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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Stevens, Joseph Benjamin
author_browse Stevens, Joseph Benjamin
author_facet Stevens, Joseph Benjamin
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2019 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MSc (Agric))--University of Pretoria, 2018.
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publishDate 2019
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spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/70419 Synergy between protected conservation areas and community development : the case of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve KwaZulu-Natal Province South Africa Stevens, Joseph Benjamin ze2mkhwa@gmail.com Mkhwanazi, Ntombizethu Simphiwe UCTD Community Based Conservation (CBC) Socio-economic impacts Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) Local community participation Environmental education Ecotourism Sustainable development Biodiversity conservation Small business opportunities Expanded public works programme (EPWP) Community awareness Conservation programmes Economic benefits Social benefits Natural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-01 SDG-01: No poverty Natural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-08 SDG-08: Decent work and economic growth Natural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-10 SDG-10: Reduced inequalities Natural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-11 SDG-11: Sustainable cities and communities Natural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-13 SDG-13: Climate action Natural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-15 SDG-15: Life on land Dissertation (MSc (Agric))--University of Pretoria, 2018. Community Based Conservation (CBC) is an approach that started in the 1980’s due to protests and clashes between conservation bodies and local neighbouring communities because of attempts to only protect environmental biodiversity without attending to the social needs of communities. The objective of CBC is to improve the lives of local people, while at the same time also conserve protected areas. The aim of this study is to evaluate the socio-economic achievements of the CBC programme implemented in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) in KwaZulu-Natal to two neighbouring communities (Hlabisa and Mpukunyoni) and to what degree these two communities participated in the implementation of the programme. The study used qualitative as well as quantitative research methods for collecting data. The respondents include key informants of HiP responsible for the implementation and coordination of the CBC programme as well as 208 randomly selected respondents in the two selected communities adjacent to the Park. The data was analysed to provide descriptive statistics using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Due to the high unemployment rate in both communities (72%), respondents perceived pension (37%) and social grants (35%) to be the main sources of monthly household income. Although many of the youth finished secondary school level, very few secure employment opportunities in the area. Therefore, many respondents perceived HiP as a potential source for direct job opportunities through ecotourism. The reality is that only a very small percentage (9%) of the respondents were employed by HiP as game rangers or security staff, although small business opportunities like Vukuzame and Vulamehlo curio markets were created by HiP at their entrance gates where community members received opportunities to trade curio, firewood and other art articles free of charge. Three sub CBC programmes are currently employed in HiP, namely the Rhino Ambassadors Programme, Sifundimvelo Environmental Education Programme and the Ezemvelo RBM Cup Programme. The study revealed that in general community members were poorly informed, as only 23% knew about the existence of these programmes. The discrepancy between what respondents revealed and what officials from HiP reflected about communities’ awareness and existence of programmes is worrisome and applied are not effective for general awareness raising of adjacent community members, especially not to inform the great number of youth residing in the area. The views of community members regarding economic and social benefits spill over were detected. The main economic benefits perceived were direct job opportunities as generated through HiP, participation in the Expanded Public Works Programme (specifically Working for Water), opportunities to participate in small business ventures like curio markets and offering of accommodation to tourists, and the impact of the Community Levy Trust Fund. Social benefits by neighbouring communities include the impact of the CBC sub programmes on school children and youth. Some of the concerns raised included the fact that community members are not allowed to collect firewood, medicinal plants or hunt or let their livestock graze inside the Park. Recommendations with the planning and implementation of CBC programmes included to ensure that community aspirations and needs should be taken fully into consideration with the design of CBC programmes, as this affects their immediate lives. Secondly the process of implementation should be transparent and current communication channels should be revised as it leads to miscommunication and scepticism about Park management. es2025 Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development MSc (Agric) Unrestricted SDG-01: No poverty SDG-08: Decent work and economic growth SDG-10: Reduced inequalities SDG-11: Sustainable cities and communities SDG-13: Climate action SDG-15: Life on land 2019-07-08T09:46:22Z 2019-07-08T09:46:22Z 19/04/17 2018 Dissertation Mkhwanazi, NS 2018, Synergy between protected conservation areas and community development: The case of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve KwaZulu-Natal Province South Africa, MSc (Agric) Dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd <http://hdl.handle.net/2263/70419> A2019 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/70419 en © 2019 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Community Based Conservation (CBC)
Socio-economic impacts
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP)
Local community participation
Environmental education
Ecotourism
Sustainable development
Biodiversity conservation
Small business opportunities
Expanded public works programme (EPWP)
Community awareness
Conservation programmes
Economic benefits
Social benefits
Natural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-01
SDG-01: No poverty
Natural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-08
SDG-08: Decent work and economic growth
Natural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-10
SDG-10: Reduced inequalities
Natural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-11
SDG-11: Sustainable cities and communities
Natural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-13
SDG-13: Climate action
Natural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-15
SDG-15: Life on land
Synergy between protected conservation areas and community development : the case of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve KwaZulu-Natal Province South Africa
title Synergy between protected conservation areas and community development : the case of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve KwaZulu-Natal Province South Africa
title_full Synergy between protected conservation areas and community development : the case of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve KwaZulu-Natal Province South Africa
title_fullStr Synergy between protected conservation areas and community development : the case of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve KwaZulu-Natal Province South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Synergy between protected conservation areas and community development : the case of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve KwaZulu-Natal Province South Africa
title_short Synergy between protected conservation areas and community development : the case of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve KwaZulu-Natal Province South Africa
title_sort synergy between protected conservation areas and community development the case of hluhluwe imfolozi game reserve kwazulu natal province south africa
topic UCTD
Community Based Conservation (CBC)
Socio-economic impacts
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP)
Local community participation
Environmental education
Ecotourism
Sustainable development
Biodiversity conservation
Small business opportunities
Expanded public works programme (EPWP)
Community awareness
Conservation programmes
Economic benefits
Social benefits
Natural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-01
SDG-01: No poverty
Natural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-08
SDG-08: Decent work and economic growth
Natural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-10
SDG-10: Reduced inequalities
Natural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-11
SDG-11: Sustainable cities and communities
Natural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-13
SDG-13: Climate action
Natural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-15
SDG-15: Life on land
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/70419