Human perceptions of environmental degradation in a part of the Kalahari ecosystem

Abstract

This paper is based on data on human perceptions of environmental degradation generated using the rapid rural appraisal approach in a part of Botswana's Kalahari environment. The data revealed a high level of respondent awareness of local resource use problems related to negative environmental change. However, respondent perceptions of the causes of, and solutions to, to environmental degradation were found to be mainly outward oriented; the possibility of local human contribution to the problem and its solution was widely down-played. The data point to the need for measures to bring about "correct" perceptions so that people can see where their own activities fit in the causal nexus of environmental degradation and acknowledge their power to contribute to solutions thereof.

Pastoralists’ Perception and Ecological Knowledge on Savanna Ecosystem Dynamics in Semi-arid Botswana

“…Overgrazing was another factor perceived by pastoralists to contribute towards changes in the grass species composition, though more than 50% of them did not associate vegetation changes with livestock populations. According to Chanda (1996), pastoral farmers tend to evade blame for overgrazing, and this could explain why most of the respondents failed to mention overgrazing as a cause of vegetation changes in this study. Although fire is also known to influence the composition of savanna vegetation (Furley et al 2008, Devineau et al 2010, it was hardly mentioned by respondents in this study, except at Xanagas.…”

“…This is supported by studies conducted in the northeast part of Botswana, where local communities indicated that changes in their ecosystem were caused by variable rainfall (Chanda 1996, Dahlberg 2000a. Overgrazing was another factor perceived by pastoralists to contribute towards changes in the grass species composition, though more than 50% of them did not associate vegetation changes with livestock populations.…”

“…Previous studies conducted in Botswana have provided broad knowledge of local perceptions of environmental degradation associated with dominant livelihoods such as arable farming and veld products exploitation (Chanda 1996, Ringrose et al 1996. However, community-based ecological knowledge differs based on interests like veld products and grazing (Oba et al 2008).…”

<b>Human perception of the conservation and biodiversity state of forest remnants under different levels of urbanization

“…Additionally, their perception regarding the ecological importance of these areas may aid conservation projects (Arjunan, Holmes, Puyravaud, & Davidar, 2006). Local human communities generally have a good grasp of space-temporal changes (Chanda, 1996) and are aware of the main problems affecting the environment as long as these problems impact their quality of life (Almeida, Zem, & Biondi, 2009;Ringrose, Chanda, Nkambwe, & Sefe, 1996). Management of the environment using prevalent local knowledge may enhance the effectiveness of conservation strategies (Berkes, Colding, & Folke, 2000).…”

The influence of academic environments on the transition from project imagery to project practice: The case of the Lehurutshe Rural Development Project, North West Province, South Africa

“…The categories do not reflect content but the methods used to obtain data. "Measured" data can refer to demographic (i.e., social) data, if obtained not interactively but from written sources, as much as "elicitedw data can refer to the respondents' observations of the environment-a research lield framed as historical environmental impact assessments or the study of environmental perception(Brinkcate & Hanvey, 1996;Chanda, 1996; Clark & Herington, 1988;Du Toit. 1985;Glasson et al, 1999;Pile 1996; Showers & Malahleha, 1992a, b).…”