COMMUNITY-BASED CONFLICT RESOLUTION STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF THE TSITSIKAMMA NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA

Abstract

ABSTRACT There are policy and legal frameworks for participatory conservation of biodiversity in democratic South Africa. However, the local communities that inhabit the vicinity of the Tsitsikamma National Park indicated that the South African National Parks (SANParks) does not implement participatory processes in the management of the park. This has resulted in conflicts and poor relationships between the local people and the management of the park. Local communities specifically resent the park's ‘no-take’ policy on fishing and lack of effective community participation and benefit sharing. The aim of this study was to determine the interventions that the local communities in Tsitsikamma consider pertinent for resolving the current conflicts and poor relationships between themselves and the Park Management. Local communities desire, among other things, active participation in the management of the park through democratically elected representatives, benefit sharing, creation of more job opportunities by the Park Management, free and increased access to the park, and regular communication from conservation officials in the park to the neighbouring communities. Local capacity development and transfer of the management authority to local managers to enhance the sense of the ownership of the protected area are recommended for successful local participation.