Linking Social and Ecological Sustainability: An Analysis of Livelihoods and the Changing Natural Resources in the Middle Zambezi Biosphere Reserve

Abstract

In this paper, we aim to explore community livelihoods and conservation issues surrounding natural resources that are utilised by resettled farmers within the Middle Zambezi Biosphere Reserve, northern Zimbabwe. Data collection was done in two phases. During the first phase undertaken in 2011, we administered household interviews, held focus group discussions (FGDs) and conducted in-depth interviews. Follow up data collection was done in 2015. The second phase used FGDs and key informant interviews to gather data on changes in livelihoods and natural resources. Findings from the study indicated limited options of social, human and financial capital. However, diverse livelihoods strategies are pursued in order to minimize the risk of biodiversity degradation. Structural factors that can contribute to cause biodiversity degradation include the failure of the Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE); natural resources governance flaws; contests over space and power, and weak policing by institutions devoted to the protection of natural resources. In conclusion, the authors observe how the institutions involved in the management of the protected natural area fail to promote the participation of the local community in the decision-making processes, thus limiting the potential benefits of the designation of the Middle Zambezi Biosphere Reserve.

Keywords: Biosphere reserve; Social capital; Human-wildlife conflict; Livelihoods; Participation; Social enterprise

JEL Classification: N57; O13; L30; Q01