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This book brings together past and present empirical materials to examine the connections between past politics of land and conservation and contemporary land and natural resource conservation struggles in the Mapungubwe region, contending that addressing South Africa s vexed present requires fuller reckoning with its past. Specifically, the study highlights how land and conservation are politicised and looks at power dynamics in nature conservation initiatives. It argues that the establishment of nature conservation projects is not only determined by scientific knowledge and passion about conservation and resource management, but by social and political processes at local, regional and national level.
This book will be an invaluable reference for conservationists, resource scientists, government officials, scholars or academics, students, policy makers, and stakeholders interested in conservation and natural resource management. It argues that passion and good intention alone are not sufficient inducements to the protection of nature, but involving local communities and those who are affected by protected areas can play a significant role in the success of conservation projects.
List of contents
Chapter 1. Introduction: Nexus between the politics of land and conservation.- Chapter 2. Historical background to land and conversation in the Dongola Mapungubwe area.- Chapter 3. History of Dongola Botanical Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary.- Chapter 4. The Battle of Dongola .- Chapter 5. The revival of Dongola.- Chapter 6. Redressing the legacy of land dispossession in Mapungubwe.- Chapter 7. Nature conservation projects: Transfrontier conservation and local landowners at the confluence of Limpopo and Shashe.- Chapter 8. Reflections on the socio-political implications of land and conservation dynamics in Mapungubwe.
About the author
Ndidzulafhi Innocent Sinthumule
is an associate professor of geography and environmental studies in the Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies, under the Faculty of Science at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa. His research interests are on transfrontier conservation area, conservation and society, human-environment relationships, land reform, border studies and traditional ecological knowledge. He is the co-editor of South African Geographical Journal.
Summary
This book brings together past and present empirical materials to examine the connections between past politics of land and conservation and contemporary land and natural resource conservation struggles in the Mapungubwe region, contending that addressing South Africa’s vexed present requires fuller reckoning with its past. Specifically, the study highlights how land and conservation are politicised and looks at power dynamics in nature conservation initiatives. It argues that the establishment of nature conservation projects is not only determined by scientific knowledge and passion about conservation and resource management, but by social and political processes at local, regional and national level.
This book will be an invaluable reference for conservationists, resource scientists, government officials, scholars or academics, students, policy makers, and stakeholders interested in conservation and natural resource management. It argues that passion and good intention alone are not sufficient inducements to the protection of nature, but involving local communities and those who are affected by protected areas can play a significant role in the success of conservation projects.
