The Relationship Between the Agenda of Conservation Authorities and Community Development in Rural Areas of South Africa

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between the mandate of conservation authorities and the agenda of community development in rural areas and provides recommendations on how to improve the status quo. The analysis is based on qualitative data collected during five interviews with uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park’s (UDP) community liaison officers and traditional leaders of the communities surrounding the UDP. The results reveal disjointed coordination between the conservation authority and the surrounding communities regarding development. Problems include funding constraints, extreme poverty levels, poor communication, and communities’ overreliance on the UDP for material benefits. The authors provide recommendations on how to promote community-based tourism that relies on sustainability practices and argue that development activities cannot be effective without close cooperation between conservation authorities and communities.