- Title
- Land acquisition for and local livelihood implications of biofuel development in Zimbabwe
- Title
- Policy brief, number 14, 2016
- Creator
- Thondhlana, Gladman
- Subject
- Biomass energy -- Government policy -- Zimbabwe Biomass energy -- Economic aspects -- Zimbabwe Biomass energy -- Environmental aspects -- Zimbabwe
- Date
- 2016
- Type
- text
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10962/49940
- Identifier
- vital:25944
- Description
- In recent years, proponents of 'green and clean fuel' have argued that the costs of overreliance on fossil fuels could be reduced through transition to biofuels such as bio-ethanol. Global biofuel discourses suggest that any transition to biofuel invariably results in significant benefits, including energy independence, job creation, development of agro-industrial centres at local level and high revenue generations for the state with minimum negative impacts on the environment. With many risks and costs associated with traditional 'dirty' fuels, it is likely that many countries, particularly African countries, will move towards the 'green and clean fuel' alternative. However, until recently research has arguably paid limited attention to the local livelihood impacts related to land acquisition for biofuel development or the policy frameworks required to maximise biofuel benefits. With regards to biofuel benefits, some recent studies suggest that the much bandied potential for greater tax revenue, lowered fuel costs and wealth distribution from biofuel production have all been perverted with relatively little payoff in wage labour opportunities in return (e.g. Richardson, 2010; Wilkinson and Herrera, 2010). Based on work done in Chisumbanje communal lands of Zimbabwe (Thondhlana, 2015), this policy brief highlights the local livelihood impacts of biofuel development and discusses policy implications of the findings. By highlighting the justifications of biofuel development at any cost by the state, the study sheds some light on the conflicts between state interests and local livelihood needs.
- Format
- 5 pages, pdf
- Publisher
- Rhodes University, Faculty of Science, Environmental Science
- Language
- English
- Relation
- Policy brief, Policy brief Number 14 Department of Environmental Science, Rhodes University
- Rights
- Rhodes University
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Collections
Thondhlana, Gladman (Dr)
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| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | Policy Brief 15.cdr | 1 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |