Assessing climate change impacts in conservation areas and on food systems in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Biodiversity conservation through protected areas has expanded across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and South Africa is no exception. However, the interplay between conservation governance, climate change, and food systems remains understudied in rural contexts. This study examined the interconnections...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Human Dynamics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2025.1583234/full |
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| author | Kablan Antoine Effossou Mandlenkosi Maphosa Philani Moyo |
| author_facet | Kablan Antoine Effossou Mandlenkosi Maphosa Philani Moyo |
| author_sort | Kablan Antoine Effossou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Biodiversity conservation through protected areas has expanded across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and South Africa is no exception. However, the interplay between conservation governance, climate change, and food systems remains understudied in rural contexts. This study examined the interconnections among biodiversity conservation, climate variability, and food systems resilience in Alicedale and Seven Fountains in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. Using qualitative methods, the research highlighted key challenges such as limited land access, unequal water availability, high unemployment, and climate induced agricultural disruption. Findings revealed that conservation-related restrictions, coupled with unpredictable weather patterns, undermine local food production and access. Participants proposed adaptive strategies, including shared land access, community boreholes, and small-scale farming initiatives. The study concludes that integrating food security concerns into conservation planning, especially in privately owned reserves, require participatory governance models and attention to historical and institutional inequalities. By contributing empirical insights to debates on environmental justice and climate adaptation, this study highlights the need for inclusive, locally responsive natural resource management in marginalised rural areas. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e6ead563a88b4a8ca1923f8c0e9aff49 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-2726 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Human Dynamics |
| spelling | doaj-art-e6ead563a88b4a8ca1923f8c0e9aff492025-08-25T05:25:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Dynamics2673-27262025-08-01710.3389/fhumd.2025.15832341583234Assessing climate change impacts in conservation areas and on food systems in the Eastern Cape, South AfricaKablan Antoine EffossouMandlenkosi MaphosaPhilani MoyoBiodiversity conservation through protected areas has expanded across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and South Africa is no exception. However, the interplay between conservation governance, climate change, and food systems remains understudied in rural contexts. This study examined the interconnections among biodiversity conservation, climate variability, and food systems resilience in Alicedale and Seven Fountains in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. Using qualitative methods, the research highlighted key challenges such as limited land access, unequal water availability, high unemployment, and climate induced agricultural disruption. Findings revealed that conservation-related restrictions, coupled with unpredictable weather patterns, undermine local food production and access. Participants proposed adaptive strategies, including shared land access, community boreholes, and small-scale farming initiatives. The study concludes that integrating food security concerns into conservation planning, especially in privately owned reserves, require participatory governance models and attention to historical and institutional inequalities. By contributing empirical insights to debates on environmental justice and climate adaptation, this study highlights the need for inclusive, locally responsive natural resource management in marginalised rural areas.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2025.1583234/fullclimate changefood systemsbiodiversity conservationenvironmental justiceresilienceEastern Cape |
| spellingShingle | Kablan Antoine Effossou Mandlenkosi Maphosa Philani Moyo Assessing climate change impacts in conservation areas and on food systems in the Eastern Cape, South Africa Frontiers in Human Dynamics climate change food systems biodiversity conservation environmental justice resilience Eastern Cape |
| title | Assessing climate change impacts in conservation areas and on food systems in the Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| title_full | Assessing climate change impacts in conservation areas and on food systems in the Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Assessing climate change impacts in conservation areas and on food systems in the Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing climate change impacts in conservation areas and on food systems in the Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| title_short | Assessing climate change impacts in conservation areas and on food systems in the Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| title_sort | assessing climate change impacts in conservation areas and on food systems in the eastern cape south africa |
| topic | climate change food systems biodiversity conservation environmental justice resilience Eastern Cape |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2025.1583234/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kablanantoineeffossou assessingclimatechangeimpactsinconservationareasandonfoodsystemsintheeasterncapesouthafrica AT mandlenkosimaphosa assessingclimatechangeimpactsinconservationareasandonfoodsystemsintheeasterncapesouthafrica AT philanimoyo assessingclimatechangeimpactsinconservationareasandonfoodsystemsintheeasterncapesouthafrica |