Rebuilding the community of Riemvasmaak, South Africa
Case Study C0123
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| Date | 2005 |
| Agency | WWF International |
| Donor/support agency | Group for Environmental Monitoring (GEM) IUCN-South Africa (IUCN-SA) |
| Project type | Self implemented |
| Geographic coverage | South Africa |
| Locality | Riemvasmaak in Northern Cape Province |
| Biodiversity focus | Ecosystem/landscape |
| Development focus | Local community |
| Conservation goals | Conserve the natural environment |
| Poverty reduction goals | Increase capacity building and internal cohesion at the community level |
Summary
Since the establishment of the South Africa’s new political foundation, after the political revolution of 1994 and the subsequent dismantling of apartheid, a multitude of reforms have been enacted to put in place administrative mechanisms to translate the country’s commitment to social equity into all institutions. In particular, to promote development of long neglected rural communities, the Municipal Systems Act provided mechanisms and resources to promote development programs that balance economic, social and environmental concerns.
In many ways, the community of Riemvasmaak in the Kalahari in Northern Cape Province reflected the worst excesses of apartheid. Opportunities for rebuilding the community, dispersed and displaced by the military for decades, appeared in 1996 when the government returned 70,000 hectares of land, followed by another 4,000 hectares in 2004. With its land restored, the community faced two distinct challenges that became the focal points of the intervention strategies sponsored by the Group for Environmental Monitoring (GEM) and IUCN-South Africa (IUCN-SA), WWF's local partners in South Africa. The first challenge was to overcome internal divisions in the community and build entrepreneurial capacity so the community could embark on commercial endeavors — notably ecotourism (which offers in this area the most reliable means of achieving the twin goals of poverty reduction and nature conservation) small-scale mining and diversified agriculture - to raise incomes. The second challenge was to build internal community cohesion to obtain development funds from the district and provincial governments for infrastructure and economic development, in keeping with the government’s institutional reform programs.
With these goals in mind, IUCN-SA and GEM embarked on a multitude of training and capacity-building activities with community members. Management training for the community trust was provided, communications infrastructure was offered for this previously isolated area, and contacts with nearby capital- intensive farming operations were established. Through the project, community members visited other rural communities bordering national parks, established ties with district and provincial authorities and explored various approaches to developing ecotourism.
Many uncertainties remain as to whether these inputs and activities will allow the community of Riemvasmaak to raise incomes in substantial measure and develop a sustainable resource management regime.
Conservation impact
None/not known
Poverty reduction impact
To date, community members have visited other rural communities bordering national parks, established ties with district and provincial authorities and explored various approaches to developing ecotourism.
Strategy for Conservation/Poverty Linkages
Enabling local participation in policy-/decision- making processes
Devolution or reinstatement of local rights over/access to resources
Reference 1
http://assets.panda.org/downloads/ia1.pdf
Reference 2
http://assets.panda.org/downloads/southafrica.pdf
Related records above this one:
- WWF International (Organisation O0115)
- IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) (Organisation O0046)