Browsing by Author "Tahulela, Takalani"
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- ItemThe relationship between agroforestry and ecosystem services: role of agroforestry in rural communities(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-03) Tahulela, Takalani; Ham, Cori; Ham, Hannel; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Forest and Wood Science.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Rural livelihoods are affected by numerous factors (poverty, unemployment, lack of adequate education, basic infrastructure, and food security), but poverty is the most critical. As poverty in South African is rooted in unemployment, communities adjacent to forest plantations and natural resources, are highly depended on these natural resources to sustain their livelihoods. Agroforestry systems have addressed the problem of poverty worldwide and have been designed specifically for rural development. These systems are efficient in terms of resource use, but are also economically and environmentally friendly. Therefore, this study identified agroforestry systems that might improve sustainable rural development in communities adjacent to the plantations of Komatiland Forests. The study was conducted in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa where the plantations of Komatiland Forests are located. Data for the study was collected between June and July 2015 through questionnaire surveys of 30 randomly selected households in two communities per province to determine and evaluate ecosystem services utilised in the six communities. Results indicated high levels of unemployment, large family sizes, income levels not adequate to sustain household sizes, water scarcity and silvopasture as the main agroforestry system practiced in the plantations of Komatiland Forests. Although agroforestry has been practiced by a limited number of households, communities are interested in it as an alternative way to increase food security. Future agroforestry interventions by Komatiland Forests should thus rather focus on agrosilvicutural systems than silvopastural systems.