Contested biodiversity conservation and benefit sharing in the context of climate change in Lalibela and Amakhala game reserves, South Africa

This study investigated the intricate relationship between biodiversity conservation, benefit-sharing, and the escalating pressures of climate change within private game reserves and adjacent communities in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Employing qualitative methodologies, including focus group discussions and in-depth interviews, the research critically examined existing governance frameworks and their profound socio-economic impacts on rural communities. Key findings reveal pervasive systemic governance challenges, stemming from limited community involvement in land acquisition processes and the absence of equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms. These shortcomings perpetuate and exacerbate existing socio-economic inequities, mirroring the structural inequalities often referred to as a “new green apartheid.” Local communities face severe restrictions on access to vital natural resources, experience significant disruptions to their traditional livelihoods, and are largely excluded from crucial decision-making processes, collectively fostering deep mistrust and ongoing conflict with conservation entities. Furthermore, the study highlights the adverse impacts of climate change on both biodiversity within the reserves and the livelihoods of surrounding communities. The core argument presented here is that private conservation efforts in the Eastern Cape, while often lauded for protecting biodiversity and aiding climate adaptation, frequently perpetuate a legacy of colonial and apartheid-era exclusions. These initiatives tend to prioritize the sustainability of the reserves over the resilience of local communities. Grounded in Ostrom’s common property theory and a political ecology framework, this research strongly advocates for the urgent implementation of truly participatory governance models and the establishment of robust, equitable resource distribution mechanisms. Practical recommendations include comprehensive policy reforms that prioritize genuine community inclusion, the establishment of clear and enforceable benefit-sharing frameworks, and the promotion of genuinely collaborative and inclusive climate resilience initiatives that extend beyond reserve boundaries, fostering shared well-being across the entire landscape.