Benefit sharing and perceptions between reserves and communities

The Kruger to Canyons Biosphere (K2C) in South Africa includes national, provincial, and private protected areas (PAs), as well as over 1.5 million people living in relatively high-density communities. The K2C region is... [ view full abstract ]

The Kruger to Canyons Biosphere (K2C) in South Africa includes national, provincial, and private protected areas (PAs), as well as over 1.5 million people living in relatively high-density communities. The K2C region is designated by UNESCO as an area of high conservation and development importance—priorities often seen as incompatible by local communities while they are marketed in the ecotourism sector as complimentary by many private nature reserves (PNRs). Given the history of removal and exclusion of local black populations from PAs, relationships between these stakeholder groups have long been fraught with tension. Increased rhinoceros poaching in the region and the ‘war on poaching’ response further hardens management borders and is damaging to relationships across them—perversely threatening the integrity of the conservation areas. The primary means of garnering community support for PAs is through effective benefit sharing programs. However, there is often a disconnect between the stakeholder groups regarding benefit expectations and perceived impacts.

This study explored the perceptions of both PNR stakeholders and local community members regarding conflict, development outcomes, and conservation sentiment, as well as how these perceptions are affected by different benefit sharing strategies. An online survey was administered to five PNRs on the western boundary of Kruger National Park, and a complimentary survey was administered via in-person interviews with three communities adjacent to three of the five reserves. Each of the PNRs has a relatively different benefit sharing strategy. With an emphasis on community perspectives, comparisons were made on the perceived impacts of each of these strategies. Findings indicate a misalignment of stakeholder groups’ perceptions of development expectations and outcomes; a lack of prioritization of benefit sharing by private reserve stakeholders in light of security concerns; and a correlation between benefit sharing programs that are narrow in focus and diffuse in benefits, and positive community member perceptions of development outcomes and private nature reserves. These findings allow recommendations to be made regarding effective benefit sharing programs between PNRs and nearby communities using limited resources that most effectively address development goals and improve relationships to protect the long-term integrity of conservation areas.