Land claims and the pursuit of co-management on four protected areas in South Africa

Cundill, Georgina; Thondhlana, Gladman; Sisitka, Lawrence; Shackleton, Sheona E; Blorea, M

Title: Land claims and the pursuit of co-management on four protected areas in South Africa
Creator: Cundill, Georgina, Thondhlana, Gladman, Sisitka, Lawrence, Shackleton, Sheona E, Blorea, M
Subject: To be catalogued
Date: 2013
Type: text
Type: article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/391223
Identifier: vital:68632
Identifier: xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2013.05.016"
Description: Successful land claims on protected areas by previously disenfranchised communities often result in co-management agreements between claimant communities and state conservation agencies. South Africa, in particular, has pursued co-management as the desired outcome of land claims on its protected areas. We review four cases of co-management on protected areas in South Africa, and reflect on the appropriateness of the pursuit of co-management as the preferred outcome of land claims. Despite promises of pro-poor, democratically informed management, the practical experience of co-management has seen the continuation of the status quo in terms of conservation, with very few material benefits for claimant communities and limited sharing of responsibilities and decision-making functions. The findings underscore two deep challenges facing co-management in cases of land claims worldwide. First, during land claims negotiations in cases involving protected areas, the state cannot be expected to represent the best interests of its citizens (the land claimants), while simultaneously seeking to meet national and international obligations for protected area coverage. Second, the concept of democratic co-management may sit uncomfortably beside the realities of managing loss-making protected areas with ever-shrinking conservation budgets. Where co-management agreements have already been signed, ensuring that new landowners do indeed have a say in management should form the driving focus for co-management practice going forward.
Format: computer, online resource, application/pdf, 1 online resource (8 pages), pdf
Publisher: Elsevier
Language: English
Relation: Land Use Policy, Cundill, G., Thondhlana, G., Sisitka, L., Shackleton, S. and Blore, M., 2013. Land claims and the pursuit of co-management on four protected areas in South Africa. Land use policy, 35, pp.171-178, Land Use Policy volume 35 p. 171 2013 0264-8377
Rights: Publisher
Rights: Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Elsevier Terms and Conditions Statement (https://www.elsevier.com/legal/elsevier-website-terms-and-conditions)
Rights: Closed Access

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