Challenging the conventional approaches to natural resource management/environmental planning in rural development: A regional political ecology analysis of Maputaland

Abstract

It is argued that despite much research and monitoring of the physical manifestations of land degradation, there is a paucity of work which actually shows the socio‐economic and political interactions between land use, ecosystems and land degradation. In order to cope with the difficult interdisciplinary demands of such a study, regional political ecology (RPE) is suggested as an alternative conceptual framework. A particular methodology from this framework, namely ‘the chains of explanation’, is described using the Maputaland region as an example. Common property resources are discussed, as are factors likely to lead to the weakening of local institutions and natural resource management (NRM). The importance of using indigenous technical knowledge and participatory research such as farming systems research (FSR) as the building blocks for developing NRM policy is emphasized. However local initiatives need the support and space to operate that only regional and national institutions can provide.

Notes

Department of Town and Regional Planning, University of Natal, Durban.

A longer version of this paper was originally published as a Centre for Community Organisation, Research and Development (Cord) working paper in 1990. That working paper was presented at a Cord workshop in June 1989. Participants at the workshop are thanked for their contributions and suggestions. After the workshop, Cord staff provided futher comments and advice for which I am grateful. I would also like to thank the referees who commented on the working paper, although, as is customary, I bear full responsibility for the final version.