Unique Combinations of Stakeholders in a Transfrontier Conservation Area Promote Biodiversity-Agriculture Integration

Abstract

The world seeks to balance biodiversity protection and food production. Transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs) provide unique opportunities for strategies that combine agriculture with biodiversity conservation at a landscape level, known as ecoagriculture. We identified and consulted ecoagriculture stakeholders in a smallholder farming community within a TFCA. Data were obtained through key informant interviews and questionnaire surveys. Eighty-eight percent of key informants indicated that planned ecoagriculture was feasible in the area and 95% of interviewed farmers positively considered to plan the integration of biodiversity conservation and farming. Potential conflicts of interest were revealed among stakeholders but to a large extent, stakeholder roles and interests were complementary, creating an environment conducive to effective coordinated ecoagriculture planning.

Keywords:

• Biodiversity conservation
• ecoagriculture landscape
• livelihoods
• stakeholder analysis

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation (South Africa), CIRAD (France), the International Foundation for Science (IFS), the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), and the University of Pretoria. Ezemvelo-KZN Wildlife and the Wildlands Conservation Trust provided critical logistical support for which we are very thankful. The cooperation of the Mathenjwa community and all who offered their valuable time and effort during interviews and meetings is highly appreciated.