The use of indigenous trees by local communities within and surrounding the Thukela Biosphere Reserve, with an emphasis on the woodcarving industry.
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Date
1996
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Abstract
In the past, protected natural areas have excluded local communities from the land and
denied them access to valuable natural resources. However, it is becoming accepted
practice to ensure that neighbouring communities benefit from the conservation of these
areas. In accordance with their neighbour relations programme, the Natal Parks Board
initiated a study to establish the need for indigenous wood in the region of the Thukela
Biosphere Reserve (TBR), particularly for the woodcarving industry, and to determine
sustainable methods and levels of harvesting. Part of this study was to determine the
socio-economic issues surrounding the woodcarving industry and other users of
indigenous trees, and these are addressed in this thesis.
A multidisciplinary approach was adopted to address as many aspects of natural resource
use as possible. The principle of sustainable development was employed to explore the
nature of the often complex relationships between local communities and protected
areas, and local communities and natural resource use. This principle calls for the
integration of social, economic and ecological issues, with special attention to the
notions of futurity, equity and the environment. The biosphere reserve is considered to
be an appropriate vehicle for achieving sustainable development and the sustainable
utilisation of resources, both internationally and in the South African context. However,
in practice there are many obstacles to overcome as was observed in the case of the
TBR, where security of land tenure and the associated control of and access to natural
resources are a source of major conflict in the area.
In view of this conflict, a flexible and sensitive methodology that promoted rapport-building
was selected, namely Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA). Mainly verbal RRA
techniques were used to gather information on the use of and demand for indigenous
trees by the local communities residing within and surrounding the TBR. This
information included species names, species uses, estimations of quantities harvested,
perceptions of the resource base, conservation practices and harvesting techniques,
economic relations, constraints, and relationships between the resource manager and the
resource user.
Indigenous trees were found to be an important resource for fuel, construction, medicine,
carving, and to a limited degree, food, to local people living within and surrounding the
TBR. The predominant uses of wood were for fuel and construction materials. Access to
these resources varied, depending on the area or farm where people resided. People
living in degraded areas outside of the TBR experienced great difficulty in harvesting
wood for fuel or building, and either harvested it illegally off privately-owned land or
purchased it at great cost. Generally, it was found that on farms where there were very
few families present, residents were allowed greater access to wood compared to those
living on farms where many families resided. There were also specialist users living in the
area, namely traditional healers and woodcarvers. Limited information was collected on
the medicinal use of trees. However, the preliminary data suggests that there is a great
need for this resource. It was found that there are very few woodcarvers present in the
study area. As the carving industry was the original focus of the study, detailed
information was collected from these men. It was found that carved products are largely
produced for local markets and included traditional weapons and traditional household
implements such as meat trays and spoons. Carvers were finding it increasingly difficult
to access wood, and the income they derived from this trade was supplementary.
Although it is not perceived possible that the indigenous wood requirements of all local
people in the area can be met by the resources within the TBR on an ongoing basis,
management of bush encroachment may increase the supply of firewood and
construction materials, especially to those farm residents who were experiencing
difficulty in this regard at the time of the study. Through partnerships with more
specialist users of indigenous trees such as woodcarvers and traditional healers, access to
these resources too may be improved. Although more detailed and participative research
is needed before substantiated management plans can be formulated, it is hoped that
through this study a foundation will be laid to direct future research efforts, dispel
misunderstandings, and be part of the effort required to ensure sustainable development
of natural resources.
Description
Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, 1996.
Keywords
Human geography--KwaZulu-Natal., Zulu (African people)--Wood-carving., Conservation of natural resources--KwaZulu-Natal., Trees--KwaZulu-Natal., Thukela Biosphere Reserve (KwaZulu-Natal), Theses--Geography.