Community Biodiversity Inventories as Entry Points for Local Ecosystem Stewardship in a South African Communal Area

Abstract

We facilitated the development of a co-designed and locally led community biodiversity inventory (CBI) in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, using nine design principles for participatory action research that promoted inclusivity. A questionnaire survey toward the end of the process found significant differences between people who were engaged and disengaged in the CBI. Engaged people valued biodiversity and ecosystem services, envisioned employment through ecotourism, and held a community-led view of governance. Disengaged people valued human-made and abiotic resources, overlooked threats to ecosystems, envisioned development through agriculture, and held a government-led view of governance. We postulate that CBIs attract actors interested in cultural biodiversity conservation. The process reinforces their beliefs and may affect others, forming the nucleus for local ecosystem stewardship. Community biodiversity inventories are, however, no panacea for local empowerment. Processes beyond local people's and facilitators' control and unrealized expectations may negate the impacts of well-intended efforts and good practices.

Keywords:

• adaptive co-management
• biodiversity register
• community-based natural resource management
• nature tourism
• rural development
• South Africa
• stewardship

Acknowledgments

We thank the Jongilanga people and the Ncera Ecotourism Committee in particular for their enthusiastic participation. Dirk Roux, Jaco Barendse, Bianca Currie, and two referees provided valuable comments.