It is beyond you - principles for rangeland research in multi-functional landscapes in South Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID3886391
AuthorsAndiswa Finca (0000-0001-6496-8828, Agricultural Research Council, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume36
Issue1
Pages1-8
Publication date2025-09-16
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueDevelopment in Practice (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0961-4524 • E-ISSN: 1364-9213
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09614524.2025.2548476
OpenAlexW4414298145
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited21

Research involving local communities in rural South Africa often establishes a hierarchy, where researchers are seen as experts possessing superior knowledge, potentially overlooking the valuable input of the local communities while making them research subjects. Consequently, the one-size-fits-all strategies derived from this are often resisted by the local people, leading to the failure of such strategies. However, there is a shift occurring in the research community, where the value of local knowledge, perspectives, and ways of life are being acknowledged and appreciated. Moreover, collaborative approaches that value and integrate the insights of communities into the research process are gaining attention. This article reflects on the evolution of my research approach. The paper sets out my journey from where I was mostly learning the sociological “tools of the trade” to transitioning into a phase of conducting my own independent research. The transition into a space of independence presented an opportunity to refine my research methods and approach

Land use · Rangeland · Rangeland management · South asia · Sustainability · Forest Management and Policy · Rangeland and Wildlife Management · Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology

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Open DOI