and national parks: International perspectives on development, histories and change. Routledge.

Zeppel, H. (2012). National parks as cultural landscapes: Indigenous Peoples, Conservation and Tourism. In W. Frost & C.M. Hall (Eds.), Tourism and national parks: International perspectives on development, histories and change. Routledge.