| Summary: | Successful and convincing examples where local peoples' development needs have been
effectively reconciled with biodiversity conservation remain difficult to find. One
important reason for this is that little progress has been made in researching critical new
areas such as developing indices to monitor qualitative concepts such as local
participation. In this study, current approaches to the problems with measuring
participation in Integrated Conservation and Development Projects (ICDPs) are reviewed.
A theoretical framework combining the works of several practitioners is used to monitor
the Nsonga Valley Forum (NVF), in the Hlatikulu Valley, Kwazulu-Natal as an example
of an emerging ICDP. The NVF was formed in 1997 after a visit by the provincial
parliamentary committee on Conservation and Environment. The Forum aims to act as a
mouthpiece for the local Nsonga community and as a capacity building structure, while
maintaining the ecological integrity of the Hlatikulu Vlei and adjacent Afromontane
Hlatikulu Forest. Two sets of indicators are used in this framework. The prevalence
indicators trace the nature of participation in the various stages of the development of the
NVF's operation - i.e. in decision making and implementation, in benefit sharing and
evaluation. The opportunity indicators refer to the level of opportunity or access
available to the local people through the implementation of the Forum by analyzing its
organisation and access to resources. According to this framework, the NVF would
currently be classified as falling into the 'participation by consultation' category of an
assumed legitimate typology of participation. Ultimately, empowerment properly
defined, would be the goal of community development in the Hlatikulu Valley but would
require a much greater participation of the community than is evident as present. In order
to prevent biodiversity conservation and sustainable economic development from
becoming no more than an attractive slogan, participatory development research needs to
be replicable, cost-effective and realistic. Recommendations are accordingly made for
the future assessment, monitoring and evaluation of the progress of the NVF and other
similar ICDP projects. === Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.
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