Assessing climate change impacts in conservation areas and on food systems in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 13136607 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Kablan Antoine Effossou (University of Fort Hare, corresponding author), Mandlenkosi Maphosa (0009-0008-2490-7164, University of Fort Hare), Philani Moyo (0000-0002-9089-7565, University of Fort Hare) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 7 |
| Publication date | 2025-08-25 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Human Dynamics (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2673-2726 • E-ISSN: 2673-2726 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fhumd.2025.1583234 |
| OpenAlex | W4413543671 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 45 |
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
Agriculture · Archaeology · Biology · Cape · Climate change · Environmental planning · Environmental protection · Environmental resource management · Food security · Food systems · Geography · Agricultural Innovations and Practices · Climate change impacts on agriculture · Environmental Science · Sustainable Agricultural Systems Analysis · Ecology
First steps in qualitative data analysis
Presenting and Evaluating Qualitative Research
Poverty and Famines
To understand climate change adaptation, we must characterize climate variability
Inclusive conservation and the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework
The role of women and the obstacles to biodiversity conservation in developed and developing countries
Croppers to livestock keepers
Gender equality, resilience to climate change, and the design of livestock projects for rural livelihoods
Resilience in the face of ecological challenges
Conceptualizing food systems for global environmental change research
Climate change in Africa
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate ChangeSpecial Report on Global Warming of 1.5°CSwitzerland
Biodiversity conservation and land rights in South Africa
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |