Community visions of ecoagriculture in a South African transfrontier conservation area

This scenario planning project recognised communal farmers as key stakeholders and biodiversity stewards in transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs). The study gathered farmers in the Mathenjwa Tribal Authority in the Kwazulu-Natal province of South Africa for a community visioning exercise. The goal was to establish the place of TFCA goals in the farmers’ visions of (or aspirations for) the future, and the role of farmers in the achievement of TFCA goals. The community vision was analysed in the light of ecoagriculture goals and the TFCA objectives, to confirm the relevance of ecoagriculture as a strategy to achieve both the community’s aspirations and the TFCA goals.

The visioning exercise raised awareness and motivation regarding the sustainable balance of agricultural production and nature conversation, for both participants and other community members.