Community education and the crisis of biodiversity loss: Reflections from the hall of mirrors of past projects
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Western Cape
Abstract
South Africa is one of the most biologically diverse countries on our planet, and many
South Africans depend on our biodiversity for their livelihoods. However, we face a rising
biodiversity crisis, with many of our ecosystems destroyed, damaged or increasingly
threatened by human activities. Effective community education is needed to limit further
degradation of natural ecosystems that provide us with clean air and water, food and fuel,
medicinal plants, and health-giving environments.
In the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province, 80% of ecosystems needing protection for their
survival are within communal or privately owned land. Past top-down engagement
approaches to conservation efforts targeting rural communities failed to turn many
communities towards desirable conservation practices, and, instead, tended to alienate
and divide people in rural communities. This chapter discusses key understandings and
dynamics in community education initiatives aimed at reversing the biodiversity crisis,
and bringing long-term, sustainable, biodiversity conservation solutions that truly benefit
ecosystems and people in rural KZN and beyond.
Description
Keywords
South Africa, Biodiversity crisis, KwaZulu-Natal, Community education
Citation
Phadima, L.J et al. (2022) Community education and the crisis of biodiversity loss: Reflections from the hall of mirrors of past projects. Adult education and learning access: Hope in times of crisis in South Africa. pg 64-84