Attitudes of a rural community towards conservation and a local conservation area in Natal, South Africa

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Abstract

This paper examines attitudes of a rural community towards conservation and the Umfolozi/Hluhluwe/Corridor Complex Game Reserve, the local Conservation Area. The data presented were derived from a study of the viability of rural industries based on wildlife resources from this area.

A questionnaire survey was carried out amongst households close to the Conservation Area. Respondents from 182 households were interviewed. A high proportion (65%) were found to be positive towards the concept of conservation though fewer were positive towards the Conservation Area and its managers.

The distribution of attitudes in the community was cross-tabulated against 14 demographic variables. It was found that positive attitudes tended to increase with increasing household affluence and with the respondent's level of education. The most and the least westernised households tended to be positive towards conservation, suggesting the influence of a traditional concept of conservation. That households which had experienced direct benefits from the Conservation Area were more positive than those which had not indicates the importance of allowing local people access to wildlife resources and of encouraging structures to integrate conservation areas within local economies.

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