Household Vulnerability and Transformability in Limpopo National Park

• In this paper, household vulnerability in Limpopo National Park (LNP) is discussed in relation to interannual climate variability and the effects of the park itself. Climate variability is high and projected to increase with climate change. Meanwhile, the establishment of the national park in 2002 has added both challenges and possibilities. We present the results of livelihood surveys carried out 2013 and discuss changes taking place in and around the park until present day. Constraints and possibilities for endurability of households are discussed. In conclusion, the vulnerability of the LNP households to climate change is high, but there are a number of strategies in place to ensure endurability. Migrant labour is vital for household economy, and cattle production is important for endurability. The hunting ban in the park and losses of crops and livestock due to wildlife present serious challenges. Income from the illegal wildlife trade, which exploded from 2011, has had little impact on household economy or in mitigating household vulnerability but has had devastating effects on the social fabric of households. We discuss possible avenues for transformability, where access to markets and transport remain a challenge for farmers. Individual cattle owners’ view of constraints and possibilities for expanding cattle herding are discussed and assessed in terms of transformability.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Social och ekonomisk geografi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Social and Economic Geography (hsv//eng)

HUMANIORA  -- Historia och arkeologi (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- History and Archaeology (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och relaterad miljövetenskap -- Miljövetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Environmental Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

livelihood

vulnerability

resilience

endurability

self-sufficiency

climate change

Limpopo National Park

Mozambique

Kulturantropologi

Cultural Anthropology

Geography

Geografi

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)