Learning activity unit 7

We have four environmental narratives in SA this include the economic, conservation, non-state actors and local views.

The conservation is rooted in apartheid. Communities are not included in important decision making. Decisions are made on their behalf. The people have no say. It is the authorial type of narrative. The people are removed to their rights to land. They cannot even use those natural resources on that land. This results in evictions for those who occupy land without authority’s permission.  The authorial approach is used because public owned natural resources are over used. This approach regulates the number of people who use these resources. The economic view the environment is viewed as something that can be bought or sold. Land is the country’s asset which brings about development. This entails capitalist approach which includes exploitation of the resources. Profit is the main motive. we have non state actors  this includes external parties such as ngos and scientists and other parties. This excludes local community. This approach protects and guards the environment. It rejects exploitation of nature. Lastly we have local community views it is highly complex and highly differentiated. The relationship with the environment is shaped by the socio political context.

Yes these narrative contribute to understanding the environment. Firstly conservation locals had no say in environmental issues due to apartheid. Secondly exploiting poorly developed areas may increase invests and increase employment and decrease elevation of poverty. Economic growth improves integrity of environment in the non state actors view. When people benefit from the environment relationships change in local views. The two main environmental discourses according stewart and zaaiman social justice this includes poverty poor education and unemployment and sustainable development where by sa works with other countries to develop its economy. South Africa aspires to be a sustainable, economically prosperous and self-reliant nation that safe guards its democracy by meeting needs of its people by managing limited ecological resources