Losing and Re-gaining access to Resources: The Legitimacy of contrasting Conservation Approaches in A Transfrontier system – Vulani Mabunda

On the 19 January-2 February 2019 Vulani, Edith and Ngcaene had an opportunity to participate in field work with Sandy du Plessis, who is currently doing APHD from the School of Public Leadership at Stellenbosch University on the topic of Losing and Re-gaining Access to Resources. Her research title is:  The Legitimacy of contrasting Conservation Approaches in a Transfrontier System. The K2C team trained to be part of the research team collecting household quantitative and qualitative data, to partake in focus group sessions at villages inside the park and the buffer, conduct oral history interviews and run participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) workshops.

The research team had an opportunity to meet with different partners and stakeholders; structure of Government in Mozambique, Governor; Department of Agriculture understand the farming practices between host villages and communities as well as their benefits within the communities. Department of Education in depth of the education system outside the Park and attitude change of families relocated and settled in host communities, meeting with community leadership; tribal authorities and the Limpopo National Park staff to understand the resettlement process and structures in place to further assist the communities relocated in host communities.

The research consists of an in-depth evaluation of contrasting resource regimes in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA) in Mozambique (Limpopo National Park) where people have access to the resources. Data collected at Limpopo National Park buffer in January 2019.

Findings are that there is high rate of human wildlife conflict between these communities Macaveni, Mbingo, Nanguene, Massingir Vehlo and Makandazulo high rate of commercial poaching and communities/tribal authorities are self centered. There are no bylaws which governs/villagers, these findings are from household surveys, relocated families no longer have respect for wildlife and conservation; they think there’s no benefit for them except that wildlife destroy their farms and kill their livestock there is no governance in place which speaks directly to which speaks directly to people and try to understand their issues and met them at the point of their needs.

The majority of young people drop out of school at the Young age because they believe investing on education is of no value as it does not benefit them, educated or not the living conditions remain the same due to poverty, instead these young people emigrates to the boarder countries of Mozambique without legal papers passport and they get caught and deported back to their mother land.- people needs to live in harmony with nature respect to restore the beauty of Mozambique and attract more tourist and funders across the world.

The evaluation consisted of the following 

• How was each resource regime formulated historically and how does this affect the current conservation approach and viability of wildlife protection today?

• What are current perceptions of theses regimes and institutional approaches and how does this influence motivations and actions of economic actors?

• What is the status of co-operation and conflict between the Pas associated buffer zones as a result of the current resource regime in place?

• What are the current livelihood outcomes of each regime?

Evaluating the resource regime and investigating what means to lose access to resources and what it means to re-gain access to resources

Overall findings of the fieldwork were: attitude change towards the environment due to the resettlement process –social and economic impact of the regime.Impact on resident’s freedom of movement, water, security and access to health care. Traditional leaders and government structure needs to Priorities the urgent need to build trust;  

Mozambique is a beautiful country with warm hearted people with the right government structure the economy, conservation and Tourism can start to blossom and attract more tourist to boost the economy, Dynamics on understanding host villages and why people relocate to host still needs to be research thoroughly.