South Africa is ranked sixth in the world for its rich marine and terrestrial biodiversity. But this global accolade is characterised by deep inequalities, social and spatial injustices, and displacement of communities from their land in the name of conservation.
The South African government and many other African states are signatories to the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The agreement aims to secure 30% of the land and sea by 2030 for conservation and threatens displacement and dispossession of local communities from their land and natural resources. More emphasis will be placed on militarisation and securitisation of local people entering these spaces, which has created a resurgence of fortress conservation practices in private and public conservation across Southern Africa.
The 7th International Marine Conservation Congress took place in Cape Town from 15 to 18 October in Cape Town, South Africa, where researchers, fishers, policymakers, and conservationists learnt together about global and local best practices for conservation to Make Marine Science Matter!.
On the sidelines of the conference on 15 October, Professor Moenieba Isaacs from the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (University of the Western Cape) hosted a special screening of the Living Landscapes in Action research project’s animation film that shows the importance of social and spatial justice when we consider conservation. She co-produced this film with Dr Lerato Thakholi.
Classic forms of conservation, such as national parks, game reserves and marine protected areas, prioritise elite tourism over local people’s needs. Rooted in colonialism, slavery, and apartheid, these practices highlight the unequal distribution of resources in these areas, as well as the violence communities in these areas still face today.
How can new conservation models be created to ensure everyone benefits, and not just a select few? Watch our eight-minute animation for a full understanding of why this work is vital for the sustainability of South Africa.
About Living Landscapes in Action
Our Living Landscapes in Action research project focuses on three diverse landscapes, where communities suffer different forms of dislocation, disinheritance and displacement. We hope to create and enable conditions for a network and community of practice around convivial conservation in each of these living landscapes. Read more about the project here.
Where we work
- iSimangaliso Unesco World Heritage site
- Mapungubwe landscape
- The City of Cape Town
Contact:
Deshnee Subramany
Communications Manager: PLAAS
dsubramany@plaas.org.za
+27 76 307 4414
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