Many rural communities suffer from the poor management of natural resources they
depend on. Natural resources such as land, water and forests are the source of their daily
needs. It is well known that the sustainable use of natural resources is important,
however, in the process of natural resource management some people are excluded from
the decision-making process, especially rural women. This study examines the efficiency
and equity consequences of natural resources and land management institutional practices
in land reform projects in rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in relation to gender
issues. Case studies of two land reform projects in KZN, Platt Estate (restitution) and
Ekuthuleni (redistribution) are used. Both quantitative (questionnaire surveys) and
qualitative (focus group discussions, venn diagrams, mental mapping and ranking
exercises) methods were used. The study examines the main links between women's
needs and concerns as well as their participation in decision-making over land use and
management of resources. Another noteworthy aspect that is examined is the way in
which changing and differentiated patterns of control, access and use of land resources at
household and community levels affect the ways in which resources are exploited and
managed, especially in relation to women. Generally, the research findings illustrate that
sustainable land use and natural resource management at the community and household
levels in rural areas cannot be neglected or ignored in areas where high levels of poverty
persist and where the re-invention and re-assertion of tradition is prevalent, especially
traditional governance structures and patriarchy. In all two communities, structures
pertaining to land management exist but the functionality, sustainability and viability of
these structures and their ability to address development and environmental needs that
impact on the social, economic, political and environmental quality of life are major
concerns. Furthermore, women's participation in these structures is limited and several
problems are experienced. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2006.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/2342 |
| Date | January 2006 |
| Creators | Mayeza, Seraphina Banjani. |
| Contributors | Bob, Urmilla. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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