This short film provides a case study for participatory forest management in South Africa, looking at the case of a nature reserve on the east coast. It tells of the struggle faced by local indigenous group to regain access to natural resources found in the area, resulting in the joint management of the area.

Synopsis and Review

The Dwesa forest on the east coast of South Africa was one of the last remaining indigenous forests in the country. To protect the area it was declared a nature preserve with limited access in the 1930’s, ignoring the large indigenous population in the area dependent on its resources such as game and seafood, medicine, wild food, and building materials. It is also a spiritual place, sacred to the local community. Once it was declared a preserve the local indigenous community was restricted from using the area even though the white population was able to own cabins and hotels in the reserve. Tensions began to build between the local community and nature reserve officials, especially after the reserve was completely closed in 1974. Fuelled by the political environment of the country at the time, tensions reached a peak in the 1990’s. And in 1994 members of the local community “invaded” the reserve, hunting game and collecting resources. Eventually the community began to raise awareness of their struggles and complaints and approached the nature reserve officials to conduct negotiations regarding use of the area. Land ownership was also discussed and after lengthy discussions the government agreed to return control of the reserve to the local community if they put a management system in place. Through the creation of a community property association (CPA) and land trust, the community began to take control of the reserve and its resources. They are now allowed to use their traditional resources in a controlled and sustainable fashion monitored by the community itself.

This film, while sometimes disjointed, provides a good example of the debate surrounding conservation and indigenous rights. Through interviews with community members that have lived through and participated in the transition from government controlled preserve to community managed area, it provides a fine example of the conflict that arises from non-participatory modes of conservation and the progress that can be made when the community is consulted and involved in the management and conservation process. However, it does have gaps begging to be addressed. For example, while it discusses in depth the traditional uses of the forest and the community’s traditional ecological methods for managing the forest, there is no mention of the effects of population increase on these traditional methods or the use of the forest today. And it would have been more satisfying to receive a more detailed explanation of how the transfer back to the community took place and is managed today beyond the issuing of collection permits and local enforcement. Despite its sometime cursory nature, the film is good demonstration of participatory resource management.

Prepared by Erin Smith

This film explores aboriginal groups in Maningrida, Northern Australia and their journey from colonial instituted settlements back to their traditional homes, reclaiming a traditional way of life and preserving their ecological knowledge.

Synopsis and Review

In the 1950’s colonial settlers reached the northern coast of Australia and immediately began to move the aboriginal population into settlement areas, including two in Maningrida. The settlements in Maningrida brought 2000 people from twelve different language groups into a single location. In 1977, the government granted aboriginals ownership once again of their traditional land. Some families immediately returned to these lands, creating small familial communities known as “outstations”. While this return to the bush was relatively easy for those of the older generation, it proved more difficult for the younger generation who were born in Maningrida. Three years after the land had been returned to them most of the aboriginal population still remained in Maningrida. In order to encourage more to return to their traditional land and life, the elders of the community decided to make it an “economic project”. If the return to the bush could be economically viable more would return, including the younger generation. In 1999 they created a ranger program for young people to care for the land and harvest its resources. With the help of outside experts and consultants they developed a small industry using traditional skills and products.

While economic benefit was an aspect of the project, the film stresses that the primary goal of the elders who created the program was the preservation of traditional knowledge and culture. The film, which is told by members of the community with refreshingly little narration, is the story of an indigenous venture that successfully combines the sustainable use of natural resources, income generation and the preservation of traditional knowledge. While outside experts and consultants were invited to assist the ranger program with the production process and with the marketing of its resources, the project was founded and is almost entirely run by the aboriginal community of the outstations. A portion of all profits is returned to these communities. The resources used include morinda (Morinda citrifolia) fruit for juice, native cycads for collectors, crocodile and long neck turtle eggs whose hatchlings are sold, a native plant nursery, and marine sponges (the film focuses primarily on morinda juice and long-neck turtles). Through cooperation with scientists and local universities the project also appears to be aware of and intent upon ensuring sustainability in its use of natural resources. This emphasis is illustrated by a research project conducted with the local university to investigate the environmental impact of their turtle egg harvesting for the pet industry.

The success of the ranger program is seen not only in the income generation of these projects but also in the number of people returning from Maningrida to their traditional land. Ironically, however, this success also begs the question: Can the project still be sustainable as the number of people taking part in it and as the number of those depending on these resources increases? Additionally, while the products receiving the most attention in the film, such as morinda fruit and long neck turtles, appear sustainable one leaves the film wondering if other projects can be equally sustainable when they involve the use of such vulnerable species as the marine sponge and crocodile. Overall this is a wonderful film highlighting an indigenous initiative to reclaim and maintain traditional knowledge and culture.

Prepared by Erin Smith