Browsing by Author "Mayoral-Phillips, A. J."

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Is Custodianship of Wildlife Resources in the Commons the Only Way Forward?
(2002) Mayoral-Phillips, A. J.
"Communities in Southern Africa's communal lands have become custodians of their natural resources. Post-colonial governments have ensured local community participation in conservation of biological resources and themes of property rights, sustainable use, resources values and the equitable distribution of conservation costs and benefits. "Governments and institutions have incorporated global sustainable natural resource management strategies and tourism related action plans as wise-use models to address economic, political, cultural and ecological concerns in the commons. SADC have endorsed this rhetoric as an appropriate approach to demonstrate that sustainable use and management of wildlife (resources, flora and fauna) is a viable economic alternative for communities now farming marginal land; increase local employment and income generating opportunities from community-managed natural resources; as well as expand the role of women in the decision making processes in local economies. There is as yet however, little evidence of real tangible opportunities and benefits to expand community participation outside of the wildlife resource management framework. "The realities of rural community integration fall short of policy and planning rhetoric caused by the lack of harmony in legal institutional frameworks, land tenure issues, access and accessibility to resources, benefit sharing, conflict resolution, partnerships and enterprise development. Is this because communities do not own the commons? "Challenging the interpretation of custodianship in the commons of Southern Africa highlights global development strategies and action plans as inappropriate for community's needs. In conclusion the paper identifies the failure to even consider the profound changes necessary to work towards a true sustainable society although alternatives are suggested. Management strategies have in fact intensifying the maldistribution of resources, inequalities in political representation and power, and the growth of a consumptive-led society in the commons."
Transboundary Areas in Southern Africa: Meeting the Needs of Conservation or Development?
(2002) Mayoral-Phillips, A. J.
"Southern Africa's natural resource management areas are becoming transboundary. Terminology is becoming both complex and confusing yet conservation-dominant. Transboundary conservation areas, transfrontier conservation areas and peace parks have all been packaged within global environmental rhetoric and as such few benefits have accrued towards community development and rural livelihood empowerment. "The paper questions the long-term sustainable viability of transboundary conservation management and action plans. The paper raises the question that sustainable transboundary management of natural resources has become too conservation based and not developmental. "Alarming evidence has emerged from a recent University of Witswatersrand Refugee Research Programme document entitled 'A Park for the People?' that clearly demonstrates government, institutions and stakeholders involved in transboundary initiatives are bulldozing communities through the process in the name of conservation. To that end communities are confused due to a lack of consultation and involvement in the management and action plans. What can be concluded from the report is the creation of a conservation hinterland, incorporating a habitual exclusion zone. "The paper suggests a new framework and policy approach for effective comanagement and harmonisation. Transboundary Development Areas (TBDA) defined as areas that 'manage the use of all natural resources to meet the needs of all development'. TBDAs incorporate the management practices of conservation areas but suggest that they have segregated state owned single-species management plans outside of appropriate natural resource management techniques and strategies. Nevertheless, in order for transboundary conservation areas to work, three principles of democracy, sustainability and efficiency are suggested, whereby the community owns the means of production, creating a systemised process that is accountable and transparent, decentralised and developmental, all-inclusive from any dominant agenda, combining to strengthen, secure and promote long-term sustainable community-livelihoods."