Community participation and sustainable development in the establishment of the |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Conservation Park

Date
2003-12
Authors
Myburgh, Kozette
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is titled "Community participation and sustainable development in the establishment of the IAi-IAis/Richtersveld Transfrontier Conservation Park". lt encompasses the area and stakeholders on the South African side of the Transfrontier Conservation Park (TFCP), which falls within the Richtersveld municipal area. lt covers the whole process of the development of the IAi-IAis/Richtersveld TFCP, from its Conceptual Phase to the signing of the International Treaty to formally establish the IAi-IAis/Richtersveld TFCP1 . This development is expected to hold numerous benefits for the stakeholders that are involved in its process, especially job creation through increased tourism. lt is an exceptional project, as the main stakeholders are the communities who are the legal landowners of the Richtersveld National Park. The management structure of the IAi-IAis/Richtersveld TFCP allows full participation by the local communities through elected members from the four towns in the surrounding area (Khuboes, Eksteenfontein, Lekkersing and Sanddrift) as well as local pastoralists. The theoretical approach that will be used in this study is that of sustainable development. The key components required for sustainable social, economic, and environmental development will be discussed, and are used as yardsticks against which the actual process of establishment of the TFCP will be 'measured'. Participation is regarded as a main aspect of sustainable development and is highlighted in this study. The methodology that was employed included interviewing and participant observation as well as an in-depth documentary analysis of aspects of the TFCP. The benefits and value of the methods used is discussed, as well as the limitations of the study.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die titel van die studie is "Community participation and sustainable development in the establishment of the IAi-IAis/Richtersveld Transfrontier Conservation Park". Dit omvat die area en rolspelers aan die Suid-Afrikaanse kant van die oorgrenspark, wat binne die Richtersveld Munisipale area val. Dit dek die volledige proses van die ontwikkeling van die oorgrenspark, vanaf die Konsepsuele Fase tot en met die ondertekening van die lnternasionale Verdrag om die IAi-IAis/Richtersveld Oorgrenspark formeel tot stand te bring2 . Die verwagting is dat hierdie ontwikkeling veelvoudige voordele sal inhou vir diegene wat in die proses betrokke is, veral deur middel van werkskepping as gevolg van toenemende toerisme. Dit is 'n besondere projek aangesien die hoofrolspelers, die gemeenskappe, die wettige grondeienaars van die Richtersveld Nasionale Park is. Die bestuurstruktuur van die oorgrenspark laat volle deelname deur die gemeenskappe toe deur verkose lede van die vier dorpies in die area (Kuboes, Eksteenfontein, Lekkersing en Sanddrift) asook plaaslike veeboere. Die teoretiese benadering wat in hierdie studie gevolg word is 'volhoubare ontwikkeling'. Die hoofkomponente wat vereis word vir volhoubare sosiale, ekonomiese, en omgewingsontwikkeling word bespreek en word as maatstawwe gebruik waarteen die werklike proses van die totstandkoming van die IAi-IAis/Richtersveld oorgrenspark 'gemeet' word. Deelname word beskou as die hoofkomponent van volhoubare ontwikkeling en word uitgelig in hierdie studie. Die metodologie wat toegepas is, sluit onderhoudvoering, deelnemende waarneming en indiepte dokumentere analise van aspekte van die oorgrenspark in. Die voordele en waarde van hierdie metodes word bespreek, asook die beperkinge van die studie.
Description
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.
Keywords
Sustainable development -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Richtersveld, Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Richtersveld -- Citizen participation, Tourism -- South Africa -- Richtersveld. -- Citizen participation, Transfrontier conservation areas -- South Africa, Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Conservation Park (South Africa), Dissertations -- Sociology
Citation