Abstract
This paper examines population changes around the Dwesa-Cwebe Nature Reserve in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, in light of Wittemyer et al. (2008a)’s argument that migration is leading to disproportionate population growth around protected areas. Migration to, and within, rural areas of South Africa reflects both migrants’ diverse motives and the limits on movement created by socially-embedded land tenure systems, not simply an aggregation of populations around areas with potential livelihood attractions. At the 10 km resolution used by Wittemyer et al., contradictory trends are evident, related to long-standing livelihood differences and changes in rural-urban migration that accompanied the end of apartheid, and expansion of other rural population centres. At a finer resolution (2–4 km), the paper describes some small scale population movement toward the Nature Reserve, primarily attributable to the reversal of apartheid-era evictions, driven more by uncomfortable situations in the resettlement area than any attractions of the Nature Reserve. In conclusion, the paper raises broader questions about the causal claims in Wittemyer et al.’s analysis, given its lack of attention to local and regional political economic factors and the demography of migrant streams.
Highlights
In their recent article arguing that rural populations are increasing disproportionately around protected areas (PAs), Wittemyer et al concede that ‘the mechanisms driving population changes around PAs are likely context-specific’(2008a: 124)
It reinforces the concern raised by Joppa et al (2009) that apparent growth near PAs may be the inadvertent consequence of expansion of neighbouring population centres. Together these cast doubt on the hypothesis that population change on the margins of a PA is likely to be a consequence of perceptions that PAs ‘provide opportunities otherwise scarce in rural areas’ (Wittemyer et al 2008a: 123). The paper develops these arguments through a review of recent studies of rural-rural migration in post-apartheid South Africa and a case study of Dwesa-Cwebe Nature Reserve, an IUCN
Post-apartheid transformations and population change around Dwesa-Cwebe / 9 that migration to PA boundaries is comparable to migration to urban areas, attributable to ‘the perception among migrants that economic opportunity awaits them’ (Wittemyer et al 2008c)
Summary
In their recent article arguing that rural populations are increasing disproportionately around protected areas (PAs), Wittemyer et al concede that ‘the mechanisms driving population changes around PAs are likely context-specific’(2008a: 124). Analysis of Wittemyer: 1) the demographic composition of migrant streams to and within rural areas, 2) government policies and political-economic processes that shape employment, welfare and natural resource-based components of livelihoods, and 3) social institutions that mediate access to land and other resources, which shape or constrain population movement. The paper develops these arguments through a review of recent studies of rural-rural migration in post-apartheid South Africa and a case study of Dwesa-Cwebe Nature Reserve, an IUCN
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