Paper short abstract:

The paper demonstrates how the interests of wildlife conservation were pursued by powerful environmental organisations, SANParks and wealthy individuals who aided the expansion of the South African section of Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area at the expense of farm workers.

Paper long abstract:

This paper analyses the conflict between biodiversity conservation and local livelihoods in the South African section of Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area. The paper demonstrates how the interests of wildlife conservation were pursued by powerful environmental organisations, South African National Parks (SANParks) and wealthy individuals who aided the expansion of the South African section of Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area at the expense of commercial farm workers and dwellers. This study argues that the creation and expansion of Mapungubwe National Park for conservation of biodiversity depended heavily on forceful management techniques which involved displacement of commercial farm workers and dwellers. The displacements had devastating effects on the lives and livelihoods of commercial farm workers. The paper concludes that South Africa has achieved minimal success in reconciling local livelihoods and biodiversity conservation.