Conservation without inclusion: Why iSimangaliso protests reflect a governance crisis

The ongoing protests at iSimangaliso Wetland Park reveal a deep governance crisis in conservation efforts. These acts of defiance, involving tree cutting, fence removal and road blockades, are not isolated incidents but rather a manifestation of a broken co-management agreement. Communities were promised meaningful access to resources, benefits and decision-making power, but instead face top-down rules, harassment and restricted livelihoods.

Siphesihle Mbhele, an associate researcher at the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies, has been studying the situation for over two years. He argues that co-management, designed as a restitution form of agreement between parks and communities, has failed to meet the daily needs of those living near the park. The agreement should have provided communities with a voice in decision-making and certain rights to access resources, but this has not been the case.

The recent protests began in June when residents of the Ozabeni community, living adjacent to the park, launched demonstrations demanding better benefit sharing, compensation and decision-making rights. These actions included cutting down fences, tearing down park signs and establishing food gardens within the park. As a result, 52 protesters were arrested, leading to the current standoff.

Community members have since closed the R22 road towards Hluhluwe, causing a four-hour traffic jam and disrupting key transportation routes for coal and timber. Despite these disruptions, the park's authority has merely rebuked the community's demonstrations without addressing their grievances.

This crisis is not unique to iSimangaliso. The nearby Futululu and Dukuduku communities, also entitled to co-manage the park, have faced similar issues of consultation, compensation and co-governance for years. These communities, like the Mbila and Ozabeni claims, were forcibly removed during apartheid to create the park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The research conducted in iSimangaliso Wetland Park highlights three core problems that need addressing. First, there is a need to improve access to resources and local livelihoods. Indigenous communities still rely on natural resources for income generation, such as fishing, grass cutting and medicinal plant harvesting. However, strict policies hinder their ability to access these resources, resulting in injustices like harassment, confiscation of tools and arrests.

Second, there is a lack of consultation and community involvement in decision-making. Although iSimangaliso Wetland Park is governed by an integrated management plan, communities were not adequately consulted during its development. Communication from the park was primarily through digital means, which many communities lack access to. Furthermore, community representatives were often excluded from decision-making rooms.

Finally, the contestation over unsettled land claims and restrictions on land use and livelihood activities create a non-inclusive, top-down co-management process that is detrimental to the communities. These tensions reflect the park's shortcomings in addressing the core issues of resource access, community involvement and fair decision-making.