Doctoral Degrees (School of Public Leadership)

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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (School of Public Leadership) by Subject "Biodiversity -- Zambia"

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    Collaborative natural resource governance for biodiversity and livelihoods around protected areas : a dual case study of Kaingu and Kaindu, Zambia
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-12) Luaba, Kampinda; Muller, Kobus; Vedeld, Pal; Nyirenda, Vincent R.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY : Spurred by increasing environmental problems, research about the contribution of natural resources governance to the conservation of biodiversity and the betterment of the lives of rural communities has gained ground in the recent past. There is a serious need for effective, context-appropriate, relevant and pragmatic solutions to biodiversity loss and poverty, especially in and around biodiversity hotspots, such as protected areas. The links between natural resources, human wellbeing, and governance are set in complex social-ecological systems that are often not well understood. The complexity of human-environment interactions has led researchers to the conclusion that major environmental problems cannot be solved through a single blueprint model of governance or panacea as most mono-disciplinary studies have recommended. The top-down system of natural resources governance (“fortress conservation”) and community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) are the most predominant approaches to the governance of natural resources in protected areas in Zambia. However, both approaches to natural resource management have several challenges and limitations with regard to halting biodiversity loss and provision of sustainable livelihood to rural communities. This is attributable to differing perceptions, interests and actions of the various actors involved. The poaching of wildlife, deforestation and overfishing are important drivers of resource degradation and destruction that continue to affect national parks and their buffer zones (i.e., game management areas). Hybrid collaborative natural resource governance models are potentially more viable and can offer more management flexibility than both fortress conservation and CBNRM. However, they need to be critically analysed for key constraints and possible interventions within their particular environmental and institutional context. It is vital to note that collaborative programmes have yielded mixed results and are not a “one-size-fits-all” solution as well. There is limited knowledge on how the interactions among actors in natural resource governance systems influence socio-economic and conservation outcomes in Zambia. This study aims to contribute to addressing the challenges of closing this knowledge gap by exploring the linkages between the collaborative natural resource governance regimes and their conservation and socio-economic outcomes and, to propose an alternative model. The participation of all relevant stakeholders in policy formulation is vital for the development of effective natural resource governance strategies. The decision-making structures and processes must embrace the interests, values, and opinions of all the individuals, households and organisations that interact with or relate to the natural resources. This dissertation employs a transdisciplinary approach to investigate the local systems of natural resources governance using mixed methods. Focus is placed on the quality of community-based natural resource governance systems in two protected areas (Kaingu chiefdom in Namwala game management area and the Kaindu community conservancy) adjoining Kafue National Park, in central-southern Zambia. The research undertakes extensive stakeholder engagement to assess the existing local natural resources governance systems for wildlife, forests, and fisheries. Context-specific comparative analysis is applied in order to identify opportunities for change and to develop a novel and more effective collaborative natural resources management governance model in the two case studies. Findings from the first case study indicate that despite the presence of co-management boards and village committees, the lack of comprehensive and rights-based community participation in decision-making, planning, budgeting, setting of wildlife hunting quotas and distribution of benefits continues to challenge the legitimacy of local natural resources management in Kaingu chiefdom. The lack of access to outputs and the perception that costs and benefits are disproportionately and unfairly distributed further challenge the legitimacy of the state-led local natural resources governance system in the area. Perception about rights and responsibilities, the decision-making process, preferences and motivations also hamper the effectiveness of collective environmental action. Mistrust and animosity between community members and implementers of natural resources governance is widespread. The multi-ethnic and multi-cultural structure, commercialisation of environmental products and ever-changing conditions add to the complexity of natural resource governance and emphasises the need for adaptable institutions. In the second case, Kaindu, findings indicate a long history of internal migration in the area, a complex political history, and a succession of unstable governance models since the 20th century, forming a complex and layered institutional landscape. There are concomitant low levels of participation and a lack of consensus and joint strategic visions, low accountability and transparency in decision-making, a lack of fairness and weak recognition and enforcement of rights and duties. These are serious weaknesses of both formal and informal local institutions. Consequently, uncontrolled access and utilisation have led to widespread resource degradation and destruction. This study highlights the need to reconsider the natural resources governance system considering the local social and environmental context. Comparatively, the community-based organisations lack potency in delivering benefits to their members as they do not have much say in taking the decisions regarding natural resources in both cases. The capacities and constitutions of the Kaingu Community Resources Board and the Kaindu Natural Resources Trust need to be built up and empowered to facilitate the formation of collective-choice arrangements. The current top-down approach of the existing governance systems must be changed to place communities at the top in the decision-making structure, even in Kaindu where there is a board that in theory at least, represents the community. Institutional change is important for a well-regulated resource regime that provides for effective biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource use to be set up in the two protected areas. Redesigning the local governance models entails redefining the roles of the actors and their patterns of interaction regarding the use of natural resources to achieve the desired outcomes. The roles of the political actors are critical because they are the institutions governing the policy process, including constitution building and collective-choice rules. Equally, new rules to regulate economic actors, such as private companies with access to the resources, must be formulated and implemented. The technology and infrastructures used must be regulated to suit the attributes of the environmental resources of interest. As the most prominent actor, the state must take the lead in allowing for the devolution of authority regarding key aspects of the management of natural resources to communities. This study may contribute to policy formulation, practice and literature through policy briefs, recommendations and journal publications, respectively. This dissertation provides empirical knowledge of the status of wildlife, forest and fisheries resources under two different governance regimes as developed through a transdisciplinary process involving various stakeholders. It highlights the key social, political and ecological factors that constrain the natural resource governance systems from delivering positive conservation and socio-economic outcomes. The study concludes by proposing a hybrid and novel transformative natural resource governance model that combines aspects of both the fortress approach and CBNRM.